Chris Harris Plays The Music Of John Fahey

May 9th , 2008 Chris Harris and Scott Malin

John Aloysius Fahey (1939-2001) birthed American Primitive guitar. A weaving of blues picking patterns and modern classical dissonance define this style. And it is through Fahey’s use of tradition and experimentation that narratives are heard, felt and stirred.

Chris Aloysius Harris (1974- ) plays the music of John Fahey. Opening night highlights Harris’s skill and diligence as he plays a selection of early acoustic Fahey songs. The challenge to learn and embody the songs was the seed for this show.

Scott Gordon Malin (1974- ) draws John Fahey. The song titles and repetitive listening evoked black-and-white dream-like narrative drawings. (Note: An interest in how drawing can suggest narratives has always inhabited Malin’s work.) Other drawings address the life, themes, and writing of Fahey. All the drawings are straight-to-ink, celebrating and damning choice. The mystery and power of music and drawings need to be experienced.