Emma Gough Ritual Exhibit Opening Night

Further to my post regarding my daughters Graduate showing at the Williamson Gallery, I am delighted to share a small selection of the first photographs from Emma's opening Night. 

 

The show runs until the 17th of June,The Williamson art gallery, Slatey road, Birkenhead, CH43 4U. 

Ritual-a series by Emma Gough

My  daughter Emma has been busy these past several months, the seeds of which are now baring fruit at her graduate degree show at the Williamson gallery in England, which opened June 2nd. 

The series is called Ritual, which Emma describes as " based on the process of applying make-up, and lying to ourselves. The idea of being cosmetically appealing but being portrayed in exposing and somewhat distorted and uncomfortable ways."



Quite rightly, her hard work has garnered some lovely press in the local paper-

Emmas interview in the Wirral News Article.

  I'd chew my right arm off to be there, but UK locals can catch the exhibit which runs at the Williamson Art gallery until June 17th.

The Williamson art gallery
Slatey road
Birkenhead
CH43 4UE

A Rose by any other name.

“I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day.”

James Joyce

This is Rose Elizabeth Gough, born this past week to my son Thom and his young lady Rachael. Isn't she beautiful? 

Looking at her... thinking of her birth into a world I'd long since resigned as forsaken, makes me realize that some of the hopes, dreams and aspirations I had for the future are contained in her, that any legacy I could have hoped for pales in the remarkable, glorious potential her life brings.

Welcome to the world baby Rose.

Would you Adam and Eve it? David Gough showing at Windield Gallery

Theothanatos I-The Evisceration of Adam
16" x 20" | Oil on Canvas

Remember this one-the pivotal piece (the Genesis) that started it all?
Or at least the furrow which I would plow these past four years?

I still have the original sketch for it, perhaps I should share it sometime.
It's now part of the collection at the wonderful Winfield Gallery in Carmel, CA for $2,500.

Full details of the gallery and its locale can be found on their site:

,
http://www.winfieldgallery.com/

I wanted to also let you know that my lovely, talented daughter-Emma-now has a sister blog, which showcases her own Art and words, as she diligently work's through her final year studying her degree.

You can follow her from the following link:

Emma Gough Online Portfolio

...the rumour spread that I was aging fast

Can't believe this chap is 65, perhaps because it means I am getting older too.He's been a soundtrack to my life for over thirty years now, and whilst we can all lament that there shall be no more new music, there's enough legacy to relive our teens for several life times.

The drawing is from when I was a young dude myself,back in early 1984 I believe.
Below are my ten favorite Bowie tracks-at least this week.

Many Happy Returns Mr Bowie.

1. Ashes to Ashes
2. Quicksand
3. Word on a wing
4. A small plot of Land
5. Always Crashing in the same car
6. Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud
7. This is not America
8. We are the Dead
9. Planet of Dreams
10. Untitled no. 1

About Face

Whilst I've some catching up to do on blog duties, this post comes to you in a shiny new wrapper, along with news of my sites relaunch.

www.davidgoughart.com

It's a much more pristine affair, less Charles Barry -a bit more Walter Gropius, and whilst certain technicality will always elude my right brain, my years being stiffed on the sidelines as a designer, work in my favor for once.

On this day

Keep it Surreal San Diego-House of the Future show

Let the surrealism shindig commence, San Diego's menagerie of collective dreamers, in the house, and one Salvador Dali.

Actually it's one of his holographic clocks, not the man himself-how awesome would that be...a zombified Dali?
Although I'd spend the entire evening cowering in a corner, so not to melt beneath that withering mustachioed gaze.

I dare say the grand master's spirit shall be there.

So to recap:
8:00 until late at The House of the Future,
5481 Toyon Road, San Diego, CA 92115

New Brow contemporary underground art

A reminder that the New Brow IV show is occurring at the Alternative Cafe this evening. Unfortunately, the costly logistics of getting up there, mean I shalln't be in attendance , but in my absence, I've sent three of my pieces to keep you company.


And finally, my daughter-Emma- just got her first write up for a recent showcase in a local Liverpool inkie called Object of Dreams on page 6 of the Like it / Love it section.

This is wonderful news and I am so proud of her for all her hard work paying off.
Well done Emma.x
You can see the full magazine through the link here:

http://issuu.com/objectofdreams/docs/issue5

Lani Inc.

I've heard it said somewhere that behind every good man is a better woman. Certainly that's true of my wife-Lani.

I realize I don't acknowledge it enough, but not only is she my greatest champion, but she has supported my flights of fantasy unstintingly, some times in the face of possible destitution.

At Art events she is my eternally patient companion, standing by my side whilst my attentions are diverted by the throng before chauffeuring me home at some ungodly hour. She never complains.

On days when I am floundering, she elevates my diminishing spirits with belief in myself again.

I am beyond lucky.

This weekend was fairly revelatory about a few things, and at her suggestion, we have decided that Lani will be taking an even more active role in my career and shall now be representing me.

Two heads are always going to be better than one, and my time and focus is better served in the studio, than haggling with dealers and seeking out new walls to exhibit from.

I shall still be blogging here regularly of course, so no change there, but there may be additional updates from her too, which will be fun.

So in the spirit of our new arrangement, I did as I was told and retreated to my studio, and christened my brand new easel.

See what you think.

Dead / Ends by David Gough-a taster part one

All being well, my book-Dead/Ends shall be receiving it's premier release on April 30th, and so in the intervening weeks, I shall be posting exclusive excerpts from it. Please note that the following is as yet unedited and may differ slightly in it's final incarnation.

Death/Mask

"We moved three times when I was young.

The first time, was to a Victorian Terrace in Toxteth, Liverpool.

It had an outside toilet, a coal-bunker and rooms you could still refer to as a parlor and vestibule. Of course it was pretty dilapidated, and as more of the neighborhood tenants moved out, leaving the adjacent houses vacant, the rodents moved in.

My hysterical, irrational fear of rats began there.

I would have been five when upon investigating a tapping noise in the electric meter cupboard, a large brown rat fell as unceremoniously, as only a rat can, into my lap.
Its pink worm like tail twitched, as a bubble of spittle and blood formed on its greasy, gray lips, from the poison it had ingested.

In that moment I felt an epiphany, as all of my understanding of what it meant to die, seemed crystalline in the revulsion and horror I felt from that point, because in those black beaded eyes that rolled to yellow white, I realized that death had a face."

Joshua Tree

We're back from a two day sojourn to Joshua Tree. It was cold, windy, inhospitable and alien-everything in fact that is the prerequisite to fire my imagination.
At night the gale tugged at the tents canvas, so we curled in our sleeping bags like pupae,awaiting the eye of the storm. And I had the most vividly,epic dreams.

It was perfect. Thank you my darling wife-x

What did I miss whilst I was away?

Well, my daughter-Emma, was part of an exhibit that's going on called Studio 121, showcasing second year BA Hons Fine Art students. I've only seen a small photo sample of her work on display, but it looks like a tremendous combination of cubist collage and naturalism, and I say that without a hint of bias.
I'll post photos as soon as I have them.

The show is currently showing at:

The CUC Liverpool

41-51 Greenland Street

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Emma also has a blog of her own, which you can follow here:

http://emmagough.weebly.com/blog.html

I also received news about something which I should be able to confirm over the next few days-past indiscretions have taught me the folly of spilling beans before money is in the bank, so to speak, but I think I am on fairly safe ground to tell you that good things are afoot, or at least a small toe.

Drawing Breath-art comission by David Gough for local Sexologist

Some last minute retouching on the erotic drawings before I deliver them later today.



Here they are in no particular order.

'Paradox'-11" x 17"-Graphite and acrylic wash on paper

'Palindrone'-11" x 17"-Graphite and acrylic wash on paper

'Osmosis'-11" x 17"-Graphite and acrylic wash on paper

I'm very pleased with the set, and at some juncture I may put them together as a series of limited edition prints. We'll see.



All being well, I should have some more good news to impart over the next few days, and as its the week that celebrates (or commiserates) another year older, I'll be posting a daily feature showcasing five things that influenced me growing up.

Mosaic gallery show

Expanding on the work I did for the recent Mosaic show, I'm currently working on a series for a sexologist. It's fascinating, and certainly not a direction I saw my artistry geared towards, but I'm really enjoying the diversion all the same.

Speaking of the Mosaic exhibit, there are four pieces still on show there, so anyone in the locale, could do better than staying in to catch reruns of Kourtney and Kim, by enjoying a glass of fine wine and enriching themselves with some local art culture.

Mosaic Gallery,
3422 30th North Park,
San Diego, CA 92104

Finally, I've been honored with an induction into the San Diego Visual Arts Guild, and have a rather nice gallery page on there website-check it out:

http://sdvag.net/G/DavidGslide.htm

Fairies, Shepard Fairy and Demoneaters

Recently, I was sent a photo by a fan, of a tattoo they are having done, featuring the ubiquitous 'Fairies do it better'.

I'm always genuinely blown away when anyone considers my work worthy enough to have permanently engraved on there skin, but I'm genuinely humbled by the re imagining of this one-I know it couldn't have been easy-thank you dude.





Caught up with my Netlix list and saw Beautiful Losers the other day. Aaron Rose's post script to the artistic underground circling the Alleged Gallery of the 90's.

Much back slappery ensues throughout from all the usual suspects, indie darlings and Shepard Fairy-a veritable gloss then without any real center-a reality show for kiddy craft hipsters.
Little wonder the art scene is in the dire state it finds itself.


Someone who is a volte face to the current dirge, and a breath of fresh air at that, is my friend Christopher Ulrich.

I had the pleasure of showing with this young master a few years back,and predicted great things for him then.
Quite rightly he has gone on to become a fixture at the La Luz De Jesus, where he recently showcased his second series, the 'Illuminator'- the successor to his 'Demoneater's'.

Suffice to say that the gentleman's mastery of singular vision is astonishing in scale and detail, and had I not been sequestered through October on my own 'journey' as he calls it, I would have had my nose pressed at every one of his canvas's to unravel his secret.

Having barely stopped for breath, he is already deep in dark study, projecting the third in the series for an eventual showcase in 2012 at La Luz.
Anyone who is an artist knows that envisioning a show costs a huge amount money-materials, frames and hours in artistic contemplation-all an investment of faith from the artist towards bringing a vision to fruition. To that end, Chris is requesting a similar investment of faith from anyone who wants to donate a sum towards helping the realization of his next project, through Kickstarter.com.
http://kck.st/dJxx7i

This young man is the next big thing, and deserves to be,so,you know-support living artists.

A Chip off the Old Block-the Art of Emma Gough

My daughter Emma, has an exhibition featuring some of her work this coming week, full details below:

............................................................................................................................................................

Fractured Vision:
Art exhibition featuring the work of Simon Sherry & art work from Wirral Met College and Ashville Lodge
At the gallery, Birkenhead Park, Wirral CH41 4HY
Opening Tuesday 23rd November 2010- Tuesday 30th November
to be opened by Mike McCartney, The Eye Fund Patron.

............................................................................................................................................................

As one might imagine, I am hugely proud and excited for her, and wish I could be there to see the works in person, because the pieces she is displaying are very strong.

The exhibit is in aid of the Eye Fund charity, so if you are part of my English contingent and happen to be on my old stomping ground, then please go and attend and support some great up and coming talent and a great cause.

Art Booking Trend

Spent most of the day at Borders for research, flicking through the arts and culture sections,either immersed in magazines or trying to convince myself I don't need another sketchbook.

I think I may have a serious problem in that regard, since I caved and bought myself a pocket sized Moleskine-they were on sale.

I have around a dozen sketchbooks on my studio shelf already, at various stages of completion, much to my wife's bemusement.

Its an odd quirk I have, the need to start a new one before I've completed the last, as if I were having some sort of external reboot on my creativity, or capping a certain point in time.

The research was for my book, which is coming along nicely. It features around twenty of my most recent works, complimented by biographical anecdotes and annotations, and all being well, I'll have it done in time for Christmas. I wish I could post the cover, because it's awesome, but I'm wanting to keep it under wraps until it's available.
Writing biography is oddly disconcerting, a counterpoint to what I do with painting, using metaphor as camouflage-and I so don't want it to be down, more laden with irony, so I'm taking my cues from my dog eared stalwart-Salvador Dali, the unspeakable confessions of. I've read the book once a year, ever since discovering it when I was sixteen-it's eminently quotable, completely batty and salacious in the way every good biog should be, although my own shall probably have closer allusions to the parochial Alan Bennett.

I'm also working on rearranging my studio to maximize the space, lugging the monster office table that was here when we inherited the property and removing the massive closet doors that never worked. I realize its the wrong month for a spring clean, but as you can tell, I'm feeling like a fresh start.

Something for the Weekend-Golden Years?

We ought to be in the first throws of Autumn, except it feels like we are in the clutches of an Indian summer.

However,I carry the timbres of fall regardless of the season.

The new Ghost is called Mentors Shadow-informed definitely by the idea of my 'holy' Triumvirate piece unraveling to reveal the vivacious spirit instilled by friends passing. I certainly would'nt be as passionate about the notion of legacy, were it not for realising the finiteness of a mortal life.

That is the cruel irony of what I do I imagine.

Something for the Weekend-Ferry Across the Mersey.

I sit here this sedentary Sunday afternoon, on the eve of becoming a grandfather for the first time. Despite my predisposition to be a curmudgeonly old sod, if I'm honest, I never thought I'd feel old enough to be a grandparent. And yet as my daughter-Emma- lies in a labor ward on the other side of the world, I must admit to being beside myself with anxious excitement at the prospect. I can't wait to meet you little Quinn-I can't wait to see myself maybe a little wise in your eyes.
We shall be leaving for the UK in just a few days. Meanwhile, as Lani and I have been busily preparing for our trip, any effort in the studio has been at the behest of organizing my crap, and cleaning out every dusty nook and crannie. I did manage to complete 'the Triumvirate' piece however, which now has a new temporary home at the San Diego Art Institute. Its looking like an exciting showcase, and I'm pleased with how solid this collection is-I've great ambition for the project to culminate when we return.

For the moment however, I am content knowing that I'll be spending the time in between with my family, meeting my grandson, perhaps walking along the river Mersey with a steaming bag of fish and chips, or standing in front of 'when did you last see your Father' by Yeames at the Walker. Its been too long.

Which reminds me...I never liked Gerry and the Pacemakers version of Ferry across the Mersey, but my old ZTT stable mates Frankie goes to Hollywood did a nice dramatic retread in the 80's, which was on the B side for Relax.

Thumbprint gallery Featured show, San Diego with David Gough

Tonight's exhibition made it into the pages of CityBeat, with a rather nice little piece to go alongside the Valley thumbnail. I'd like to think I'll make it onto the cover someday, but I never really can tell the criteria for these things.
After some fiddling yesterday, I decided the last piece shall be accompanying the other works on the wall this evening. Wet off the easel-literally-its unfinished, but I really wanted to have two new works to showcase, since its only a month since my last featured show, and for any return visitors I wanted to give them something new to make it worth their while.

Doors open around 6pm, I shall be hovering somewhere ready for grilling and bartering, so bring your rich friends and your checkbook;)

Look forward to seeing you there

Thumbprint Gallery
2637 University Avenue. #A
San Diego, CA, 92104