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David Bowie fans, you can't miss this space oddity of a show

The many sounds and visions of Bowie draw big crowds at the Brooklyn Museum. Here's a tour.

Steve Guttenberg
Ex-movie theater projectionist Steve Guttenberg has also worked as a high-end audio salesman, and as a record producer. Steve currently reviews audio products for CNET and works as a freelance writer for Stereophile.
Steve Guttenberg
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1 of 30 The Brooklyn Museum/Jonathan Dorado

The Bowie look

The "David Bowie Is" exhibition, currently at the Brooklyn Museum, is a spectacle befitting an artist of Bowie's stature. I'm happy to report sound plays a huge part in the show, so every visitor dons a pair of Sennheiser Momentum headphones and a player that automatically plays music or sound for each installation at the show. Nice.

The Brooklyn Museum's sprawling multimedia extravaganza is the last stop on the five-year "David Bowie Is" tour that originated at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2013. Bowie passed away in 2016 at age 69.

The "David Bowie Is" exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum is open now through July 15, 2018.

In this shot, Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto's style made for a perfect fit with Bowie's fashion sense.

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2 of 30 Brian Ward. Courtesy of The David Bowie Archive

Long-haired David Bowie

David Bowie in 1971.

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3 of 30 Terry O'Neill,The David Bowie Archive, Victoria and Albert Museum

Two of a kind

David Bowie with William Burroughs, February 1974. Photograph by Terry O'Neill with color by David Bowie.

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4 of 30 The Brooklyn Museum/Jonathan Dorado

Entrance to 'David Bowie Is' exhibit

Wall-size Bowie.

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5 of 30 Masayoshi Sukita. Copyright Sukita/The David Bowie Archive

David Bowie poses

David Bowie, 1973. 

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6 of 30 The Brooklyn Museum/Jonathan Dorado

Bowie on the big screen

"David Bowie Is" has several large screen displays.

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7 of 30 Masayoshi Sukita. © Sukita/The David Bowie Archive

'Heroes' photo shoot contact sheet

"Heroes" contact sheet, 1977. Photograph by Masayoshi Sukita.

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8 of 30 The Brooklyn Museum/Jonathan Dorado

Bowie in every room

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9 of 30 Roy Ainsworth, David Bowie Archive, Victoria and Albert Museum

Teenage Bowie

Publicity photograph for The Kon-rads, 1963.

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10 of 30 The David Bowie Archive, Victoria and Albert Museum

Bowie's acoustic guitar

Acoustic guitar from the "Space Oddity" era, 1969.  

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11 of 30 The Brooklyn Museum/Jonathan Dorado

A flair for drama

More multiscreen Bowie -- you won't know where to turn.

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12 of 30 The David Bowie Archive. Victoria and Albert Museum

'Ziggy Stardust' lyrics

Original lyrics for "Ziggy Stardust," by David Bowie, 1972.

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13 of 30 Duffy Archive, The David Bowie Archive

'Aladdin Sane' photography

'Aladdin Sane' contact sheet, 1973. 

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14 of 30 The David Bowie Archive, Victoria and Albert Museum

Asymmetric knitted bodysuit, 1973

Asymmetric knitted bodysuit, designed by Kansai Yamamoto for the "Aladdin Sane" tour. 

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15 of 30 The Brooklyn Museum/Jonathan Dorado

Bowie video and mirrored display

Your eyeballs will dance when they take in this mirrored video piece.

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16 of 30 Duffy Archive, The David Bowie Archive

Cover outtake for 'Aladdin Sane'

Photograph from the album cover shoot for "Aladdin Sane," 1973. 

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17 of 30 Dough McKenzie. Courtesy of The David Bowie Archive

Bowie the Mod

David Bowie, 1966. 

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18 of 30 Brian Ward. Courtesy of The David Bowie Archive

David Bowie, 1971

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19 of 30 The Brooklyn Museum/Jonathan Dorado

Box of Bowie

More Bowie costumes.

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20 of 30 Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel photo of Bowie

David Bowie in 1992. 

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21 of 30 Andy Kent, courtesy of The David Bowie Archive

Bowie on stage

David Bowie, 1976. 

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22 of 30 Frank W Ockenfels 3

Another Bowie costume

Original photography for the "Earthling" album cover, 1997. 

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23 of 30 The David Bowie Archive. Victoria and Albert Museum

Stage set model for the 'Diamond Dogs' tour in 1974

Stage set model for the "Diamond Dogs" tour 1974. Designed by Jules Fisher and Mark Ravitz. 

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24 of 30 The David Bowie Archive. Victoria and Albert Museum

'Ziggy Stardust' custume

Quilted two-piece suit, 1972. Designed by Freddie Burretti for the "Ziggy Stardust" tour. 

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25 of 30 John Robert Rowlands

'Station to Station' tour photo

The Archer, from the "Station to Station" tour, 1976. 

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26 of 30 Greg Gorman. Courtesy of The David Bowie Archive

David Bowie, 1982

David Bowie, 1982.

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27 of 30 Steve Guttenberg/CNET

'David Bowie Is' poster

This poster was spotted in the New York subway

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28 of 30 Steve Guttenberg/CNET

'David Bowie Is' merch

Bowie T-shirts galore!

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29 of 30 Steve Guttenberg/CNET

The Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum has a lot more to see than just the "David Bowie Is" exhibit. 

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30 of 30 The Brooklyn Museum/Jonathan Dorado

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