ABC Art Exhibition offers “a visual remedy to the mundanity of modern life” :: Gallery 40, Brighton :: 8 June -14 June 2015
Declaring their vision “to provide a visual remedy to the mundanity of modern life”, Hove residents David Apps & Billy Chainsaw have teamed up with Gaye Black (formerly of punk legends the Adverts) for the ABC art exhibition, which runs from Monday 8 June to Sunday 14 June at Brighton’s Gallery 40.
LOCATION: Gallery 40: 40 Gloucester Rd, North Laine, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 4AQ
DATE: Monday 8 June – Sunday 14 June
OPENING TIMES: 11AM – 7PM
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/359247234283156/
Artists’ Bios:
BILLY CHAINSAW was born and raised in Birmingham. Inspired by the onset of punk, in the late 1970s he escaped factory life and moved to London to work for Siouxsie and The Banshees. On parting company with the group in the mid-90s, Chainsaw became editor-in-chief on one of Paul Raymond’s adult publications (the American version of Club International).
Fast-forward almost two decades to May 2012: now a Hove resident, Chainsaw showed his art publically for the first time at an underground open house. His entire collection of mixed-media canvases and upcycled, bespoke ceramics completely sold out. It was a life-changing experience for Chainsaw, who immediately decided that art was his true calling.
Subsequently, he has exhibited in numerous group shows in such far-flung locations as Brighton and Los Angeles, and staged a month-long solo show at London’s prestigious Horse Hospital gallery. His other achievements include creating an exclusive fabric design for cutting edge design company Charles of London; a range of merchandise for legendary experimental filmmaker/artist Jeff Keen’s retrospective at the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery; art for indie superstars The Fall’s 13 Killers album; and contributions to the book Cut Up! An Anthology Inspired By The Cut Up Method Of William S. Burroughs And Brion Gysin; and has had his art included in the last two Brighton Pride Art Shows at the Jubilee Library, as well as being features as a participant in 100 Artists For World AIDS Day at Brighton Dome earlier this year.
Although Chainsaw admits his first great love was American comic-books, since his early teens, the self-taught artist has been fascinated by the unknown (in its myriad forms), along with masks, the movies, and the magickal weirdness of the number 23. They’re ever-present elements in his mixed-media pop art, which also reference such diverse sources as cartoon surrealism, tattoos, and Lucha Libre (masked Mexican wrestling). However, Chainsaw’s primary driving force is William S. Burroughs – perpetually employing the beat author/artist’s “open your mind and let the pictures out” adage whenever he’s creating art.
Email: billychainsaw666@aol.com
Website: http://www.koolkrakenincorporated.com
GAYE BLACK BIOG/CV
1972-3 Bideford School of Art – foundation year (A level in art & printmaking)
1973-5 South Devon Technical College – graphic design (diploma in graphic design)
1976-9 Bass player in Adverts
Gaye Black spent three years at art college, qualifying as a graphic designer before becoming bass player with the Adverts. She is now exhibiting regularly and curating the odd show. Her work references her past, and explores the contrast between attraction and horror, mainly through collage.
Exhibitions:
Rebellion festival, Blackpool, August 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Zenith bar, London, Autumn 2008
The Others’ Spectrum Autumn ’09 show
Resistance Gallery, as part of the Rock and Roll Expressionists collective, December 2009
Beyond Punk, Signal Gallery, London, August 2010
La Fiesta, Newcastle, August 2011 (solo show)
Mexico Siniestro, Resistance Gallery, London, October 2011
Punk and Beyond, Signal Gallery, London, November-December 2011
Christmas show, Cultivate Vyner Street, London, December 2011
Taking Liberties, The Treatment Rooms Collective, London, December 2011
Black, Cultivate Vyner Street, London, February 2012
Slag, The Treatment Rooms Collective, London, February 2012
Vinyl Record Show, Cultivate Vyner Street, London, April 2012
Pandamonium, Signal Gallery, London, June 2012
Sex & Drugs & Rock &Roll – Trash Art Gallery, Pennsylvania, USA, August 2012
Art Barter show, Sir Peter Blake’s bus – Strummer of Love Festival, August 2012
5 Year Anniversary show – Signal Gallery, London, September 2012
Multiplicity 2 – 129 Gallery, Berlin, October 2012
Magick Eye 2 – Orbital Comics, London, October 2012
Black Xmas – Signal Gallery, London, December 2012
Joe Strummer tribute festival, 100 Club, London, December 2012
The Gender Agenda – W3 Gallery, London, March 2013
Hanged – JP Art Market, Massachusetts, USA, March 2013
Changed – JP Art Market, Massachusetts, USA, April 2013
You’ve been Framed – W3 Gallery, London, May 2013
Location – Red Door Studio, London, May 2013
Memorabilia – Norlington Road Studios, London, July 2013
Cre8 pop up – Gallery on the Corner, Battersea August 2013
Augsburg Calling Britannia – Augsburg, Germany, October 2013
HUH? – JP Art Market, Massachusetts, USA, October 2013
Affordable Art Show – W3 Gallery, London, December 2013
Opening show – Londonart showroom, London, January 2014
Divine Define Feminine – Londonart showroom, London, February 2014
Gender Agenda II – W3 Gallery, London, March 2014
Pop up show – 100 Club – Oxford Street, London, June 2014
Scotland In Our Eyes – Scottish Crown Court, London, August 2014
Bermondsey Joyriders show – Underdog Gallery, London, September 2014
Pop Up Show – W3 Gallery, London, October 2014
The Screening – Stratford Picturehouse, London, November 2014
Guilty Pleasures – Sweet ‘art @ Juno Bar, London, November 2014
Affordable Art Show – W3 Gallery, London, December 2014
Inspiring Change – W3 Gallery, London, March 2015
Sacred and Profane – Hundred Years Gallery, London, March 2015
Curations:
Beyond Punk – Signal Gallery, August 2010
Punk and Beyond – Signal Gallery, November 2011
Black Xmas – Signal Gallery, November 2012
Upcoming show:
ABC – Gallery 40, Brighton, June 2015
Images can be viewed at
facebook.com/gaye.black.1 look under photos, albums, art
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