Beautiful article about the Liverpool "For George" exhibition

This you really can't miss.

We have written about this exhibition and all things around it before, but this review about it with the stories about what you can find in this special exhibition is really beyond words.

Amazing is a good word for it.

the article has a few very nice pictures but because of the exclusive copyright and it being about George I will not use my version of the word copyright, which is .. having the right to copy but do look at them !!

http://www.beatlesnews.com/news/geor...wows-fans.html


Liverpool George Harrison exhibition wows fans
BEATLES NEWS EXCLUSIVE
by Katie Hickox

George Harrison was always known as the "quiet Beatle" but he outshines John, Paul and Ringo in this unique exhibition "For George" in George's hometown of Liverpool located on the third floor in St. George's Hall. This one of a kind exhibition features the largest collection of rare George Harrison memorabilia ever displayed and charges no admission.

The "For George" exhibition which runs through September 19th has no commercial sponsors and is put together by a small group of fans who wanted to celebrate all that George was able to do in his lifetime beyond being a Beatle. As George's favorite number was seven, the memorabilia is organized into seven phases, starting from George's early Beatles days which features rare handwritten lyrics that George wrote from the Everly Brothers' 'So Sad' song after having been deported from Hamburg for being underage. Also on display in this period is a rare signed photo in October 1962 by George as "George McCartney" as a joke by George because a fan asked if he was Paul's brother and George was known for his sense of humor. George's heart shaped sunglasses that he wore when he visited San Francisco's Haight Ashbury during the famous Summer of Love 1967 July visit have never been on display before.
Important items from George's Spiritual Journey phase on display feature several rare Indian instruments purchased and used by George in the late sixties. A sitar on display was purchased in 1966 by George, and Shambhu Das, a disciple of Ravi Shankar, gave him sitar lessons on this sitar. George so appreciated his time with Shambhu that he gave this sitar to Shambdu in appreciation.


The third phase in George's life titled "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" celebrates George as the gifted guitarist, composer, producer, lyricist and performer features four signed albums by George, a rare 1948 Abbott-Victor guitar which still has the original strings that George himself put on the guitar, a rare singles of My Sweet Lord and original Apple leaflet for My Sweet Lord. Also of historical note, the original Top 20 song charts are on display showing My Sweet Lord ranked at 15 on Nov 23rd 1970 and then rose to a number one on Dec 7th and stayed at number one until Jan 18th 1971. Original artwork created for George's 1974 Dark Horse tour are on display along with a one of a kind Dark Horse concert jacket that George wore.

The fourth phase shows George as a great humanitarian and philanthropist and features many rare photos of George from the ground breaking August 1st 1971 Concert for Bangladesh which was the first rock concert ever organized to raise money to help out a country in great distress when it wasn't politically correct at the time. Along with rare photos, a rare mold of George's handprint taken from his right hand is on display. Only 200 were made so it is interesting to look at the size and shape of George's hand and fingers--George didn't have a particularly large hand or long fingers but he was incredibly gifted as a musician. George used the proceeds from the sale of these hand molds to raise money for charity.
Another phase of George's life is: "Its What You Value: George the fan". George was very much a fan of other musicians such as George Formby and Bob Dylan but also was a fan of Formula One race driver Jackie Stewart and comedy shows such as the Goons and Monty Python. On display are items relating to these interests such as signed photos and programs from some racing events. Check out the rare 1928 Gibson Long Neck Banjole that George owned for several years before giving it away as a present to the President of the George Formby Society.


Also covered is of George's love of gardening "What is Life--the Gardener" which shows rare photos and maps of Friar Park and provide visitors with some idea of how dedicated George was to restoring Friar Park and his love for gardening and the great gardens of England. Even in his home town of Liverpool, George contributed in 1995 a substantial sum to restore Palm House at Sefton Park which was slated to be removed because it posed as a safety hazard but didn't want this publicized.

Don't forget that it was George the movie mogul who created a film company called "HandMade Films" which helped save the financing for Monty Python's Eric Idle's film project "Life of Brian" which has been called one of the funniest films ever made and one in which George played a small cameo role himself. Items include rare movie posters of films produced by HandMade Films. This is called George's "Dream Away" phase.

Don't miss this one of a kind George Harrison exhibition located at the giant neoclassical St. George's Hall building--across the street from the Lime Street train station. For more info, go to www.forgeorge.co.uk/exhibition.asp.

The Exhibition for George Harrison runs through Sep 19, 2009, from 10AM to 5PM open everyday, at St. George's Hall in Liverpool. Tickets are Free of charge. Sorry, no photography allowed.
"The largest collection of George Harrison memorabilia to date. Organised by and for, but not reserved to, devoted George Harrison fans, this event has been curated with a lot of love and no funding to rejoice in the man and his music." The organisers would appreciate any contributions to help cover the cost of the exhibition; any surplus contributions will be donated to George's Material World foundation.

I am so delighted that George's "Long & Winding Road" on earth has been so beautifully and tastefully displayed.

Cute joke on George's part about being Paul's brother when someone asked him once if he was - my two favorite Beatles all together now!

It was really such a pity that the exhibition had to be ended because of the stolen picture, yet there is now a report from the organisation about how it all was.

http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatl...organizer-says


Work on the tributes For George commenced on 2nd December 2008. They were in place of creating a museum in his memory, which it is still hoped that someone with the necessary funds will be able to do.


There was no alternative to St. George’s Hall, the finest neo classical building in all Europe, as the venue for these tributes and everything fell into place. With a Tribute for George there could not be an Exhibition without also celebrating his music and with the glorious concert room being available on August 1st on the anniversary of George’s trail blazing Concerts for Bangladesh and the musicians all anxious to play for George the stage was set for the dual unprecedented tributes.


August 1st was named George Harrison Day in Liverpool by BBC Merseyside and several local businesses lent their support in publicising the events being put on by fans for fans.


Therefore, despite a surprising lack of help from the press, on the morning of August 1st, the exhibition was packed with visitors to view the largest collection of memorabilia pertaining to George Harrison that had ever been on public display. The vibes were tremendous with purple and orange saris festooning the walls (being George’s favourite colours), incense and an abundance of flowers to create an as un-museum like setting as possible for the artifacts belonging to a man so full of vibrancy and warmth.


The concerts were packed almost to capacity and the chemistry between the performers and the audience was palpable. George smiled from a banner at the back on the people gathered together to celebrate his enduring legacy to the world. A track from each of his solo albums was played, the music of George Formby who he loved so well, a tribute to his masterpiece “All Things Must Pass”, the magical melodies of the classical Sitar music that is now synonymous with George and of course his Beatle classics.


The concerts ended in his mantra of “My Sweet Lord” with the audience on its feet and a “Good night George” as the last notes died away. It was difficult, indeed, to leave the auditorium as the audience stayed on to chat with the various musicians who had given freely of their time and talent to honour a man whose name is linked with harmony both spiritually and physically.


There were over 10,000 visitors to the Exhibition from all over the world culminating in Beatles week when the atmosphere was quite splendid in its love for George - nobody held back what they felt about him. Most visitors were simply grateful that at last the effort had been made to pay respects to a man that achieved so much his lifetime and people who did not know much about George left inspired by his achievements.


Even the theft of a signed photograph of George did not dampen the enthusiasm, although for security reasons it was deemed sensible to close early. These tributes were achieved with no funding and with no experience simply because it was felt that George had not had the honour due to him - the comments in the Visitors book bear this out to be fact.


Any surplus funds will be donated to George’s Charity “The Material World Charitable Foundation” and it is hoped that “For George” will be able to continue with legal charitable status and to raise funds as and when possible to help causes that would be dear to George’s heart. If anyone is interested in taking part in any future efforts please email info@forgeorge.co.uk to be kept informed.


For George would like to thank all those who participated in any way to make the Concerts and Exhibitions a successful Tribute to a Great Soul who with the passage of time only further gains our love and respect.

To the pillaging pirate who pilfered George's picture - you bastard scoundrel! Return the pilfered portrait pronto!