Matthew Thorsen 'Sound Proof' Photo Exhibit Opens at Governor's Gallery Feb. 2

This exhibit of black and white photography celebrates the work of Matthew Thorsen, the go-to photographer for Burlington-area bands during the 1990s. Thorsen took hundreds of portrait, newspaper and magazine photos, effectively chronicling the local music scene of the era. The Governor’s Gallery is the final venue for this show as it concludes a state-wide tour.  The public is invited to attend a reception for the show on Thursday, February 2, from 3 to 5 PM.  Normal gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  A photo ID is required for admittance.

The photographs in this exhibit were taken at a time when Thorsen was still working with film. He has since moved to a digital format and these chemical prints have become an artful reminder of a receding era and a valuable contribution to the historic record of Vermont’s musical heritage.

The core exhibit is comprised of black and white photographs with corresponding audio. The interpretive audio features Thorsen describing the subject and context of images, in most cases followed with a song by the band or musician of the photo.

Audio is accessed via cell phone, fee-free, provided by Guide By Cell and supported in part by a 2010 Champlain Quadricentennial Legacy Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership with support also from the Vermont Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts. Access the audio by dialing (802) 881-0980 and enter the code found on each photo label. For the introduction audio, use code 29. Sound Proof is produced by Big Heavy World with Matthew Thorsen and presented by Seven Days, with generous support from Creative Habitat.