Nashville Residents Co-Curate Photo Exhibit in Los Angeles

The Country Music Hall of Fame’s Tim Davis and Michael McCall have co-curated a free Country music photography exhibit to run in Los Angeles’ Annenberg Space for Photography from May 31-Sept. 28.

Developed with Shannon Perich of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American, Country: Portraits of an American Sound will explore how both historical and contemporary images shape the public identity of Country music. A variety of documentary, studio, promotional and fine art images are featured of Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Keith Urban and Hank Williams—as well as deejays, fans, executives and musicians. Photographers include Opry veteran Les Leverett, among others.

On Thursday, Aug. 21, the Nashville co-curators will be featured in the free evening lecture series, Iris Nights, in conjunction with the California exhibition. In addition to being streamed online, tickets are available for reservation.

As part of the exhibit, an original half-hour documentary will also highlight photography’s role in Country music’s more than 80-year evolution. Commissioned by the art-space, the Arclight Production will feature over a dozen Country music artists, including Roy Clark, Merle Haggard, Lyle Lovett, LeAnn Rimes, Marty Stuart, Lee Ann Womack and more.