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Created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the ‘Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power’ exhibition has rock-and-rolled into Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) for six months.
This groundbreaking and provocative exhibition highlights the flashpoints and the firsts of the women who moved popular music and American culture forward.
Housed in MIM’s Target Gallery until April 20, 2014, the exhibition spotlights more than 70 artists and features instruments, original handwritten lyrics, stage outfits, concert posters and videos from artists like Billie Holiday, Maybelle Carter, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, Madonna and Cyndi Lauper.
The exhibition weaves a powerful and engaging narrative that demonstrates how women have been engines of creation and change in popular music, from the early years of the 20th century to the present. Notable artifacts include Lady Gaga’s meat dress, Wanda Jackson’s acoustic guitar, Joan Jett’s leather jacket and Bessie Smith’s Oh Daddy Blues sheet music.