The . . . of E6, part of Athens Celebrates Elephant Six

Robert Schneider, Will Hart, Bill Doss and Jeff Mangum grew up in Ruston, La., spending much of their youth making music on four-track recorders. In the early 1990s, the friends formed the Elephant Six Recording Company, releasing their first 7-inch EP in 1993, by Schneider’s band, the Apples in stereo. Doss, Hart and Mangum moved to Athens, Ga., later that year, and other friends soon joined them. They formed an artistic scene that would come to characterize much of the Athens aesthetic, with such bands as the Olivia Tremor Control and Neutral Milk Hotel, many of them sharing members. The energy and momentum they brought were inspiring, and the collective grew to include Elf Power, Music Tapes, the Gerbils and Of Montreal.

Although Elephant Six is best known for its music, the visual arts have always played a defining role in the collective’s activities, from album covers and show posters to theatrical stage presences. This exhibition was part of a citywide series of art exhibitions and events: Athens Celebrates Elephant Six. The museum’s component included works of art used for album covers, along with other examples of the visual culture that helped define the collective. Artists with work in the exhibition included Hart, Mangum, Jill Carnes, David Barnes, Steve Keene and Terry Rowlett.