Newest artwork will be on display in Florida this summer
Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Michael Cartellone makes a return to the art world with an exhibit of his new works at the Wentworth Gallery at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on Thursday, July 20th, a day before the band launches its Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour with ZZ Top in West Palm Beach, FL.
Cartellone previously showed his revolutionary Pixelism art with the Wentworth Gallery in 2019. These new works from 2023 feature a stunning tribute to Ringo Starr and the Beatles as well as a very special commemorative piece called Fifty celebrating the 50 year legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd and a tribute to the first Skynyrd album, Pronounced. Fifty signed and numbered canvas prints of this special memorabilia piece will be available for sale as well as the original painting.
The concept for the Ringo piece began about 15 years ago when the long-time drummer imagined what it would be like to be Ringo and see what he saw from his vantage point during the famous rooftop concert where the Fab Four performed and was documented in the 1970 film, Let It Be.
“Being a drummer myself, I am very familiar with this vantage point, which makes this painting about my favorite drummer, of my favorite band, even more special to me,” remarks Cartellone.
Describing the year long process of creating the stunning work, “I wanted everything to be as authentic as possible … so I spent weeks researching photos of Ringo’s drums (including the equipment company logos on the cymbals and drumhead as well as recreating exactly what the aged drumheads looked like. I watched videos from both “Get Back” and “Let It Be” … as well as capturing very specific details in all the buildings (like brick and mortar patterns).”
Cartellone will not be in attendance at the showing which takes place from 3-6 pm local time.
The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, the first co-headlining tour featuring ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd will stage performances in 25 cities in North America this summer, with special guest Uncle Kracker. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on Friday, July 21st at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, FL, and wraps in Camden, NJ at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on Sunday, September 17th.
After the recent death of original founding member Gary Rossington, the Lynyrd Skynyrd band members and estates have decided to continue to honor the musical legacy of the band that is celebrating 50 years of generational history in American rock and roll. The current members, led by Johnny Van Zant, the singer for the past 36 years, were unsure if they would continue following Gary’s untimely passing. After much discussion with the band, the families of Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, and Dale Rossington, the collective has reached unified support, and feel that continuing to perform live, and keeping the music alive, is in the best interest of the fans and everyone involved.
