The Bob Marley One Love Experience

This summer, the Lighthouse Artspace in Toronto was hosting an exhibit dedicated to the life of Bob Marley called the Bob Marley One Love Experience. This exhibit features a collection of various photos and memorabilia for viewing, as well as taking you through the life and music of the late great Bob Marley. Tickets ranged from about $25-$50 depending on when you went and the level of ticket you purchased (whether it is a basic ticket or a VIP ticket).

Before continuing with this post, I want to point out that I have already been to Bob Marley's childhood home and final resting place in Nine Mile, Jamaica a few years back, and I knew that this new sensory experience was not going to compare to what I experienced back in Jamaica. Regardless, I wanted to see if there were some new memorabilia I have not seen before.

The first room was a general music room which had some of Bob Marley's album plaques while his greatest hits were playing in the background. In the next room, you stepped into the setting of a lush forest full of fake marijuana leaves and green spotlights to really set the mood. There were many places throughout the exhibit where you can stand in the display and have people take pictures of you, which was just one of many obvious ways to make the experience more memorable.

After the forest, attendants gave us headphones to walk through the next part of the experience. You had different channels that you can toggle (like a silent disco): one channel was music from Bob Marley's live concerts, and the other channel was more of his songs that you can listen to in a disco room. There were more pictures and memorabilia, including setlists from his various concerts.

The next room was a sort of 'play room' which signified Bob Marley's love for recreation, such as playing football and ping-pong. There were a couple of foosball tables set up in the room, as well as a football net (with no football). The best piece of memorabilia in this room was a display of Bob Marley's actual football boots, which I thought was cool.

The next room consisted of art pieces of Bob Marley made by different artists and fans of his music. There were murals of his likeness on the walls, as well as likenesses of him made from vinyl records. There was also a small, 70s stoner-inspired room of more Bob Marley memorabilia and things someone would have in the 70s. The last room of the experience highlights Bob Marley's legacy and the accomplishments of his family. There were plaques of the albums of his sons, among other pictures. There was also a 'One Love' tree, where you can write your own positive messages and attach to the tree.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience, and I would recommend this experience to anyone who is remotely a Bob Marley or reggae fan. If you are not able to go to Jamaica, this is a good alternative to go and experience the life and legacy of one of the greatest figures of music history. The pictures I have posted on this blog post is only a sampling of what there is to see and hear, and I encourage you to go and see everything for yourself.

The exhibit runs until late September and you can purchase tickets here.