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Noise Colored Party by Ric Ocasek
Press Release
Ric Ocasek, renowned lead singer and songwriter from The Cars, will debut his first solo art exhibition, Noise Colored Party, at the Mahan Gallery, March 6, 2009. The two-month exhibition will showcase select works from the 1980s to the present across several media: drawings with pen, colored pencils and markers, digital photo collages and mixed media paintings.
For Ocasek, who has also found success as a music producer for No Doubt, Nada Surf, Weezer and other groups, the boundary between the musical and the visual is nebulous. Like music, his artwork encompasses elements of rhythm, harmony and dynamics. He creates art as an escape, each piece emerging as a “transient daydream” or diversion as he works in his studio, passes time on airplanes or simply sits in a quiet spot. Self-described as colorful, abstract and unconscious, the artwork is an extension of himself – a collection of “self-portraits” — created without pretense and with no intent for public exhibition. Visitors to the gallery are free to interpret and experience the artwork in their own way.
It is fitting that Ocasek’s first art exhibition takes place in Columbus, the city where he spent many of his formative years as well as the city where he met fellow Cars bandmember, the late Benjamin Orr. Ocasek will make an appearance at the gallery for an invitation-only reception on Friday, March 6, with a possible public appearance during Gallery Hop.
The Mahan Gallery presents the work of contemporary artists in a variety of media, including painting, photography, mixed media and sculpture. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 6pm and by appointment.
For more information please visit MahanGallery.com.
If I’m not mistaken, his son lives in Columbus.
It’s a more interesting story than that, in relation to this event.
Uh, doesn’t his son and daughter-in-law (the Mahan part) own this gallery. Probably should be some kind of mention of that in the article – the show is a bit of nepotism. But I still love the Cars and think Mahan usually has cool stuff. Oh and their house is nice too (GV Haus Tour last year). If I’m wrong, do correct me.
I hope Alan Vega comes to this show. He’s another great musician/artist, and as far as I know a pretty good friend of Ocasek’s.
Exciting show! Love the Cars, too.
I am going to present myself as a fangirl once again…
The VERY FIRST concert, like REAL concert I ever went to was The Cars. No lie. I heard a while back that the dude from the Mahan was like Ric Ocasek’s son, and I was like, THAT’S SO COOL. But whatever. But then this show. I’m pretty excited. I’d love to be in a room with Ric Ocasek, but that is about the extent of my obsessiveness. He’s done some very cool stuff, and he was part of my MTV days and all, but you know. Please post more to this thread as news comes in. I just want to shake his hand and tell him he changed my teen life.
i do believe dsigner is right on the family connection. but nepotism is a bit harsh. it’s not as if the chance for a 2-month spread at Mahan was the result of a juried process, and RO beat out several unwitting aspirants. gallery owners have the prerogative to show the work of those artists they enjoy, know and support. in this case it is family, and pretty cool family from the pop-culture standpoint.
From The Short North Blog:
A couple days ago I received an invitation to Mahan Gallery’s March art opening. My eyes popped when I opened the envelope. The featured artist: Ric Ocasek. My first thought was: “How many Ric Ocasek’s can there be?†A product of the ‘70s and ‘80s, I immediately associated R.O. with the Cars, even hearing a bit of “Just What I Needed†in my head. It couldn’t be the same guy. And yet, when I turned the invitation over, there was the confirmation. Step One… I immediately called and rsvp’d. Step Two… I pondered why Ric was dabbling in art. I wondered how many people would show up purely because of the fanboy effect, and how many would be there for the art. That led me to a question of celebrity and commercialism versus authenticity. So before I dug myself a deeper hole, I called Jacquie Mahan (gallery proprietor) and scheduled a chat on the subject.
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I thought Jacquie explained her reasons having the exhibit very well. Sure, being her daughter-in-law gave her an inside track, but it sounds like we’re going to be pleasantly surprised seeing Ric Ocasek’s work next month.
Bump! This weekend! :D
Ric Ocasek: random thoughts
Posted by Melissa Starker on March 12, 2009
Here’s an isolated image of one of Ric Ocasek’s untitled abstracts, and some interesting leftovers from my conversation with him last Saturday following his art opening at Mahan Gallery.
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Cars musician Ocasek draws on his other talent
Sunday, April 5, 2009 3:22 AM
BY DOUG WHITEMAN
Associated Press
Ric Ocasek might be considered purely a creator of musical magic, but the frontman of the 1970s and ’80s rock band the Cars has also made visual art for years.
Ocasek kept his side hobby of photo collages, pen-and-pencil drawings and mixed-media paintings to himself — until now.
The songwriter and lead singer of many Cars hits — including Magic, Shake It Up and You Might Think — is showing 170 works in Columbus, where he once lived.
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