厂别补迟迟濒别鈥檚 isn鈥檛 as focused on music these days, but it鈥檚 still a rock 鈥榥鈥� roll experience inside that blob-like, Frank O. Gehry-designed metallic building.
Branded with the clever name MoPOP since 2016, the museum stands in the shadow of the Space Needle where it first opened in 2000 as Experience Music Project, or EMP.
Out of the gate it was all about music, and nothing but, and now the museum has grown to embrace the cultures of sci-fi, fantasy and horror movies in recent years, including a new 鈥淗idden Worlds鈥� exhibit that features 鈥淐oraline鈥� and other stop-motion films of Oregon鈥檚 Laika studio.
Exhibits tracing the histories of two of 厂别补迟迟濒别鈥檚 biggest musical exports, Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix, are long-term MoPOP exhibitions. Both offer fascinating deep dives into the lyrics, photos and memories of the trailblazing Grunge- and Hippie-era artists.
Another highlight is the of stringed instruments played by famous rockers including Slash, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Alice in Chain鈥檚 Jerry Cantrell.
Feeling inspired by all those axes? Try jamming with others in the , home to electric guitars, basses, drums, keyboards, microphones and other ready-to-rock gear in a studio-like setting.
At the moment, the most compelling exhibit at MoPOP is a visual history of hip-hop music that includes contact sheets, large-format photos and the stories of some of the most celebrated photo shoots of the past 40-plus years. Featured are influential artists including Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, Tupac and others. Hurry to see 鈥淐ontact High鈥� because it鈥檚 scheduled to leave the museum in January 2024.
, look for news about two other music-related exhibitions coming next year, including one planned as a long-term showcase.
In the lobby, the museum鈥檚 iconic 鈥済uitar tree鈥� still stands in the MoPOP lobby. It鈥檚 actually called 鈥淚F VI WAS IX: The Roots and Branches Sculpture,鈥� created by artist/composer Trimpin with close to 700 musical instruments (mostly guitars). The sculpture didn鈥檛 play any music when we visited in May, but word is that restoration work will make the music happen again one day.
New to me was the bronze statue of Soundgarden鈥檚 Chris Cornell on a sidewalk outside MoPOP. Nick Marra鈥檚 wonderful sculpture of the Seattle-raised son was commissioned and donated by Vicky Cornell five years ago, in 2018. It鈥檚 worth a selfie, for sure.
Sadly, we just missed the 鈥淧earl Jam: Home And Away鈥� exhibit that closed at MoPOP in April after five years of showcasing the Seattle band.
If music isn鈥檛 your thing, check out the museum鈥檚 other exhibits including the chilling 鈥淪cared To Death: The Thrill of Horror Film,鈥� 鈥淚ndie Game Revolution鈥� and 鈥淔antasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic,鈥� which is home to weaponry from 鈥淭he Lord of the Rings,鈥� the first white walker head from 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� and other attractions.
Ultimately, the most fascinating aspect of MoPOP might be the building itself. Close to 3,000 panels encase the outside of the structure with a fusion of textures and myriad colors. When Gehry began designing the museum, he was apparently inspired to create a structure that evoked the rock 鈥榥鈥� roll experience. As the story goes, he purchased several electric guitars, sliced them into pieces and used them as building blocks for an early model design.
That鈥檚 actually pretty rock 鈥榥鈥� roll, right?
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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