Desolation Row
The Marionette Performance
A film by Roderick Smith (www.rodericksmith.com), featuring the Music of Bob Dylan and the 16th century engravings of Peter Bruegel the Elder.
This 10 minute film is a collage of music and imagery set down by two artists who lived 450 years apart. The unexpected union of these visionaries was a chance encounter late one night when, as painter Roderick Smith was perusing an old book of engravings by Flemish artist Peter Bruegel the Elder, Bob Dylan's Desolation Row happened to be played on the radio. In an instant an uncanny collaboration was taking place. The wildly strange visual imagery of Bruegel was illustrating the equally bizarre lyrics of the Dylan song. They were in tandem - yet neither medium violated the unique vision of the other. Convinced that a creative miracle was at hand, Mr. Smith set about capturing this creative apparition with the use of marionettes, engravings and the music of Bob Dylan. D519 is the result.
Number of discs: 1
Running time: 00:10
Video standard: NTSC
Great visuals. Nothing else like it."
"This show is absolutely amazing. The artist could perhaps have found a better live recording but, never mind, you haven't seen anything like it. Its brilliant!"
The recording used was from Cedar Rapids 2000 with a harmonica performance (not Dylan) added for the film.