Running through Sept. 3, the Paul Simon: Words & Music exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles is presenting the singer-songwriter’s life and work chronologically, with themed sections that cover Simon’s early years and Simon & Garfunkel period, his acclaimed solo work since 1971 and his songwriting process. A new addition to this exhibit, which premiered at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, is the newly developed music lab, created exclusively by Roland Corporation U.S. for the Skirball, that allows visitors to experience Simon’s recordings firsthand through various interactive activities.
Music fans can keep the beat to “Cecilia” in a communal drum circle, use Roland mixing equipment to manipulate tracks for “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and “Wristband” using mixing equipment and more. The lab features five main music activity labs (Audio Mixing, Electronic Drum Circle, “Partch” Keyboard, Rhythm Mix & Match and Harmonizer) with more than 10 different interactive music stations that showcase a host of musical products for hands-on learning and fun. Featured Roland products include the ELCajon EC-10 Electronic Layered Cajon, Handsonic HPD-20 Digital Hand Percussion, Octapad SPD-30 Digital Percussion Pad, SPD-SX Sampling Pad, MX-1 Mix Performer and more. The new BOSS VE-8 Acoustic Singer is also featured in the Harmonizer activity.
“The only West Coast stop for this traveling exhibition is right in our own backyard, so we wanted to create something special for the visitors,” states Roland Corporation U.S. VP Marketing Chris Halon.
The Skirball’s presentation of Paul Simon: Words & Music expands on the original exhibition and includes many never-before-exhibited or rarely exhibited items from Simon’s own archives, including vintage guitars and handwritten lyrics.
Feature image by: Nick Elgar
For more information, visit skirball.org/exhibitions/paul-simon-words-music.
