It certainly a-pier-s to be the same

January 20, 2017 2:24 AM

London-based blogger Diamond Geezer was astonished by a painting by Bob Dylan of a pier in Norfolk, Virginia. Mostly because it seemed to be based on a photograph that he'd taken of Blackpool Pier.

There's been quite a bit of press coverage of this (to which Diamond Geezer responded today), as well as discussion on a Dylan fan site.

This isn't the first time that Dylan's influences can be seen very clearly (previously). Of course, he's not the only artist who has been accused of appropriation when creating his art.

posted by Stark (13 comments total)

No, I do not feel that good
When I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief
Perhaps I’d rob them.
posted by rokusan at 2:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

This is easily fixed; Bob just has to buy the North Pier and ship it over to Virginia.
posted by Segundus at 3:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]

I've not seen Bob Dylan's paintings before. He probably shouldn't give up the day job.
posted by Grangousier at 3:47 AM on January 20, 2017

"I know I've seen that pier before, " Big Jim was thinkin' to himself
"Maybe down in Mexico or a picture up on somebody's shelf"
posted by chavenet at 3:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]

dylan pier
by other naym
is blacpool
nae norfolk veya

why he paint
and call else

he lik dimmend geeza
posted by unliteral at 4:34 AM on January 20, 2017

Never in a million years thought I'd see my hometown on the blue. Anyway, it's of note that the pier that Dylan saw was called Harrison's Fishing Pier and destroyed by hurricane Isabel in 2003 (I was there to witness part of it! Terrifying and amazing).

Not to derail, but here's some background - The pier that stands there now, Ocean View Fishing Pier, was built by the local real estate slum lords moguls - the Boones. There was some controversy when it was built, because Ronnie Boone Jr (owner of the project) built an entirely different building than the one that was approved by city planners. (That was not the first time). Despite the breach of regulations, the judge allowed Boone Jr. after-the-fact permits, and the building was allowed to stay. This year, after the federal investigation, Boone Sr. was arrested and plead guilty to bribing the city treasurer, and two other officials. He faces 35 years in prison and 1.25 million dollars in fines.
posted by FirstMateKate at 5:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]

*Typo, sorry- It's of note that the pier that Dylan saw was called Harrison's Fishing Pier.. should be:

It's of note that the pier that's in the "pier in Norfolk, Virginia" link was called Harrison's Fishing Pier and was destroyed by hurricane Isabel in 2003.
posted by FirstMateKate at 6:04 AM on January 20, 2017

"Some day, life will be sweet like a rhapsody..."
posted by mosk at 10:01 AM on January 20, 2017

Nothing new here. See this analysis of a previous Bob Dylan art exhibition. Executive summary: certainly derived from photos (not painted from life on tour, as claimed); probably not painted by Dylan, but outsourced (perhaps to a Chinese Art Mill); perhaps done in conjunction with Richard Prince. But, hey, they were signed by Dylan, and therein lies their value.
posted by oluckyman at 2:39 PM on January 20, 2017

Not even that, oluckyman.

"As long as Dylan signs his paintings--whoops, he doesn't--well, as long as they're presented as his, under his name."

posted by Pinback at 4:44 PM on January 20, 2017

What's really interesting to me, re: this latest discovery, oluckyman's link, and all the previous work on the sources of Chronicles, "Love and Theft," etc., is that none of it can really be an accidental revelation. Dylan is famously obsessive about his image, and clearly aware that his fans (and detractors) can and will discover where his lyrics and art come from. It's almost like he's running an ARG for critics and obsessive fans, where you end up debating the nature of art and what it means for an "artist" to "create." (Which of course is an argument he's been at the center of since his very first mashup of trad songs and Woody Guthrie lines.)

My pet theory is that some day Dylanologists will discover that every single line of "Love and Theft" is lifted from another source.
posted by Banky_Edwards at 7:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

Dylan made a regular habit of stealing music without attribution, why should his paintings be any different?
posted by tdismukes at 7:59 AM on January 21, 2017

I don't think the photographer can make that much of a claim to prior art, look at the picture - a dead-centre photo of a tourist destination, and a style of pier that is hardly that unique to begin with. I bet most of the people who took a photo of the Blackpool pier took that exact same photo. Dylan's painting is bloody awful, but I doubt he spent the evening casting about on Flickr to appropriate the inspiration - he could just as well have based it on any number of insipid, poorly composed pictures of a pier from any number of places, photos he himself could easily have taken (perhaps indicating that at least he has spared us an exhibition of his photography).
posted by fellorwaspushed at 2:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]