B.B. Gunn
| B.B. Gunn | |
|---|---|
| Born | Santa Cruz, California |
| 🏡 Residence | New York, New York |
| 🏳️ Nationality | American |
| 🎓 Alma mater | San Francisco Art Institute |
| 💼 Occupation | Artist, Magazine Editor |
| 📆 Years active | 2008-present |
| 🌐 Website | bbgunn |
B.B. Gunn is an American visual artist[1] [2] and the founder and editor-in-chief of Paradise Magazine. Born in Santa Cruz, California B.B. Gunn moved to San Francisco in 2010[3] [4] where he became known for his work as an installation artist, performance artist,[5][6] radio personality,[7] and salon host.[8] In 2013 B.B. Gunn moved to New York City,[9][10] where he currently resides, and became involved in the fashion industry,[11] eventually launching his own annual art book/periodical, Paradise.[12][13][14][15]
Paradise Magazine[edit]
B.B. Gunn began conceptualizing an art, style, music, and culture magazine in the spring of 2013.[16][17] One year later, B.B. Gunn released the first issue of Paradise, "an art book disguised as a magazine.'[8] The 202 page book (released annually, available in print and online) featured the work of over 50 photographers, musicians, filmmakers, writers, designers,[18] actors, and underground performance artists.[19] The first issue's theme, 'A Bicoastal View,' focused exclusively on artists, topics, and establishments within San Francisco and New York. The content not only highlighted the polarities and similarities between the two cities, but dualities created by the contributors, artwork, and interviews themselves in relation to one another.[20][21]
Art Exhibitions[edit]
B.B. Gunn is also known as a visual artist, having premiered several art exhibitions around San Francisco, California, including his alma mater San Francisco Art Institute[22] B.B. Gunn also became known as a performance artist, having performed live in both San Francisco and New York.[14] Among other forays into artistic debate,[23] B.B. Gunn co-hosted bi-monthly salons and a weekly radio show called "Say Something & Hang Up" with his cohort JxMarie.[8]
The Work of Success[edit]
After being accepted to appear once again inside the Diego Rivera Gallery, B.B. Gunn premiered "The Work of Success" to a large audience on September 4, 2011.[24] The exhibition included a wall covered in old Free Art Movement paper bag screen prints, large textile pieces later to be turned into B.B. Gunn Original Clothing, past outfits worn by the artist (along with a long list of visual and factual elements of inspiration and reverence), personal photos, and a long string of black flags featuring the B.B. Gunn logo running across the wall and up into the gallery ceiling. In the middle of the gallery this was a large shadowbox table that featured many sacred items to the artist, including his memoirs (both to flip through and chapters printed out to take home), B.B. Gunn Original Jewelry, a vile of his blood, a jar of his bloody urine, infamous "XX Sunglasses," and two TV monitors that looped various videos and interviews taken from his YouTube channel. On a separate, smaller table near the side of the space, another monitor looped a video of the artist reading his memoirs aloud to the audience. Also featured on the small table was his quote book, titled, "Don't Even Get Me Started On Quote Books" -B.B. Gunn. All 50 take-home copies were gone by the end of the exhibition on September 10. The exhibition received rave reviews and marked the beginning of B.B. Gunn's new transition into Maximalism, ongoing performance, and the philosophy of life as art.
Spotlight Prostitute[edit]
B.B. Gunn's first Maximalist exhibition, "Spotlight Prostitute" held in Still Lights Gallery, San Francisco, May 1–7, 2011. It is said that at first B.B. Gunn was to curate an exhibition, but due to the apathy of his fellow artists, very few works of art were submitted. Faced with the reality of an empty gallery, B.B. Gunn chose to fill up exactly one half of the space with a varied abundance of his previous work, and purposefully changed every light fixture to shine only on his half of the gallery. The result was an installation with every sort of medium, from printmaking to textiles, to sculpture, along with a table that included his signature Free Art for visitors, and a TV that played his theatrical interviews on a loop. The other half of the gallery was sparse, dimly lit, and cold.[25]
You Are Here[edit]
You are here was an installation inside the Diego Rivera Gallery, January 30-February 5, 2011. Pieces included "Face," Gunn's 'flipper', "The Ticking Heart," the sound of Gunn's beating heart, which sounds like a watch because of his St. Jude artificial heart valve, You are here large text on the gallery wall, much like his previous "This is your life" mural, and lastly "Beholder," a bench placed in the middle of the gallery. The intent behind the installation was to invite the viewer into a meditative environment. A participant could sit down on "Beholder" directly in front of "Face", allow You are here to fill their vision, and let the monotonous sound of "The Ticking Heart" send him or her into a state of presence and comfort.[26]
This Is Your Life[edit]
This is your life was a text mural painted in black upon a large, white wall during October 8–21, 2010. Gunn is said to have created the piece in an effort to bring a moment of presence to the viewer. The piece faced a large view of the San Francisco Bay and viewers could chose to read the text and either contemplate "the now" while gazing over the bay, or simply walk by the text and allow it's meaning to mold to whatever was going on in their personal lives.[27]
Performance[edit]
Meow Mix Variety Show[edit]
During the summer of 2011, B.B. Gunn began attending free underground variety shows in the San Francisco drag scene.[28] Gunn was inspired by the laissez faire quality of the scene and felt destined to participate. His friend JxMarie first introduced him to Ferosha Titties, who hosted a variety show titled Meow Mix every Tuesday night at 11pm located at The Stud Bar.[29] By September Gunn performed live for the very first time in a performance titled "The Crucifixion of B.B. Gunn."[30] The performance was uploaded to Gunn's YouTube channel,[31] and was followed by other performances, such as "B.B. Gunn Gets Sticky,"[32] "B.B. Gunn Picks Up,"[33] "B.B. Gunn & JxMarie Get Trampy,"[34] "B.B. Gunn Gets Stylish,"[35] and "B.B. Gunn & JxMarie Run Free."[36] The varied performances track Gunn's progression out of his Maximalist/Jesus Christ Superstar phase and into a more effortless, but no less vivid, New Modernist[37] period, where style and grace conquered over seemingly vapid vanity and overexposure.[38] [39][40]
Say Something & Hang Up[edit]
In September 2011, B.B. Gunn began co-hosting with fellow artist JxMarie a live radio show titled "Say Something & Hang Up" on The Tower Radio 102.5 FM.[41] Every Monday night at 8:30pm the hosts spun a variety of music and talked deeply about a broad assortment of topics. Throughout broadcasting the hosts inspired viewers to either listen off the radio, or to watch online from various live broadcasting sites, and to call in to be featured on-air.[42] Each week's episode had a different theme, including "Are You There God?,"[43] "First World Problems",[44] "The Future",[45] and "In Vogue."[46] As the second season commenced on January 30 (episode "Totally Trippy", wherein the hosts broadcast while on magic mushrooms),[47] the program began to take a much more focused approach to changing art and society through the philosophy of the New Modernist aesthetic.[48]
New Modernism[edit]
By January 2012, B.B. Gunn, under the influence of good friend and fellow artist JxMarie was advised to read Marshall Berman's book All That Is Solid Melts Into Air: The Experience of Modernity.[37] The modernist philosophical text inspired him, and together he and JxMarie founded a new art movement based on JxMarie's previous ideals, mixed with Berman's and a shared artistic and idealist vision for the future of society. This new movement was given the title New Modernist, and fueled countless debates in and outside of the classrooms of historic San Francisco Art Institute.[48]
New Modernist Salon[edit]
On February 19, 2012 B.B. Gunn and JxMarie hosted their first New Modernist Salon, which soon became an event held twice every month. Intimate groups of young artists gathered to eat, drink, and discuss the big ideas that were so often left out of regular classroom debate.[37] Topics included Passion, Change, Truth, Fear, Desire, Power, Beauty, Style, Time, Modernity, and everything in between. Guests were invited to discuss these topics openly without fear of judgement, and were allowed to participate in friendly debate over French 75's and fresh figs. During these meetings, New Modern stickers and armbands were given out to spread the movement's message.[48]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Hot Mess @ XL Nightclub". Next Magazine. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ↑ Marie, Jx. "Chateau de B.B. Gunn". Haus de B.B Gunn. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Nemire, Jessica. "San Francisco Artist Launches Paradise Magazine". SF Weekly. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "Farewell to Eden". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "B.B. Gunn on KOFY TV's Dance Party". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ "Hot Mess @ XL Nightclub". Next Magazine. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "Say Something & Hang Up". B.B. Gunn. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Uzi, Jaques. "Artist Interview: B.B. Gunn". Sextronixxx. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Decaiza Hutchinson, Frankie. "NYC's Latest Frontier in Drag? Bathsalts at Don Pedro". Societe Perrier. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "Farewell to Fog City". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Chisto, Francis. "A Night at the BBenthaus". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ "Paradise Magazine's Debut Launch Party". Lambda Literary. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "Paradise Magazine". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Gunn, B.B. "About B.B. Gunn". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Nemire, Jessica. "San Francisco Artist Launches Paradise Magazine". SF Weekly. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ↑ Nemire, Jessica. "San Francisco Artist Launches Paradise Magazine". SF Weekly. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "Paradise Magazine Kickstarter". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Magazine, Paradise. "Paradise Magazine: Florals in Central Park". Paradise Magazine. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ "Paradise Magazine's Debut Launch Party". Lambda Literary. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- ↑ Magazine, Paradise. "Paradise Magazine About". Paradise Magazine. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Nemire, Jessica. "San Francisco Artist Launches Paradise Magazine". SF Weekly. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ↑ "Alumni Websites". San Francisco Art Institute. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "Designs by B.B. Gunn". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "B.B. Gunn Artist Talk". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "B.B. Gunn presents Spotlight Prostitute". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "B.B. Gunn presents YOU ARE HERE". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "B.B. Gunn presents This Is Your Life". Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "B.B. Gunn On Stage". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Bar, The Stud. "Meow Mix is Changing the World". The Stud. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Mix, Meow. "The Crucification of B.B. Gunn". The Stud. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "B.B. Gunn's YouTube Channel". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Mix, Meow. "B.B. Gunn Gets Sticky". The Stud Bar. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Mix, Meow. "B.B. Gunn Picks Up". The Stud Bar. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Mix, Meow. "B.B. Gunn & JxMarie Get Trampy". The Stud Bar. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Mix, Meow. "B.B. Gunn Gets Stylish". The Stud Bar. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Mix, Meow. "B.B. Gunn & JxMarie Run Free". The Stud Bar. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Gunn, B.B. "Say Something & Hang Up: New Modern". Say Something & Hang Up. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ "Hot Mess @ XL Nightclub". Next Magazine. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ↑ Golding, Max. "B.B. Gunn on What Is Art? Live!". What Is Art? Live!. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Decaiza Hutchinson, Frankie. "NYC's Latest Frontier in Drag? Bathsalts at Don Pedro". Societe Perrier. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ↑ Marie, Jx. "Say Something on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "Say Something & Hang Up". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Radio, Tower. "Say Something & Hang Up: Are You There God?". Tower Radio. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Radio, Tower. "Say Something & Hang Up: First World Problems". Tower Radio. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Radio, Tower. "Say Something & Hang Up: The Future". Tower Radio. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Radio, Tower. "Say Something & Hang Up: In Vogue". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Gunn, B.B. "Say Something & Hang Up: Totally Trippy". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Marie, Jx. "New Modern". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
External links[edit]
- Official Website
- Paradise Magazine
- B.B. Gunn on YouTube
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