GOLDMINE SHITHOUSE AND WHAT IS ART/WHAT IS SOUND

June 4th through June 25th, 2004

A unique community collision will take place at the Lower Level Gallery in June. CHAC, in association with Static Factory Media, present a powerhouse collaboration between Goldmine Shithouse and the What is Art/What is Sound Seattle chapter. Select artists from each organization have joined forces to produce a dynamic new exhibition featuring a host of mixed-media work.

Goldmine Shithouse artists David Hochbaum, Travis Lindquist and Colin Burns explore violent and difficult themes filtered through their inexhaustible sense of humor. The contrast of horror and comedy present in their work creates a paradox that is relevant, entertaining and infectious. Thematic symbols reoccur throughout their work, including death, bunnies, ladders to nowhere, black hearts and clouds, among many others. These visual elements are derived from a variety of sources, including classical references; the artists' own sketchbooks, as well as a smorgasbord of popular culture.

Inspired by the working process of Goldmine Shithouse, members of WIA/ WIS created six new collage works collaboratively. Debbie Ableson, Ryan Dickson, Raquel Williams-Martinez, Damian Sieradski, Lucky and Amber Anderson have created mixed-media constructions that explore the quintessence of each artist and his or her preferred art-making technique, including oil and acrylic paint, encaustic, Polaroid transfer, glass, wood, found objects, and text. Each construction was started by one artist, and then passed on (or put aside until picked up by another) until the piece took shape. Further encouraging a communal atmosphere and dialogue between participants, the group's majority ruled in the decision to continue the piece, or to deem it finished.

GOLDMINE SHITHOUSE
Goldmine Shithouse is an artist cooperative that began in early 2003. They focus primarily on painting, drawing and collage, and have extended into the realm of video and music/punk rock art noise (Murder Baby). The founding members1 paths converged in New York City and the chemistry between them has proved explosive. For more information visit www.goldmineshithouse.com.

WHAT IS ART/WHAT IS SOUND
What Is Art/What Is Sound serves both as an international platform that raises visibility for emerging artists, as well as an active source for artist networking and development on projects. For more information visit www.whatisart.org.