See: Life On Mars.

Life On Mars was released in 1971 on David Bowie’s album Hunky Dory.  Prior to Bowie’s death in early January, we curated an art show inspired by that song. Originally, 40 artists were randomly assigned a line from the song Life On Mars to create into artwork.  After Bowie’s passing we added an additional twenty artists to the bill who created pieces inspired by the song in its entirety.  Music performances by Mondo Deco, Spacewalker and Klaiber brought the night full circle.  While this show was not meant to be a tribute, it did bring hundreds of people together to celebrate a wonderful man and that was a beautiful thing.

Blue Lamp had a full house of artwork inspired by David Bowie and plenty of people to admire it. Sacramento, CA. February 2016. Photo Alejandro Montaño

Jeremy Green, singer of Mondo Deco, playing at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA for the Life On Mars show. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Artwork by Sarah Elliott inspired by line number 11- ‘She could spit in the eyes of fools’

Spacewalker performing at TUBE Presents: Life On Mars show at Blue Lamp in Sacramento, CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff.

Artwork by Wel Sed and Ryan Winchell at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Kolton Kammerer, of Mondo Deco, playing at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA for the Life On Mars show. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Heather Simoni (left), Mig Law and Tony Simoni at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo provided my Mig Law.

David Bowie was an inspiration for all the artwork that hangs on the walls of the Blue Lamp for the month of February 2016. Sacramento, CA. Photo Alejandro Montaño

Artist and musician, John Klaiber, performing at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Artists Lauren Margaux (left), Autumn Brown with Mig Law at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo provided my Mig Law.

Artist, Ryan Winchell, at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Artwork by Art of Ryan Winchell, spray paint on wood inspired by line number 37- ‘Beating up the wrong guy’

Jeremy Green, of Mondo Deco, playing at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA for the Life On Mars show. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Shawn Tindall of Mondo Deco, playing at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA for the Life On Mars show. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Artwork by Kay Kelison, watercolors and ink, inspired by line number 24- ‘Cause Lennon On Sale Again’

Artist and musician, John Klaiber, at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Mig Law and Jessica Carter at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo provided my Mig Law.

Midway through hanging up the artwork forLife On Mars at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016.

Patrons of the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Patrons of the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Sissie Marden at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Artwork by Jared Konopitski inspired by line number 14 – ‘Oh man look at those cavemen go’

Spacewalker performing at TUBE Presents: Life On Mars show at Blue Lamp in Sacramento, CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff.

Patrons of the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Artwork by RA Bowen inspired by line number 15 – ‘It’s the freakiest show

Mary Haines (left), Augustin Burman-Alston, Mig Law and Autumn Brown at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo provided my Mig Law.

Artwork by Melissa Uroff inspired by line number 9- ‘The film was a saddening bore’.

Artist, Mark Fox, at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Artwork by Mike Hennessy inspired by line number 19- ‘He’s in the best selling show’

Mondo Deco, playing at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA for the Life On Mars show. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Spacewalker performing at TUBE Presents: Life On Mars show at Blue Lamp in Sacramento, CA. February 2016. Photo Alejandro Montaño.

Artists and musicians Lauren Margaux and John Klaiber at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo provided by Lauren Margaux.

Artwork at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Artwork by Jenn Ponci inspired by the line number 28- ‘To my mother, my dog, and clowns’.

Artist, Luke Sanders, at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Artist and musician, John Klaiber, performing at the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Patrons of the Life On Mars show at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Mondo Deco, playing at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento CA for the Life On Mars show. February 2016. Photo Melissa Uroff

Lyrics to Life On Mars along participating artists below.

1.It’s a God-awful small affair -Sissie Marden
2.To the girl with the mousy hair-Mark Fox
3. But her mummy is yelling no- Kip Bridges
4. And her daddy has told her to go -Lauren Margaux

5. But her friend is nowhere to be seen -Skye Bergen
6. Now she walks through her sunken dream -Victoria Augusto
7. To the seat with the clearest view -Allen Chancey
8. And she’s hooked to the silver screen –

9. But the film is a saddening bore –Melissa Uroff
10. For she’s lived it ten times or more –
11.She could spit in the eyes of fools –Sarah Elliott
12.As they ask her to focus on -Heather Hogan

13. Sailors fighting in the dance hall -Paul Fisher
14. Oh man look at those cavemen go –Jared Konopitski
15. It’s the freakiest show –RA Bowen
16. Take a look at the lawman –Robin C Eagan
17. Beating up the wrong guy -Heather Crocker
18. Oh man wonder if he’ll ever know -Wel Sed
19. He’s in the best-selling show- Mike Hennessy
20. Is there life on Mars?- Ragain Blackard

21. It’s on America’s tortured brow -Todd P. Gingerich
22. That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow -Arthur Slagter
23. Now the workers have struck for fame -Jenn Bear
24. ‘Cause Lennon’s on sale again -Kay Kelison
25. See the mice in their million hordes -Mark Webster
26. From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads -Seán Ó Murchadha
27. Rule Britannia is out-of-bounds -Liz Barton
28. To my mother, my dog, and clowns –Jenn Ponci
29. But the film is a saddening bore -Sara Putnam
30.’Cause I wrote it ten times or more –
31. It’s about to be writ again-Tara Elizabeth
32.As I ask you to focus on -Luke Sanders

33. Sailors fighting in the dance hall -Kendra Concannon
34. Oh man look at those cavemen go –
35. It’s the freakiest show –Ron Hall
36. Take a look at the lawman –
37. Beating up the wrong guy –Ryan Winchell
38. Oh man wonder if he’ll ever know -Susan Chancey
39. He’s in the best-selling show –
40. Is there life on Mars? -Alexandra Argh

Artists inspired by the song in its entirety.
Andrew Hooper, Philip Davis, Sabrina Justice, Justina Martino, Ashley Silva-Howe, Matt Verdolivo, Genevieve Bradbury Bohan, Jilly O’Neall Baker Ching, Danielle Driscoll, Felicia Montenegro, Rachel Marie LaCasse, Christina Edmondson and Lucy Giles.

A limited run of 2 and 3 color linocut prints sold at the Life On Mars show are still available. These are handmade so each print is unique.   Created by Melissa Uroff, 8×10, framed, $25 (two color) $30 (three color).  Click here to purchase.

A limited run of 2 and 3 color linocut prints sold at the Life On Mars show are still available. Created by Melissa Uroff, 8×10, $25-30. These are handmade so each print is unique.

A limited run of 2 and 3 color linocut prints sold at the Life On Mars show are still available. Created by Melissa Uroff, 8×10, $25-30. These are handmade so each print is unique.

Words Melissa Uroff

Photos Alejandro Montaño, Melissa Uroff, Mig Law and Lauren Margaux.