Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
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October 19, 2007

Seattle Museum Highlights Popular Music, Science Fiction
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19F0525:A6F02AD83191E1608F902AD0A922E1389574F7DCC14957C0 The Experience
Music Project and Science Fiction Museum highlights innovation in the
arts A museum in Seattle highlights two distinct expressions of
popular culture - pop music and science fiction. VOA's Mike O'Sullivan
reports, the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum looks
at innovation in the arts.







Seattle's Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum The
13,000-square-meter building, designed by the architect Frank Gehry,
opened in 2000 with funding from Paul Allen, the co-founder of
Microsoft.

Seattle was the home of rock musician Jimi Hendrix, and one section of
the museum highlights popular music.

Curator Brooks Peck says visitors can see and hear the story of
Hendrix, the Beatles, and other music icons.







Brooks Peck "What they can also do, which I think is special, is they
can come and be inspired to become a musician and learn how to be a
musician," he said. "We have an interactive sound lab where people can
grab an instrument, work with a computer instructor that will get them
started on whatever they want to play - drums, guitar, bass, just
about anything."







Guitars on display at the Seattle museum Jazz, country, Latin music
are all explored here. The museum also highlights music that
originated in and around Seattle, including the original 1957 version
of Louie Louie by Richard Berry.

A later recording by The Kingsmen became a major hit.

There are guitars on display, from those made in the 1770s to modern
electric versions.







Martha Carey The museum's Martha Carey points to an exhibit that
highlights Hip Hop music.

"It also showcases all the influence that hip hop has had in other
forms of cultural expression - fashion, art, graffiti art, even
product development, and the way record companies are formed and even
how they disperse their music," she said.

In another part of the ultra-modern building, the Science Fiction
Museum showcases thought-provoking ideas from science fiction stories,
films and television series.

There are costumes and movie props from Star Wars, The Terminator,
Batman and many other films. The Hall of Fame honors innovators of
science fiction, including Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, and
Ridley Scott, who directed the sci-fi films Alien and Blade Runner.


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