Mushroomhead – Artist Richard Custer's Blog

The call for entry for the Rock and Roll show at the Minneapolis Photo Center has been answered. I submitted a total of 6 images to this show. In the end I chose 4 performance images, 1 of a stage set detail, and another of the equipment sitting on stage, waiting to be picked up. This was by no means an easy decision, as I have hundreds of good quality images in my archive (from thousands taken) and I had to narrow down to around 5. I say around 5 because the entry fee allows for 5 images, with each additional costing US$10 per image.

These images were chosen for what they represent in the heavy metal genre on the side of the performer. King Diamond, with his theatrical stage show, brings forth as much fury and power as any other more aggressive band. The inverted cross represents the adversarial nature of relationship of heavy metal (and all of rock music) and religion. Depravis Nocturna of Spectral Manifest brings forth his own fury while maintaining a strict focus. As the most important instrument, the electric guitar is easily the most universal symbol of rock and roll. Even when it is not being played, the potential energy is barely contained within. Jeffrey Nothing epitomizes the horrific nature of some of the subject matter of heavy metal. There exists a certain mystique to the rock and roll artist in everything from the lifestyle to the live performance. Aaron Meyers, with the lights seeking him out, maintains and projects that mystique from the shadows as he plays his guitar during an extended solo.

I want to greatly thank Stevie, Brenda, and Justin for their help in curating this entry. Without them, I would have had a very difficult time focusing (and even beginning). And Stevie gets an extra thanks for bringing this call to my attention.

I am under no assumption that all of these will get in, but at least 1 would be nice.

So I guess the waiting begins. It’s time to go live my life while the juror makes his decision.

I know this rare burst of blog-writing productivity may come as a shock to some. Every once in a while I decide something is worth sharing.

I’m in the process of answering a call for entry to a show in Minneapolis that is all about rock and roll. In fact, that’s the title of the show, “Rock & Roll.” The subject can be interpretive. It can be pretty much anything to do with the music, although I think promotion shots may not be welcome so much. On that I would need to ask, since one of the images on the website (taken by the juror) is what appears to be a promotional shot. This looks like it’s going to be an interesting show, nonetheless.

Currently I’m curating my images for the show, and hopefully will have a collaborator on that soon. Right now it involves picking through about 6 years of work in order to find the best images. I have come across some that I honestly forgot I took. I look back on some of these and can remember how I felt when I was in those photo pits taking those shots. I want to share some of them with you. These may or may not reflect the final images that I submit (I can submit up to 5, with the option for more should I choose to pay more). These aren’t in any particular order and is only a small sample of what I am going through right now.

Click on each thumbnail to view the larger version.