A new exhibit at the Campus Martius Museum will step forward from the museum's pioneer roots to look at "21st Century Blues Music."
The photography exhibit, sponsored by the Blues, Jazz and Folk Music Society of Marietta in conjunction with the Friends of the Museums, will feature the work of Dusty Blues Photography - and its owners, Dusty and Val Scott of Pittsburgh - on display, starting Sunday, through April 3 at the museum at 601 Second St. in Marietta.
A special reception will open the display to the public at 2 p.m. Sunday. The exhibit is a fundraiser for the Campus Martius Museum and the Ohio River Museum in Marietta.
The Scotts began their fine art photography business nearly 20 years ago and among the first events they photographed were the River City Ohio Blues Competition and the River City Blues Festival in Marietta. Their work and interest in the blues genre has made them well-known in the music world and their photographs are in public and private collections and libraries worldwide.
As Dusty Blues Photography, the Scotts photograph more than 700 performers every year and their images of blues musicians, personalities and events are regularly published by the world's major music publications and other venues, including CD covers, books and blues festival posters.
In 2009, they received the "Keeping The Blues Alive" (KBA) Award for Art and Photography from the national Blues Foundation in Memphis. The KBA is a prominent award for those who "have made a significant contribution to the blues world."
The photographers will be present on Sunday to answer questions and to autograph prints purchased to help support the museums. The Tokyo Tramps from Boston, winners of the 2010 River City Ohio Blues Competition, who will be representing Marietta and the BJFMS in Memphis at The International Blues Challenge, will also perform during the reception.
BJFMS Vice President Steve Wells said when the Scotts heard of the predicament the Marietta museums are in after being told they have to raise most of their operating funds "on their own" if they wanted to remain open, the photography duo volunteered to provide some of their favorite prints for display and purchase to help raise money. Part of the purchase price from each of the prints will go towards the museums' operating expenses.
"We appreciate the help and support," said museum historian and archivist Bill Reynolds. "We also appreciate having a nationally known photography team to work with."
"We thought this was something extra we could do help support our local museums during our Blues Competition and Festival season," said BJFMS president John Bolen. "This will give all of the out-of-town visitors who come to Marietta for our events something extra to see and do while they're here, and a chance to help support a good cause at the same time. We hope the local community will also come out to support the museums.
"People have watched Dusty and Val Scott taking pictures at our music events for years, but have never seen the finished pictures. Now they'll be able to see," he said.
For more information, contact the Campus Martius Museum at (740) 373-3750. Hours of operation, admission charges and complete details are available on the museum's website at www.campusmartiusmuseum.org, the society website at www.bjfm.org or www.dustyblues.com.
