The Artist Skye Showcases Bob Dylan's Songs Addressing Social Justice

Bob Dylan is an icon, a Nobel Laureate. He belongs to the world but is America’s “Living National Treasure;“ homegrown. He absorbs and reflects back to us the deep and rich musical tradition of America which is a blend of colors, tones, landscapes, nationalities and folk traditions. His love for the melting pot that is American music is palpable,  reflected in everything he writes, sings and performs.  

So begins the artist Skye's description her current installation at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee featuring 20 panels from her massive "Shakespeare's in the Alley" exhibit that had been displayed in the Historic Duluth Depot during Dylan Fest during the spring of 2018. Skye's work is running concurrent with a related exhibit titled "Luba Lukova: Designing Justice." Lukova is an internationally recognized artist from New York City and her work is powerful. The shows opened in mid-September and will run through January 31. The museum is currently open to the public, with safety protocols in place.

Here's more from Skye regarding this work. 

It has been the privilege of my lifetime to do this work, and a labor of love. The words are hand-stenciled, letter by letter. The lyrics chosen encompass 6 decades of his long and ongoing career. What you experience here is a portion of a much larger collection.

To some, Bob Dylan is almost synonymous with the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. His words and music rang out across America. Many referred to him as the “spokesman for a generation.” Some of those early songs have endured and are as relevant today as they ever were. From 1962-1966 he managed to create a soundtrack for human justice in America, as well as lead the Rock and Roll Revolution. Those four years of his career are potent and staggering. Although he never wanted to be “ the spokesman for a generation, “ his lyrics and music reflected perfectly the time in which they were written. A handful of those songs are included in this collection, but there are many more to explore and discover.

Bob Dylan truly steps away from his work to allow us our own interpretations. I hope you will enjoy being immersed in his lyrics and that you will be inspired to seek out and explore more of his music and art. Take a journey into the vast landscape that is Bob Dylan and come out changed.

“The highest purpose of art is to inspire. What else can you do?
What else can you do for anyone but inspire them?" -- Bob Dylan

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Related Links

Jewish Museum Milwaukee

Inspired by Scorsese's Biopic on Dylan, Skye's Art Inspires Duluth

Five Minutes with Skye on Her Remarkable Bob Dylan Tribute

Images from Luba Lukova's Designing Justice