Buffalo Rising Online

Oct 19th 2008, 12:18am By Eli George

Gusto at the Gallery consistently brings unique and exciting artists to its free programming and on October 24th, they’re bringing a whole family of artists. The night will be centered on Art Rosenbaum, father of Neil and husband of Margo. For 50 years, Art has traveled the American South with his family creating numerous field recordings. A field recording is a recording outside of a recording studio that attempts to be as clear while illustrating the environment.

Art has become recognized as a keeper of vanishing traditional music, or music that is slowly but surely being lost to the ravages of time. Art has captured some amazing field recordings of slave and ring shout, murder ballads, slide and bottleneck blues, work chants, corridos, gospel, and more. He has already released one four-CD album called “Art of Field Recording: Vol. 1” and is diligently working on his second album.

Art travels with his wife Margo, whose artwork was used on the cover of his first album and is featured with this post. While the Rosenbaum’s are at the gallery, Margo’s artwork will be on display as well as photographs by both Margo and Art. Meanwhile, their son has picked up on the family's artistic talent and ventured into the branch of film. He works as a documentarian that travels with his parents and films many of the field recordings.

To encompass all three members of this talented family, the night will begin at 7 PM with the premiere screening of Neil’s film “Sing My Trouble By,” a film about America’s dark yet beautiful music traditions. After the film, Neil and Patrick Martin, the director of riverrun and Cinegael Buffalo, will discuss the unique film. At 8:15 PM, Neil's father will take center stage and as people look at the artwork and photos of Art and Margo, Art will speak and present rare field recordings and interviews from his archives and from “Goodbye Babylon.”

During that time, Art, who is a pretty talented musician himself and is a retired Professor of Art from the University of Georgia, will perform some of the music he has heard with his friend Professor Laurence Shine of Buffalo State College. Buffalo musicians will join the duo and starting at 9:30 PM, Art will field record selected Buffalo musicians. Music will continue in the Muse Restaurant from 10-11 PM where there will be a cash bar.

Cinagael Buffalo and riverrun are presenting the evening as “Sounds in the American Dark.” It is free for the public to attend in the gallery’s auditorium, starts at 7 PM, and more information can be found at riverrun’s website.