Blender Gallery is proud to present ‘A Wished for Song, Portrait of Jeff Buckley’ by renowned music photographer Merri Cyr.

May 29th 2007 will see the 10 year anniversary of Jeff Buckley’s tragic death, and what a better way to pay tribute to one of the most prolific yet private rock legends of our time than in a stunning exhibition of personal photographs by Merri Cyr.

Featuring over 30 images, many of which have never been seen before, Wished for Song provides a unique and personal insight into one of the world’s most mysterious musical legends.

Merri Cyr, whose friendship with Buckley started at an impromptu photo shoot, was personally selected by Buckley to photograph his album packages and document him on tour.

Following Buckley from his early beginnings in New York in 1992, the show charts his rise to the fame and documents the expanse of his short career.

This is an exhibition that reflects Buckley’s desire for his life to be recorded, his dedication to music, and the intensity with which he lived a life overshadowed by a musician father he had barely known.

What started as just a one-off assignment for a photographer led to an invitation to not only shoot his album photos but also to document Buckley on tour and record his everyday life on the road. This makes A Wished for Song a show no fan of Buckley or music photography can miss.

BACKGROUND

Jeff Buckley was born in California's Orange County in 1966 and tragically drowned in Memphis on May 29, 1997.

He emerged in New York City's avant-garde club scene in the 1990's as one of the most remarkable musical artists of his generation, acclaimed by audiences, critics, and fellow musicians alike.

Jeff Buckley struck a chord with his listeners that to this day continues to strengthen; his notoriety and fame as a musician continuing to grow.

As a photographer of high profile musicians in 90’s New York, Merri Cyr had a chance photographic shoot with Buckley at his home in Lower Manhattan. Without having heard Buckley play a note, she felt an immediate sense of interest and felt compelled to see his next performance.

Equally, Buckley was so delighted with Merri’s work that he personally insisted that she be employed as his tour photographer while with Sony Music. Working together, Cyr and Buckley formed a strong creative relationship, and Merri became a personal friend of the mysterious rock legend.

“Even from that first shoot I felt a definite sense of play and a willingness on the part of Jeff to be open to experimentation that made photographing him an adventure. “ Cyr says of Buckley “…I feel that through the work we developed a meaningful friendship that was based on trust and a mutual respect for the work we did. He opened up and allowed me into his space in a way that I haven’t explored to that level with anyone else. “

In March 2005 Merri showcased these works at one of London’s most prominent music photography galleries, Proud Gallery. The show was a tremendous success, garnering support and attendance by music fans, as well as well as influential musicians such as Jimmy Page.

Alex Proud, Director of Proud Gallery felt that “Merri’s images are completely unique and offer an insight into one of rock’s most mysterious icons.”

Merri then exhibited “A Wished for Song” at MK Gallery in Brooklyn New York in September 2005, and again at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York City in February 2006.

Primarily focused on portraiture and the documenting of musicians and artists, Merri’s clients include Sony, Columbia Records, Warner Brothers, Maverick, Mercury, Elektra, Verve, Mercury Nashville, Deutsche Grammophon, Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly magazines amongst others.

She has over fifty album packages to her name. Works include the documenting of Lilith Fair for Rolling Stone, for whom she photographed Jewel, Tracy Chapman, Sarah McLachlan, Paula Cole, Suzanne Vega and Cassandra Wilson.

She has also had a book published, "A Wished-for Song, Portrait of Jeff Buckley" which includes 360 photos and interviews conducted by Merri.

"What makes a photo interesting to me is the expression of energy, the alchemy of a moment caught in the net of a certain shutter click. It's sort of like fishing for unknown treasure whose meaning only becomes evident later. That meaning changes with the passage of time." – Merri Cyr