"Rockabilly Vacation," a mixed-media series will open 8 p.m. July 19 at the hair salon Velvet Monkey Too, 3003 N.W. 63rd.
The show, which runs through August, will feature works by Tiffany Michelle, who will exhibit shrines of "sun-aged souvenirs from a journey of iconic relationships, road trips and rock 'n' roll." The old, distressed objects and findings are all influenced by rockabilly "? a music subculture that originated in the Fifties and continues to inspire nostalgia for the retro style of early rock.
"I do have pinup girls that are featured in an iconic sense, and then classic vintage cars," Michelle said. "The shrines will feature votive candles so that each shrine can be approached in a spiritual sense. They're very textural and have lots of found objects and fabric and things that have to do with rockabilly culture."
Michelle said she sees the combination of rock 'n' roll with religion in her art as a reflection of rockabilly, going back to when Elvis mixed spirituality into music that guided the movement.
"It's about beautiful pinup girls and rock 'n' roll, but there's also the deeply religious Southern gospel," she said.
LOCAL TV SHOW
"Utopia Joe," a local television reality series show about fine art, power tools and rock music will debut on OETA-TV Channel 13 this fall, with one episode to document Michelle's art and the opening of "Rockabilly Vacation."
The Velvet Monkey salons have been hosting art shows for five years and tend to open a new one every two months. All shows are free and interested artists are welcome to contact the salon about showing their art.
"We love it because every two months, it gives our salon a completely different feel," said Estrella Elliot, who owns the salons. "People are always wandering around, looking at the art while they're getting their hair done."
"?Allison Meier
