Exhibition in honour of Shane MacGowan and The Pogues to open in US
Niall Stokes, curator of the exhibition, said it was the 'rambunctious spirit' of the band and the 'peerless lyrics' of Shane MacGowan that made it "feel so right" for the display to have its debut at the Bob Dylan Centre.
An exhibition on The Pogues and Shane MacGowan will have its US debut on March 8, with an exclusive showing at the Bob Dylan Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
opened at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in December 2023 in Dublin, shortly after the death of MacGowan in late November.
The exhibition highlights the evolution of The Pogues, the rise of punk rock, and the role of the Irish diaspora on the British music scene.
It features contributions from family and band members including Victoria Mary Clarke, Siobhan MaGowan, Jem Finer, Nick Cave, Imelda May, Glen Hansard, Steve Lillywhite, and the family of The Pogues' original manager Frank Murray.
The selection from MacGowan's wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, will feature never-before-seen or published illustrations, drawings, lyrics and stories dating back to the frontman's childhood and through more than 60 years of music.
“We take immense pride in highlighting the stories and accomplishments of Irish emigrants, demonstrating that Irish identity transcends the geographical boundaries of our island," said Nathan Mannion, head of exhibitions and programmes at EPIC.
"With that in mind, we commissioned this special exhibition to celebrate one of the greatest transnational Irish bands of all time.”Â
The launch of in Tulsa will be the first special exhibition at the centre about an artist other than Bob Dylan.
The Bob Dylan Centre holds and displays more than 100,000 priceless items belonging to the legendary artist including handwritten manuscripts, notebooks, videos, photographs, artwork, memorabilia, unreleased recordings, and musical instruments.
Steve Jenkins, director of the Bob Dylan Centre, said they adjusted the schedule of the exhibits to get an earlier opening for the project.
“As a tribute to Shane, the band’s remarkable artistry, and a celebration of Irish music and culture, we thought it was important to bring this exhibit to the United States in time for St Patrick’s Day,” Mr Jenkins said.
Niall Stokes, curator of the exhibition, said it was the "rambunctious spirit" of the band and the "peerless lyrics" of MacGowan that made it "feel so right" for the display to have its debut at the Bob Dylan Centre.
"It is a testament to the greatness of Shane MacGowan that we can say, without fear of contradiction, that this is the artistic company that he should be seen in."
President Michael D Higgins expressed his support for the launch of the exhibition at the centre.
"Shane MacGowan was one of the greatest ever Irish songwriters,” President Higgins said. "The resonance of Shane’s words was reflected in the extraordinary outpouring of warmth which followed his death last November.
"One of the hallmarks of Shane’s writing was his intrinsic understanding of the vital importance of bringing a poetic sensibility to those wonderful, evocative songs of his.
"These are qualities that he shared with Bob Dylan, whose exceptional body of work rightly saw him being awarded the Nobel Prize In Literature in 2016," he concluded.
MacGowan died on November 30 at the age of 63 following a long period of ill health.
His death led to an outpouring of support and emotions from fans across the globe, with thousands lining the streets as his funeral procession passed through Dublin.
Stars from the music world such as Bono, Tom Waits, and Nick Cave paid tribute to the singer/songwriter at his funeral in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
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