WASHINGTON, DC – Rare photographs providing a unique glimpse into the life of the late reggae king, Bob Marley, are now on display at the Govinda Gallery, downtown Washington DC.
The exhibition is entitled, Soul Rebel: An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley. It comprises some 40 never-before-seen photos taken by Time magazine photographer, David Burnett.
In an interview with JIS News, Mr. Burnett said the photographs depict one of the most beloved and respected international artistes of our time.
He said that, while on assignment for Time magazine, he first photographed Marley at his home in Jamaica in 1976, and continued to document him and The Wailers on the “Exodus” tour of Europe in 1977.
“It was really a dream assignment, because Bob was happy to engage you. He was very willing and giving and every direction he looks, as a photographer, I could not go wrong,” he said.
Burnett’s award-winning talents, coupled with Marley’s larger-than-life charisma, resulted in this extraordinary collection of previously unseen photographs. Also included in the exhibition are compelling images of The Wailers, Peter Tosh and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.
Time Magazine photographer, David Burnett (left), showing Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Anthony Johnson (second right), one of the 40 photographs of international reggae star, Bob Marley, which are on display at the Govinda Gallery, downtown, Washington, D.C. Looking on is Christopher Murray, Director of the Gallery.
In declaring the exhibition open, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States His Excellency Anthony Johnson, noted that 28 years after the death of the reggae icon, his message and music remained as poignant as ever.
“Jamaica has given to the world a musical genius of whom we are proud, and whose music will continue to live in our hearts for many years to come,” the Ambassador said.
He also congratulated Mr. Burnett for “some of the finest photographs” he has ever seen of Bob Marley, and extended an invitation to him to re-mount the exhibition in Jamaica next February to coincide with Marley’s birthday and the third staging of Reggae month.
The exhibition will be on display until March 28, 2009.
