Artist Statement
Keith Long
Music has always been a part of my life, just like art. It is often difficult for me to separate the two. I believe I have been on a crash course with art from the day I took my first breath. I have loved it, struggled with it, fought it, and finally after a major natural disaster decided to make it my life. Music however, has always been my life. I loved it from the moment my mother played "Flowers are Red" to me as a child. I can remember her playing “Stairway to Heaven” on her guitar and changing the words to make me laugh. I remember the first time I heard BB King and Carol King and Janis. (The 80s are my sound track to life.) I remember the first time I heard Pink Floyd. I was obsessed and still am. I knew the significance of meeting Waylon Jennings at 13 years old, and I would sell my soul to see the Talking Heads reunite. These remarkable people from the local Gospel choir to musicians long past were and remain my heroes.
As an adult, I have been fortunate to have wonderful parents who supported me in my dire need to experience my heroes in the flesh. My mom never said no when I wanted to run away to the circus as long as I came home. Because of her trust and support, I have had experiences and memories that have become my valuables in life. Nothing can take them away from me.
I started following bands on tour in the spring of 1998, first as a spectator and later I began working with Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in visual arts and set up. I guess that is where art and music began to meld together for me. I would walk around during my free time at the festival and photograph all aspects of the scene from the mechanics to performances to audience relationships, reveling in others who share the same heroes. I became aware of how important it is to start documenting my experiences and making my “valuables” tangible,because art has become equally as important in my world. When a simple photograph just won’t suffice — painting becomes the deeper study into my heroes.