Baron Wolman
Janice Joplin Copyright © Baron Wolman. All Rights Reserved.
Baron Wolman was Rolling Stone magazine’s first chief photographer. From 1967 to 1970, his photographs appeared in virtually every issue of the magazine. Rolling Stone founder and editor Jann Wenner has said that Wolman “helped set Rolling Stones’ visual style and pave the way for those who followed him.”
Based in San Francisco, Wolman had an insider’s view of the cultural revolution going on during the 1960s. His friendship with rock impresario Bill Graham gave Wolman backstage access to performers such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, B.B. King, Jim Morrison, Sly Stone, Tina Turner, Neil Young, Donovan, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and many others. His images constitute one of the definitive archives of the ‘60s music scene.
In July 1994, Govinda first showed Baron’s photographs in its Woodstock exhibition, which also included photos by Henry Diltz, Lisa Law, Elliot Landy, and Joseph Sia. His first solo exhibition of photographs, Baron Wolman: My Generation, was held at Govinda Gallery in June 1996. Wolman’s photographs have appeared in publications and books throughout the world. A collection of his photos was published in Classic Rock and Other Roller (Square Books, 1992). His photographs of the Rolling Stones are featured in Rolling Stones 50×20. Baron Wolman was also one of the featured photographers in the now-historic touring exhibition, Sound & Vision: Monumental Rock and Roll Photography, organized by Govinda Gallery in conjunction with the Columbus Museum.
Select an image to view slideshow. All images Copyright © Baron Wolman. All Rights Reserved.
Baron Wolman’s documentation of the Woodstock Music & Arts Festival is presented in Woodstock (Reel Art Press, 2014) with accompanying text featuring an interview with Wolman and Woodstock creator, Michael Lang, and a foreword by musician Carlos Santana.
Wolman captured the experience and atmosphere of Woodstock like no other photographer. More interested in the crowd than the performers, his photographs are hugely evocative and offer an insight into this legendary event that is rarely seen.
“Woodstock showed the world how things could have been, and for this reason it’s important that we never forget this experience, this place, this time, this dream that came true, if only for three days…” -Baron Wolman