New York, NY (July 27th, 2023) – For immediate release:
In collaboration with Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, site of the historic 1969 Woodstock festival, Taglialatella Galleries is excited to announce Strings Attached by Joe Iurato, the artist’s first solo exhibition hosted by a prominent museum.
Located just 90 miles north of New York City, Bethel Woods is a non-profit performance venue and museum, celebrated for showcasing diverse exhibits, live performances, music festivals, and inclusive art programs that have been enjoyed by visitors from across the globe. Backstage at Bethel Woods - the organization’s signature fundraising event - will take place on Saturday, August 5th, during which Joe Iurato’s new collection of works will be unveiled in front of Bethel Woods’ biggest philanthropic supporters.
Strings Attached is a body of work comprised of music-related aerosol paintings on paper and wooden assemblage, the primary medium used by Iurato. Inspired by his own journey with music, the artist has a personal connection to the Woodstock festival that runs as deep as the festival’s roots. Iurato’s mother was one of the attendees of Woodstock in 1969 and her experiences influenced Joe’s relationship with music. In Joe’s words:
“If I look back at some of my earliest childhood memories relating to music, it leads back to the “Woodstock” era. There’s my mother, an attendee of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, singing along to Janis Joplin. Or my father’s story about how he gave up his tickets to see Neil Young on the day I was born (which was usually followed by him finger picking Old Man on an acoustic guitar). Many of the artists that took the stage on these grounds are what my brother and I grew up listening to. And, naturally, it played a role in the development of our own musical tastes - especially our shared love for the sound of an electric guitar wailing the blues. We can thank Jimi Hendrix for that introduction.
“Strings Attached” is a show about my deep connection to music. It was made over the course of 10 weeks while listening to folk, blues and rock and roll. An exploration in approaching a series of paintings as if I were creating an album, from demos to final tracks. It’s the journey of a musician, as I’d imagine it to be similar to that of a painter, from childhood discovery to the flame, the pursuit, the struggle and, with a bit of luck, the success. It’s the story about a love and companionship found in the frets of a guitar. It’s legend and lore. It’s an homage to the roots of American song. It’s nostalgia and my current playlist. And then it’s just me in the studio, feeling my way through it all, doing the best I can to create something visually that carries the heart and soul of a song.”
-Joe
Joe Iurato will travel to Bethel Woods to see his collection debut on the very grounds where the Woodstock Festival took place, marked by many as a sacred space for the progression of art, culture, and creative ideals since the summer of 1969.
“We are excited to be working with Joe Iurato who will be creating one-of-a-kind pieces for this exhibition. His vibe as an artist is perfect for the historic site of Woodstock and his work feels like a natural fit.”
– Neal Hitch, Museum Director and Senior Curator of Bethel Woods
To contact the artist for media purposes, or to view a digital catalogue of the Strings Attached collection, please contact Taglialatella Galleries at +1 (212) 367-0881 or email info@djtfa.com. For information about The Museum at Bethel Woods or to schedule a tour, please call +1 (845) 583-2079 or email museum@bethelwoodscenter.org.