Taupin’s Art, Veterans Day and Elton John’s Tour Coincide
Bill Lowe Gallery in Buckhead presents art by Bernie Taupin, best known as the writer of almost every Elton John hit in history.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Bill Lowe Gallery in Buckhead this month presents a well-timed exhibition of multi-media assemblages by artistic giant Bernie Taupin. He is best known as the greatest lyricist of the 20th century and writer of almost every Elton John hit in history.
The exhibition coincides with John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour last weekend, the second year in a row at State Farm Arena.
Taupin, 69, whose first wife was Jewish, has, in recent years, gained immense acclaim for his complex configurations of imagery, found objects and text that create works that are as much cultural artifacts as works of art. Based on what can be seen on display at the gallery, American flags and guitars are his most popular subjects.
“Taupin’s 50 years at the pinnacle of the music industry give him a unique perspective about the visual dialogue between unraveling European social and creative constructs and the explosive emergence of a new American artistic vocabulary,” according to Lowe Gallery marketing specialist Donovan Johnson.
On Oct. 25, the Lowe Gallery hosted an open house showing of Taupin’s works. Legendary Events catered the affair with passed hors d’oeuvres and unique stations, like a hummus bar with an assortment of carrot and edamame varieties. The roasted artichoke, eggplant, zucchini, root vegetable platters pleased a well-populated Jewish crowd. A dessert display followed.
Lowe, the ever-gracious host, is known for his elaborate gallery events that some have said rivaled sumptuous bar mitzvah buffets. Lowe said that through his 30 years he has accumulated quite a large and treasured Jewish client base.
Some interpret Taupin’s lyrics to have hidden Jewish symbolism, especially “Levon,” which references war wounds as from the Holocaust and the role of Jesus, concluding that “he shall be a good man.”
There was also a notable stew about John’s fourth appearance in Tel Aviv in 2016, where he ignored Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement threats to close down the show and had wildly popular concerts there.
He performed his “Crazy Wonderful Night” concert for a crowd of 40,000, kicking off his European tour and dedicating “Your Song” to the State of Israel. He glowed, “I couldn’t have asked for a better audience or a nicer place.”
Flash forward to Taupin’s art exhibit and sale, Johnson said
“Transferring lyrical talent to visual arts, Taupin’s insight into chords of hum
an emotion makes him a master at weaving the written word to move the collective heart and soul. He has adapted this gift with equal finesse in his art. Each of Taupin’s works taps into broad philosophical and thematic concerns. They have much in common with the communicative nuances inspired by risky urban ‘tags’ of street art. … His work has the inherent energy derived from political power tools like stenciling letterforms.”
There are blasts of spray paint, images created over distinct textured surfaces, stamping out recognizable symbols and target shapes and flag images, chicken wire, candy wrappers and heaven knows what else.
Many works incorporate guitars. Lowe said the South is especially receptive to found objects in the context of cultural artifacts.
Among the crowd, native New Yorker Susan Potasnik said, “This event is really akin to something we would have in SoHo or Greenwich Village.” Susan Frumin, who had just come from another gallery event on Miami Circle, noted, “We come because we enjoy meeting interesting people and seeing the art.” Socialite Francine Lowe joked, “We love coming because the price is right {zero}, good people, good food. What could be better?”
After the final performances of John, Taupin appeared Nov. 3 at the Bill Lowe Gallery for an intimate Southern brunch and two-hour discussion with Lowe. The discussion was to be led by Mike Green, former 14-year chair of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which puts on the Grammy Awards. He cancelled to rescue horses from the California fires.
The exhibition is open to the public through the end of November at 764 Miami Circle.
Individual pieces start around $22,000 and many are in the $40,000s.
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