Original artwork description:

Popiconic moment 5: The electric Dylan controversy, Maggie's Farm. (On an Urbox).

Urban Pop art in your own home by cult artist Sly.

On July 25, 1965, Bob Dylan, up to then a traditional acoustic protest singer, performed his first electric concert at the Newport Folk Festival.

"Well, fuck them if they think they can keep electricity out of here!”

On a whim he said he wanted to play electric. He then assembled a band and rehearsed that night at a mansion being used by festival organiser.

This painting is the popiconic moment when the sound of both booing and cheering can be heard in Dylan's first song, "Maggie's Farm",

Ironically the song contains the lines:
Well, I try my best
To be just like I am
But everybody wants you
To be just like them.

It goes on to say:
They say sing while you slave and I just get bored
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more.

Dylan did not return to the Newport festival for 37 years. In an enigmatic gesture, he performed sporting a wig and fake beard.

He’s just won the Nobel Peace Prize for the lyrics, which he seems to be rejecting - silly sod!

Spiel By Steeve with additional material lifted from Wikipedia.

These are not prints, as each is individually painted and signed to order and consequently will vary slightly from the illustrated picture. These paintings are sprayed onto a handmade "Urbox,” or urban box, covered in newspaper cuttings and are handmade by people who wish to work to supplement their income. The boxes measure 590x760x45 mm, look really cool, have an urban feel, and are ready to hang, so there is no need to buy an expensive frame.

(Also available on The Daily Telegraph, watercolour paper or plain paper at various prices if you search elsewhere.)

Juan Sly is likely the biggest seller of original artwork in the UK. An artist exhibiting in spray stencils, newspaper and oils, he has exhibited at the Saatchi (a proper gallery with pillars and everything!) alongside the likes of Banksy, Terry O'Neil, Tracy Emin and Vic Reeves, and has permanent collections in Ireland, Detroit and England, alongside Damien Hirst and some other artists you might have heard of, plus private collections around the globe. His works rock from humour to anti-war, sex to surreal. He is particularly fond of the stencil medium as it allows him to respond quickly to events and ideas and gives his works a gritty, illegal look. The stencils naturally allow the works to be resprayed, and consequently become affordable and disposable. He likes the fact that people can buy art which they like, and not to show off how much they can afford. You can find them in bedsits, legal offices in the Temple or stuck to a fence in Bristol.

Spiel by Steeve.

Materials used:

Spray on box 59x76x4cm

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