Show puts the Stones on exhibit

Singer Mick Jagger attends The Rolling Stones “Exhibitionism” exhibit opening at Industria on Nov. 15 in New York.
Singer Mick Jagger attends The Rolling Stones “Exhibitionism” exhibit opening at Industria on Nov. 15 in New York.

When the Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, Mick Jagger quoted French avant-garde poet Jean Cocteau in his acceptance speech.

"Americans are funny people," Jagger said as he prepared to enter what he referred to as Cleveland's "waxworks of rock." "First you shock them, then they put you in a museum."

That cheeky quote is heard as part of the introductory film that acknowledges the idea behind "Exhibitionism," the pop-up memorabilia-and-more Stones show which, after five months in London, has opened in lower Manhattan.

"Exhibitionism" features an art-installation re-creation of the unkempt bachelor pad in London that Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones shared in 1963, complete with dirty dishes, overstuffed ashtrays, and vintage Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry albums.

There's a guide to the band's cinematic history with critical commentary by Martin Scorsese -- from Robert Frank's infamous 1972 tour documentary to Scorsese's 2008 concert film Shine a Light. For fashionistas, a costume section includes remarks by John Varvatos, Anna Sui and Tommy Hilfiger.

"Exhibitionism" arrives at a time when the most enduring of rock bands has swung back into the popular consciousness.

On Dec. 2, The Stones -- whose four core members' average age is 72 -- released Blue & Lonesome, their first studio album since A Bigger Bang in 2005. The album, recorded in three days in December 2015 at Mark Knopfler's studio in London, is their first all-covers collection, featuring songs they went to school on by American blues masters such as Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush, Magic Sam and Memphis Slim.

"Exhibitionism" means to take in the full breadth of that half-century. "It's a thematic celebration of this band that has been part of our popular culture for over 50 years," said curator Ileen Gallagher. "And a deep dive into how they worked with filmmakers and artists and fashion designers and stage designers to create this kind of visual as well as musical culture."

"Exhibitionism" is first and foremost for serious Stones fans.

Only the hard-core will be captivated throughout the late chronological stages, as the focus shifts to cringe-inducing videos like "Harlem Shuffle" and shows off a model for the Bridges to Babylon tour stage set.

Much more fun was listening to Scorsese, who used the Stones' music effectively in films from 1973's Mean Streets to 1990's Goodfellas. He expresses the band's primal appeal in a way that gets at the personal relationship fans have with the music that affects them most deeply, and which will draw Stones fans to "Exhibitionism" to get a little closer to their heroes.

"The Rolling Stones' music is like a part of me," the 74-year-old director says. "When I was young, my relationship with it was very personal. I felt like it was speaking to me. It was dangerous, though you could say that about rock 'n' roll in general. It was layered and complex. Ironic. Sometimes sarcastic. Honest. And most of all for me, accepting of the dark side of human nature. So very rich and so evocative, and haunting at times. And deeply, deeply rooted in the blues."

"Exhibitionism: The Rolling Stones," through March 12 at Industria, 775 Washington St., New York. Tickets: $37-$84.50 (timed entry). Info: (800) 653-8000 or stonesexhibitionism.com

Travel on 12/11/2016

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