Driving down McLemore Avenue, crossing College Street, drivers can look out the window and see what many people would call a legendary site.
On 926 E. McLemore Ave. stands what used to be the old Capitol Theater and would later be known from the 60s to the 80s as Stax Records.
The museum houses a mini theater room to the left of the main entrance and a gift shop to the right. The theater carries the sound of the studio's contributing artists from the behind-the-building parking lot all the way through hallways of history, and as of May 13 into a two room featured exhibit devoted to Bob Dylan.
The Bob Dylan exhibit, which will be on display until July 25, has been the subject of several local, out of town and foreign visits, according to media and communications manager Tim Sampson.
"It's been great for attendance at the museum," Sampson said. "A lot of people have come."
The exhibit is made up of photographs taken from a collection of 60 pictures New York-based photographer and film director Daniel Kramer took in the mid 60s during Dylan's transition from a folk poet into a rock star.
Each picture includes actions ranging from Dylan playing chess and ironing folk queen Joan Baez's hair to him playing the harmonica with a cigarette placed alongside the instrument in its holder.
The rest of the photos were published in Kramer's 1967 book "Bob Dylan" later re-printed in 2001 as "Bob Dylan: A Portrait of the Artist's Early Years."
However, the 60 photographs, in addition to 52 other rare and unpublished ones, meant more than just being eye pleasers, since it was at a time when Bob Dylan was becoming Bob Dylan, Kramer said.
"He wasn't yet the major star he is today," Kramer said.
Kramer said his exploits to get the young artist to do a photo shoot included months of phone calls and letters, with his first portrait sitting finally arriving in August of 1964.
"He was inaccessible," Kramer said. "People do that with young people."
Kramer said his motivation and interest in photographing Dylan stemmed from a 1964 television performance of Dylan's song, "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll."
"I didn't know who he was or his music until I heard his lyrics," Kramer said. "I was caught by this young man's abilities and I had to photograph him."
Kramer said shortly after he took the first pictures, there were not too many magazines, but he got in touch with Pageant, a major national picture magazine.
"When I showed them to the editor, he said 'I don't need more pictures of a young kid with a guitar,'" Kramer said.
A week later the same editor called back and demanded pictures of Dylan, Kramer said.
"I was a young photographer," Kramer said. "I had to persevere." After the pictures were released, Kramer and Dylan's professional relationship and friendship began, Kramer said.
"Bob Dylan liked the pictures," Kramer said. "His response was 'I'm going to Philadelphia, do you want to go?'" Kramer said.
Dylan changed music, its style and performance that year, Kramer said. The year was 1965.
"I found this young man the year he was making it happen," Kramer said. "This just doesn't happen, because you have to make it happen."
Kramer said photographs, articles or any piece of art can have a very important influence on how society sees people.
"I brought something out to it that brought him slightly into a different life," Kramer said. "I photographed him with that kind of reverence."
Kramer said the photographer is not responsible for who the person is and in developing their talent, but he/she can help bring the person to the public.
"There were photographers for Marylyn Monroe, James Dean or Elvis Presley," Kramer said. "I'm sure there are several pictures of these people that make you remember them by that picture."
Kramer's sessions with Dylan will last for more than a year and were published in his book, which Kramer will be signing this evening from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The sessions included recording, traveling, concert and playtime.
"I enjoy photographing people who do things," Kramer said. Whether photographs or Dylan's musical talent were the reason why fans enjoyed the artist, professors and students on campus still consider him to be one of the best.
"He's not just surface," said Michael Porter, an adjunct instructor in the department of communication and songwriter.
Porter said Dylan gave out a message and told people to serve something in their lives.
"He's not just a songwriter, but also a performer," Porter said.
Jamie Strusz, a sophomore foreign language major, said Dylan is simply one of the best song musicians and writers ever.
"You don't really need a reason to like him, you just have to appreciate good music," Strusz said. "I really can't think of anything else to say aside from, it's Bob Dylan, because that's reason enough."
Strusz said she has been listening to Dylan since she was a child and his music appealed to everyone regardless of the age.
"The young kids loved him for the music he wrote because it was all the things they wanted to say and the older people loved him for the music he wrote because it was all the things they had wanted to say too," Strusz said. "He makes everyone feel understood."
