This month on Live Culture I am in conversation with photographer J.J. Gonson who has a beautiful new book of photographs coming out, as a set with the anniversary re-release of Elliott Smith's self-titled album on Kill Rock Stars. Gonson has been documenting with a camera since she was a child, and as a teenager began filming the local Boston music scene. She later moved to the west coast and has shot images of bands and music world-wide. She became close to Smith and his band Heatmiser, even going on to become his manager- as well as documentarian -when he went solo. Her work become his first two -now iconic- album covers. Gonson's photographs of bands like Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Black Flag are legendary, but she also has documented many lesser known acts and has many, never-been-seen bodies of work. We discuss her practice over the course of her life, her preferences and process. Gonson now runs an event space -Once- in Somerville Massachusetts, which has- because of COVID- moved over to YOUTUBE to become the Once Virtual Venue (OVV). Please join us for this special conversation.

To see more about J.J.'s Images, the venue Once, The Elliot Smith Project, and some press please visit:

https://www.jjgonsonphoto.com/projects
https://www.morrisonhotelgallery.com/photographers/Q9GhNm/JJ--Gonson
https://www.facebook.com/jjgonsonphotography/
https://www.oncesomerville.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ONCEsomerville/
https://www.killrockstars.com/
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/26/jj-gonsons-best-photograph-a-smile-from-elliott-smith
https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/elliot-smith-jj-gonson-exclusive-photos

DID YOU KNOW?
Past Episodes of Live Culture are available as PODCASTS and have their own convenient PLAYLIST onWPKN's Soundcloud page?The show has featured many fascinating voice, places and projects, and offers a wealth of cultural armchair voyages at the tip of your fingers! click here https://soundcloud.com/wpkn895/sets/live-culture-with-martha
- a user-friendly guide of who/what/where is coming soon....

If YOU have an idea for a future episode please drop me a line- I am always eager to hear what's going on! message me at https://www.facebook.com/livecultureradio

Live Culture is a monthly discussion about the arts, Hosted by visual artist Martha Willette Lewis and airing on WPKN, Radio 89.5 fm Bridgeport, available online at Wpkn.org. The show airs on the final Saturday of each month from 11-12 noon and is available for two weeks on ARCHIVES and *EVER AFTER* as a PODCAST, for ON-Demand Listening.