Grammy Chooses New Artist Logo

TALE OF THE TAPE: The Recording Academy has selected Erika Iris Simmons to create this year’s official artwork for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. The work depicts the iconic Grammy image composed with half-inch studio recording tape. It will be used as the official logo for the Grammy Awards and will grace the cover of the program book, telecast tickets and promotional poster. President/CEO Neil Portnow said: "Erika's unique concept of creating a Grammy with recording tape speaks to the history of recorded music and celebrates the tradition and timelessness of music's most prestigious honor." The Princeton, N.J.-based artist, professionally known as iri5, uses recycled materials and reimagines them into unique artistic pieces. A number of her projects include art created by unspooling reels of cassette, video and studio recording tape in a series titled "Ghost in the Machine." In 2009, her artwork inspired the music video for Grammy winner Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are." Previous artists who have created the official Grammy artwork include Frank Gehry, Shepard Fairey and Peter Max. (12/3p)