A highly influential poet, singer and songwriter, Patti Smith first gained recognition as one of the more visionary artists of the 1970s. Her acclaimed debut album Horses is a landmark achievement fusing fiery punk rock with poetry. Since then, Smith has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, named a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture. In this rare intimate appearance, Smith will give a poetry reading and perform acoustic versions of her classic songs. Tickets are $45 general, $45 Senior/Child and $22 HSU students. Tickets are available at the University Ticket Office and at humboldt.edu/centerarts.
A seminal American artist, Patti Smith has produced a body of work whose influence branches out through generations, across disciplines, and around the world. Born in Chicago and raised in South Jersey, Smith is a poet, a singer, and a songwriter. She is also a photographer and fine artist. Emerging in the nascent cultural hotbed of mid-70s New York City, Smith forged a reputation as one of the decade’s first visionary artists — merging poetry and rock in vital new ways. Her 1975 debut album, Horses, is routinely ranked as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 2007, she was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. In 2010, she won the National Book Award for Non-Fiction for Just Kids, a bestselling memoir about her early days in New York when she met, and made art with her friend Robert Mapplethorpe.
Patti Smith and her band have released eight studio albums on Arista Records from 1975-2002, including Horses, Radio Ethiopia and Gung Ho. Her 2007 release, Twelve, a collection of cover songs, was hailed by many as the best of the year. In 2010, Smith received ASCAP’s Founders Award, for lifetime achievement. In 2011, Patti Smith was listed amongst the TIME 100 most influential people in the world, as well as one of Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists. She has received an honorary doctorate degree from the university at Chicago’s Institute of Art, and was the 2011 recipient of Sweden’s Polar Award — an international acknowledgement for significant achievements in music.
Smith’s poetry collections include Auguries of Innocence, published by Ecco Press. Previously published books include Babel, Early Work, and Complete. As a fine artist, Smith has exhibited at various galleries and museums. Her 2002 exhibit, Strange Messenger, containing drawings, silkscreens and photos from 1967 to 2002, showed at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh before traveling throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. A solo exhibit of drawings and photographs also showed at the Fondation Cartier Pour L’Art Contemporain in Paris. In 2005, the French Ministry of Culture awarded her the prestigious title of Commandeur of Arts & Letters. Smith also has honorary doctorate degrees from Rowan University and Pratt Institute.
For more information and credit card orders, call CenterArts at 826-3928 or at humboldt.edu/centerarts.