The special exhibit curated by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Newseum opens Tuesday night in Grand Rapids with compelling videos and rock artifacts. Take a video tour here.
Guitars and Politics: The new exhibit at the Ford Museum boasts plenty of both. (Photo/Local Spins)
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From the Eisenhower presidency to the current Trump administration, rock ‘n’ roll has reflected the turbulence of our times, serving as a focal point for contemplation, political discourse and rebellion.
Ford Comes Alive: Peter Frampton pictured with President Ford as part of the exhibit.
It’s given a voice to the civil rights movement and anti-war protests, with songs adopted – or purloined, as it were – by various presidents to serve as themes for their campaigns and their agendas.
That’s what makes “Louder Than Words: Rock, Power and Politics” – a new exhibit at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids – such a compelling display and a refreshing, insightful and uber-informative way to relive the past 60 years of American history.
“You can see how impactful it is,” said Karen L. Herman, vice president of collections and curatorial affairs for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. “Music unlike almost any other art form, it unites people in a way that other art forms can’t.”
Karen Herman
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Newseum of Washington D.C. partnered to create the exhibit which officially opens tonight at the Ford Museum and will be on display through Feb. 11.
Grand Rapids is the first city outside of Cleveland and Washington to host the engaging exhibit that combines video, photographs, multi-media presentations, periodicals and rock ‘n’ roll artifacts, including guitars and costumes such as the jacket Bono of U2 wore for the band’s Super Bowl halftime performance in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
The exhibit takes visitors chronologically through the history of rock ‘n’ roll and the various presidential administrations starting with Eisenhower – examining the political impact of various songs and artists along the way, including Chuck Berry, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, The Clash, NWA, Bruce Springsteen, Green Day and more.
Recognizing the Power of Music: Donald Trump and other presidents have done just that.
As for making Grand Rapids and the Ford Museum the first stop for the traveling exhibit, Herman said it’s the perfect starting point because so much was happening musically during the mid-1970s when Ford was in the White House.
“It makes it a really cool period,” she said. “You can see the rebellion in the music itself.”
The exhibit premiered at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in May 2016.
On Tuesday night, the Ford Museum is hosting a special opening reception starting at 6 p.m., with guest speakers, live music by Grand Rapids band Trilogy, refreshments and a sneak peek into the exhibit. Details online here.
Listen to Local Spins’ recent RSVP Music Chat on the topic of politics and music here: Politics and music in the RSVP Music Chat
VIDEO: “Louder Than Words,” Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
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