I will always support the right to be loudly or quietly offensive,to be controversial, to challenge how we see and view the world through art and creativity. It’s critical that artists challenge orthodoxy, open our eyes and minds. Want to be clear that I don’t condone censorship and I welcome free expression in art and music.
That said, I’m really let down by the just released 2020 festival poster, it doesn’t feel like it represents what our wonderful festival means to so many of us. Planet Bluegrass is such a progressive and generous team that builds on the concept of inclusion and respect. This poster feels a bit tone deaf to me and I’m really surprised to see it. So many other extraordinary images that could be used to represent the notion of everyone’s disappointed hopes & dreams. Why a naked woman lying in a field?
I really wanted something special to commemorate a really, really sad year on so many levels, not comfortable with this one.
No, it’s not just you! Willy has done posters for us over the years, first being, oh, 1980’s. Some of us liked it more than others, I’ll say, but we’ve never been much on “paint a starry night Van Gogh”. Poster kinda feels like I do. Maybe it seemed so appropriately gloomy. Maybe ol’ PB gets a little tolerance on this one. Maybe it’ll make more sense some day. It won’t be forgotten!
But, we just got this solstice webcast organized and its been quite helter skelter. Sam filmed a video howdy from the station inn with his band…
Hopefully from the barren gloomness some grins start to break through.
Hey Ferg, will always give PB tolerance cause we love & respect you guys a lot!
But yeah, it doesn’t work for me, it’s too much like the rock posters from the earlly seventies when it felt like naked chicks were the only role we played in the music scene.
I know that’s not how you see us but it really does feel a bit tone deaf.
That said, respect your right to express your disappointment and dismay over the loss of festival this year in the way it speaks for you and the team, I know how gut wrenching it is.
Really looking forward to the stream, thank you.
Big hugs to you & the team, cannot wait to see everyone again and having our festival THRIVE
OK, we yanked this down. Yikes! Seemed ok a couple months ago, sure doesn’t seem to fit here and now. We were going for something completely different and kinda gloomy with hope; but, makes sense that 2020 is the year of the not poster but sorta cuz who has posters without festivals. Kinda off the mark here tho folks. I tell ya, this planet in silos is dangerous!
The power of one woman who can change our world, good job. And it’s great that the folks at the Planet are able to correct a misstep when they sometimes happen. Willy has done many of the iconic posters over the years for Telluride. While this one may qualify as true art, it lacks any real real ties with our festival or the community that attends. And who really wants a poster or apparel for a festival that never happened. The controversy probably makes the art worth more as well so Willy should be ok, and with a little luck we can buy a new poster next year in person.
Thank you for bringing attention to this poster. I don’t have a facebook account and might not have seen it otherwise.
The image absolutely does not represent telluride bluegrass festival in any way and I think that’s the point. There is no event. I was looking forward to heading back this year after 4 years away.
I’m grateful the artist created this and wanted to let PB know that he has an audience with some of us.
WOW…I waited 48 hours after reading this post to respond as I realize there may not be an audience for an opposing view on this politically correct forum but here goes.
I did not see the poster…I did not get the chance…it offended someone and was removed from public viewing. My search engines could not find it on the internet but I did get to view Mr. Matthew’s other TBF posters and I must say he is dialed in to this experience. I can see how from a business point of view, as a music festival promoter, you would want to cast a wide net, appealing to as many as possible and alienating as few as possible but I wonder if the founder’s were so cautious. In general, I am a capitalist, I vote with my money. If I like your product I buy it, whether it is music or socks. Would I have bought this poster, I can not say since it is no longer available, therefore its commercial success or failure will remain an unknown.
I must say, tongue in cheek, you will need to be extra cautious in booking those old rock music icons from the seventies. My favorite, Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin (you know the one that collaborated, recorded and performed with Alison Krauss later in life) had a powerful stage persona. If you had any doubt about the lyrics his live performance made his intentions obvious. I have been trying for forty five years to capture that lightning in a bottle again which is why I ended up at Telluride. Good live music has magic that is hard to explain but you know it when you feel it, add to that majestic scenery and the common vibe like minded music lovers produce and you have Telluride.
At this point I must say I am suffering…spiritually, emotionally and yes even physically from a lack of live music and the gatherings where it is enjoyed. I will go now and listen to the opening cut from the Eagles on Hell Freezes Over. It may benefit others as well.
I know that two women have expressed discomfort. I can’t say for sure all the supportive comments were men; seems like most were. An implied, if not direct, opposite of fallow is fertile. So here’s a naked woman sprawled during the fallow season, waiting for fertility to resume. And I am being careful with my words here. This is discomfiting in this context (a community who rejoices together).
I am grateful to PB for removing it. If you want it as a piece of art, perhaps you can find it. But to represent this joyful community, even in the midst of our grieving at our loss this year, was misguided.
I love Sculpture and Art and I am not offended in any way by this poster…
Fallow, a field left unseeded. A woman lying peacefully naked in an empty field with a man way way back there seeding the land. Something beautiful is about to begin…
Personally I don’t find the poster offensive. But it evokes a strong emotion of death. And death is permanent. Hoping that the festival is not dead. Want to think of it more as rejuvenation.
Hope everyone is listening to KOTO and he solipsistic show tonight. Tried to get a couple of t shirts, all gone.
C’est la vie!
Joyeuux festival. :cheers
The art reminds me of dust bowl era art. We are dealing with a massive amount of sickness and death, and uproar due to ignorance spread through generations. I felt the art captured that dread, along with a glimpse of hope. Art is supposed to draw out the deep feelings of the viewer. If it was just shiny and pretty that really wouldn’t grasp the absolute dread this year has become especially in the states where we are dealing with much more than a virus. When art gets hidden because someone has an issue with the image, we are left with a deeper fallow. Imagine if the sculpture of David was considered wrong because he’s naked.So much fine art includes naked men and women, along with death as a means to show an appreciation of life.
