PR kenny rogers exhibition

For Immediate Release Press Contact: Sandy Scott [email protected] Seth Hopkins [email protected] 770-387-1300 Legendary Singer Kenny Rogers was also a Talented Photographer Georgia’s Booth Museum to Showcase His Best Images, Opening February 17, 2022 CARTERSVILLE, GA on February 17, 2022 Booth Western Art Museum opens Through the Years: Kenny Rogers’ Photographs of America exhibition that highlights a little-known facet of a multi-talented man and sheds new light on the seriousness of Rogers’ pursuit of his hobby, making great images. Through the Years presents a selection of 60 of Rogers’ stunning color and black and white photographs of America, its celebrities and working people. In one of Kenny Rogers’ songs he sang, “You can’t make old friends,” however, the worldwide music icon, multiple Grammy Award-winner and Country Music Hall of Fame Member made many new friends in the process of creating hundreds of celebrity portraits. Eighteen portraits, many of which are inscribed to Rogers by the subject, are among the highlights in the exhibition. Through the Years will remain on view through July 10, 2022. “I feel like I learn something from everything I do.” — Kenny Rogers When Kenny Rogers decided to take up photography he lived up to his image as “The Gambler,” seen in the hit 1980 TV movie of the same name, and went all in. He hired some of the greatest photographers in the world to show him the ropes, including former Ansel Adams’ assistant John Sexton. Master Portrait Photographer Yousuf Karsh not only gave him tips, but also wrote the forward to a book on Rogers’ images. Sexton often joined him on the road, especially if there would be a day off near an interesting location. Over the course of his career, crisscrossing America, on his many travels and tours he took every opportunity to get out and shoot pictures, documenting unique views of North America and the people he met. He made friends with many of them, and they subtly informed his art along the way. Photography gave Rogers a creative outlet separate from the fast-paced life of an entertainer. MORE

PAGE 2 – KENNY ROGERS’ EXHIBIT AT BOOTH MUSEUM When photographing landscapes Rogers has said, “While I am finally away from the glitter and the lights, there is a rare moment of privacy when I can relax and not worry about how I’m dressed, or how my hair looks, or the way my voice sounds.” He also enjoyed capturing portraits of friends, celebrities and the everyday lives of people. Rogers was an exceptionally talented portrait artist. This enabled him to show his peers not as unknowable celebrities, but as seemingly old friends in the distinctly human way he captured these intimate moments. Conversely, his street photographs of common folk seem to instill noble qualities in the subjects. “One of the things that impresses me about Kenny’s passion for learning photography is his obvious reverence for the great photographers who helped popularize the genre and make it a true artistic medium,” said Booth Museum Director, Seth Hopkins. “His beautiful images of iconic Western lands show he me he understood the art history side of things, and he honored those art pioneers by wanting to put his tripod in the same spots they did. He was creating similar images, but each one has a little part of the artist in it, making each unique.” A revered photographer, Rogers received an Honorary Masters of Photography from the Professional Photographers of America in 2014 and in 2017, he was honored with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Louis, Missouri. Rogers published three books of his photography: Kenny Rogers’ America (1986), Your Friends and Mine (1987), and This Is My Country (2001). Through the Years is being organized by the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, in collaboration with the Rogers’ estate, under the direction of Booth Museum’s Director of Curatorial Services Lisa Wheeler. She says, “The opportunity to delve into Rogers’ wide range of subjects and track his life through his photographs is very rewarding.” She also commented, “Kenny Rogers’ work perfectly intersects Art, Americana, and the Picturing America Gallery’s mission to present ‘the collective memory of the American people.’ Rogers’ success as an artist, both in music and photography, is a testament to his understanding of the American perspective and his collection of photographs reflects his unique life and travels across the country; always exploring, always making new friends along the way, Rogers’ photographs are a testament to his legacy.” MORE

PAGE 2 – KENNY ROGERS’ EXHIBIT AT BOOTH MUSEUM All photographs in the exhibition are on loan from the artist’s estate or the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. The estate hopes the exhibition will travel to several other important venues in the next few years. About Kenny Rogers: Rogers’ storied career spanned six decades and included many highlights. In addition to being a renowned singer, compelling storyteller, and consummate performer, he was a musician, songwriter, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. While he was particularly popular with country audiences, he also enjoyed success in the pop, rock, jazz and folk genres. Rogers scored 21 number one songs on the Country charts and many others on the Pop charts; and his 12 number one albums held the top spot on the country and pop album charts for more than 200 weeks in the U.S. alone. Worldwide sales of over 120 million albums make him one of the highest selling solo performers of all time. He also received critical acclaim, verified by his multiple Grammy Awards. In addition, Rogers received 21 American Music Awards, 11 People's Choice Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, six Country Music Association (CMA) Awards (including CMA Lifetime Achievement Award) and two CMT Music Awards (including CMT Artist of a Lifetime). He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. He passed away on March 20, 2020 at his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia. About Booth Western Art Museum Booth Western Art Museum was named Best Art Museum in the Country by the 2020 and 2021 USA Today’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice award program. An Affiliate to the Smithsonian Institution, the Booth is a 120,000 square foot museum located in Cartersville, Georgia, where guests are invited to See America’s Story through contemporary Western artwork, a Presidential Gallery and Civil War art gallery. Open since August 2003, Booth Museum is the only museum of its kind in the Southeast. To learn more about Booth Western Art Museum, visit www.boothmuseum.org. Museum Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Thursday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm. Sunday: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Closed Mondays, New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Admission Adult: $13; Senior (65+): $11; Student (with ID): $10; Child (12 and under): Free (accompanied by parent or guardian); Active Military Personnel (with ID): Free. ###