T H E S TAT E | I N F R A S T R U C T U R E
Blowin’ In the Wind The new Bob Dylan center is set to open this May in downtown Tulsa.
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Planning for the center began in 2016 when the n May 10, Tulsa will have yet another reason to George Kaiser Family Foundation acquired the archive. be dubbed a cultural mecca. That is the date the Mark Davidson, Ph.D. – the Bob Dylan librarian and Bob Dylan Center will open – with over 100,000 collections manager – led the effort of transporting and pieces collected over several decades by the esteemed processing the archive. musician and his management team. “In 2017, we chose Seattle-based Olson Kundig as “We hope visitors will be inspired by unprecedented our lead design firm,” says Higgins. “London-based 59 access to the creative process of one of America’s foreProductions came on board as our media design firm in most artists,” says Steve Higgins, the center’s managing 2020. Jennifer Lebeau, who directed the Dylan film Troudirector. “They can expect never-before-seen perforble No More is on our creative team as well. In addition to mances and photos, rare recordings, as well as working our own small internal team, Bob Dylan’s management manuscripts, correspondence and visual art. All of this office has been invaluable in supporting the will be presented to create an emotional conproject.” nection, rather than a definitive explanation.” When asked for his personal favorite in Dylan, who was born Robert Allen Zimthe collection, Higgins struggles. merman on May 24, 1941, became a cultural “There are so many treasures, from the icon in America and across the globe, first for ‘Chimes of Freedom’ manuscript, complete his musical and song writing prowess, and in with cigarette burns and coffee stains on later years for his paintings. Memberships to Waldorf-Astoria letterhead, to letters from According to Higgins, “Bruce Springsteen the center are ex-Beatles and U.S. presidents,” says Higgins. said: ‘The way that Elvis freed your body, Bob available. “One of my favorite Dylan songs is ‘Jokerfreed your mind.’” “In January, man’ from the early ’80s. The manuscript Tourists can combine their Dylan visit still a few consists of 17 pages, revealing the evolution with another superb collection. months from of an intricate, mysterious masterpiece that “The historic connection between [Dylan opening its managed to sound unlike anything he’d done and] Woody Guthrie is well documented,” doors, the Bob before.” says Higgins. “Of course, Guthrie was a major Dylan Center The new center is expected to garner influence on Dylan. When Dylan first came already has more visitors to the area, creating a positive to New York, he made a point to visit Guthrie members in economic impact for Tulsa. in the hospital. It is only fitting that the 30 states and “Based on the interest we’ve seen so far, Woody Guthrie Center and the Bob Dylan 12 countries, we expect travelers from around the world to Center are side by side on the same block.” including the visit just to see the Bob Dylan Center,” says Higgins continues: “Dylan elevated pop United KingHiggins. “But Tulsa already is a city of rich, music as an art form during a time when it dom, France, Javibrant cultural importance. Tulsa continues was rather slick and conformist. But more pan, Singapore to establish itself as a must-see destination than anything, perhaps, Dylan’s music and Libya,” says for cultural tourists.” resonates with listeners unlike anything that Higgins. DEBI TURLEY came before.”
Ahead of the Curve
A rendering showcases what an interior archive wall will look like upon the museum’s completion in May. Rendering courtesy Olson Kundig
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2022
