Bob Dylan Center

The American Song Archives — the home of the archives of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Cynthia Gooding and many other archival and library collections — is currently hiring for the position of Associate Manager of Membership and Annual Giving.

Apply today: bobdylancenter.com/job-openings

On this day in 2003, Bob Dylan's enigmatic film "Masked and Anonymous" hit theaters. Although Dylan had previously appeared in films including "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" (1973), "Hearts of Fire" (1987) and "Paradise Cove" (1999), this surreal cinematic experiment marked his most ambitious Hollywood undertaking as both co-writer and star. Director Larry Charles — known for his work on "Seinfeld," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and later "Borat" — made his feature-length directorial debut with this collaboration, co-writing the screenplay with Dylan under the pseudonym "Sergei Petrov." The project came to life with an extraordinary ensemble cast including Angela Bassett, Jeff Bridges, Penélope Cruz, Bruce Dern, John Goodman, Ed Harris, Val Kilmer, Jessica Lange, Cheech Marin, Chris Penn, Mickey Rourke, Christian Slater, Fred Ward and Luke Wilson.

The plot of the film is best summarized as it is described on the film’s official page on Sony Classics: “In a fictional America caught up in a civil war that is tearing the nation apart, a benefit concert is being organized. A traveling troubadour named Jack Fate [Dylan] is sprung from jail by his scheming former manager, Uncle Sweetheart [John Goodman], to headline a concert with the expectations to bring peace to a country that is entrenched by chaos, lawlessness and pandemonium.”

The film's musical highlight features Dylan's blistering live performance with his band (Charlie Sexton and Larry Campbell on guitar, Tony Garnier on bass and George Receli on drums) performing "Down in the Flood," "Cold Irons Bound" and traditional tunes "Dixie" and "Diamond Joe." According to Charles, many more songs were recorded and filmed but never released.

Pictured: Dylan's suit from the film, the guitar and pocketwatch donated by producer Nigel Sinclair, "Masked" arrow sign and an issue of "Variety" magazine. Currently on display in the Earl Minnis Gallery exhibition of the Bob Dylan Archive.

Tickets are on sale now for “13 Most Beautiful…Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests,” a theatrical and cinematic concert experience featuring a baker’s dozen of Pop Art pioneer Andy Warhol’s “Screen Test” films — made in the mid-1960s to spotlight his self-made Superstars and the era’s cultural icons in larger-than-life close-ups — presented with live musical accompaniment by dream-pop duo Dean & Britta and their band.

Learn more and get tickets: bobdylancenter.com/event/13-most-beautiful

“13 Most Beautiful…Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests” is a theatrical and cinematic concert experience featuring a baker’s dozen of Pop Art pioneer Andy Warhol’s “Screen Test” films — made in the mid-1960s to spotlight his self-made Superstars and the era’s cultural icons in larger-than-life close-ups — presented with live musical accompaniment by dream-pop duo Dean & Britta and their band.

This special program initially was commissioned in 2008 by The Andy Warhol Museum and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and since then has been presented on rare occasions around the world. The Bob Dylan Center will present the regional premiere on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Over the course of 13 warmly enveloping songs — including originals like “Knives from Bavaria” and “Herringbone Tweed,” and a gorgeous cover of Bob Dylan’s “I’ll Keep It With Mine” — Dean & Britta create the perfect guitar-bass-drums-vocals soundtrack to these hypnotic films, each one chosen for its striking visuals that work in symbiotic tandem with the pristinely played music. Part rock concert, part film screening, part archeological dig unearthing New York City’s 1960s art scene, “13 Most Beautiful…Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests” is an unforgettable night at the theater.

Public On-Sale begins Friday, July 24. Bob Dylan Center Member Presale begins Wednesday, July 22 at 10:30 a.m. CT. Learn more: bobdylancenter.com/event/13-most-beautiful

The Bob Dylan Center and Woody Guthrie Center were pleased to partner with Boston-based performing arts pioneers Silkroad Ensemble, whose staff, board members and artists visited Tulsa in mid-June for a series of community events culminating in “Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual,” a rousing concert presented in honor of Juneteenth on a beautiful Friday evening at Guthrie Green. In addition to leading the world-music concert on stage with nearly twenty gifted collaborators from a wide array of backgrounds and traditions, Silkroad Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens took part in a lunchtime dialogue with Bob Dylan Center artist-in-residence Joy Harjo, who also participated in a panel discussion on the healing power of rhythm and ritual with Silkroad musicians and community leaders, presented by Tulsa Artist Fellowship.

“Thin Wild Mercury: Dylan 1966,” an immersive multimedia exhibition that captures the spectacle, power and fury of Dylan’s landmark year following his controversial electric performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, is now open to the public.

From his fall 1965 US concert dates with The Band, to the recording and release of “Blonde on Blonde” and the writing of his first novel, “Tarantula,” to the raucous and defiant 1966 World Tour, “Thin Wild Mercury: Dylan 1966” features numerous never-before-seen manuscripts, photographs and newly restored film footage from the era.

Along the way, visitors will experience Dylan’s emergence as a cool and at times combative rock star, rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Beatles, The Stones, Marlon Brando, Françoise Hardy and Andy Warhol, who captured Dylan in two iconic yet seldom-seen screen tests. Visitors will be able to make their own screen tests by way of an interactive Screen Test Machine, on loan from The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

“Thin Wild Mercury: Dylan 1966” is generously supported by Presenting Sponsors Bob and Debbie Russell.

Learn more: bobdylancenter.com/thin-wild-mercury

Next week, join Bob Dylan Center inaugural artist-in-residence Joy Harjo and senior director Steven Jenkins for a members-only online conversation in celebration of Joy’s newly released album “Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace,” a deeply ruminative yet joyous collection of songs that speak to both timely and timeless themes of personal reflection, societal imbalance and spiritual renewal. Written and performed with acclaimed jazz bassist and composer Esperanza Spalding, recorded at The Church Studio right here in Tulsa and released on the historic Folkways Records label, “Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace” is a provocative and ultimately comforting soundtrack to our tumultuous era, enlivened by Joy’s indelible poetic lyricism, sly vocal delivery and impassioned saxophone playing.

Joy will discuss her artistic process and the many steps — seven and counting — that led to the album’s gestation, creation and circulation, and will share and elucidate select tracks. Members are invited to join Joy and Steve for this hour-long Zoom session and contribute their own questions and comments.

Learn more and become a member: bobdylancenter.com/event/insomnia-and-seven-steps-to-grace