It’s not often where you find a provocative band whose handcrafted performance art is just as vital to its legacy as its music. Such is the case for GWAR, who celebrated their 40 year anniversary with a comprehensive multimedia exhibit that opened last week at LA gallery Beyond the Streets.
“Let There Be GWAR” showcases the Grammy nominated-band’s elaborate sci-fi artistry, through its numerous costumes, props, comics, live performances at clubs and pivotal moments on television. Materials such as foam, latex, fiberglass, and a variety of metals and plastics have gone into their colorful creations.
“The story of GWAR is complex but in the end it’s a group of like-minded weirdos making art,” Bob Gorman, an integral craftsman in the band’s artist collective, told the Times.
“Our mythos emerged from comic books and gaming culture and it has a narrative. Each band member has a character; they are part of our zeitgeist.”
Costumes, stage decoration, tour memorabilia and other items from the heavy metal band GWAR are on display at the Beyond the Streets Gallery. The exhibit, which opens September 12, highlight’s the band’s 40th anniversary.
(David Butow/For the Times)
As the band’s archivist, Gorman was able to retain the original artwork, costume designs and even milk bottles from the band’s early days, which can be seen throughout the exhibit.
“Early on, I decided to be our historian, so through the years, I have saved things and put them aside for an opportunity such as this retrospective. This exhibit gets very detailed, yet stays broad enough for anyone to enjoy without getting into the weeds.”
In addition to being the exhibit curators, Gorman and Beyond the Streets founder Roger Gastman co-authored “Let There Be GWAR,” a coffee table book which recently launched into its third printing, and is now available at the gallery’s merch store, along with other limited edition items.
“As a collector and a curator of subculture. GWAR has always been with me – everything from the music and t-shirts, to live shows and videos. At their core, they are an artist collective that has been making everything by hand for 40 years. Nothing they do is outsourced or bought at Spirit Halloween. The craftsmanship and care are incredible. It’s time that we celebrate GWAR for the artists they are.”
Gastman described the gallery presentation as something a fan would want to “keep coming back and discover new details” each time.
“I have been living with the exhibit for months, and each day I see new things. With many full size dressed mannequins, original drawings, paintings, comics, sculptures, fan art, photos, flyers, news clippings, and video, it’s truly unreal.”
Costumes, stage decoration, tour memorabilia and other items from the heavy metal band GWAR are on display at the Beyond the Streets Gallery. The exhibit, which opens September 12, highlight’s the band’s 40th anniversary.
(David Butow/For the Times)
One important facet the curators wanted to honor in the exhibit is all of the past and present members of GWAR.
“This was vital for us to do, especially including those who have passed away,” acknowledged Gastman. “Lead singer Dave Brockie–who performed as Oderus Urungus– was GWAR’s fearless leader for almost 30 years who has passed on, and including his artwork to showcase his legacy, craftsmanship and humor was important.”
Fans who have watched GWAR’s documentary, “This Is GWAR” were aware of the issues between Brockie and his fellow founding member, Hunter Jackson; that friction was also incorporated within the exhibit.
“The display of Dave and Hunter’s art next to each other is such a great way to show the collision of ideas that gave rise to GWAR,” noted original former bassist, Mike Bishop, who now is the lead vocalist.
“That art and those two men were so important in my life. Like big brothers, each brilliant, problematic and hilarious in their own way. To me. It just reminds me of the beginning of my life as an adult and an artist. Learning how to be in the world.”
Bishop was thrilled that, during the gallery’s opening weekend, Metallica’s bass player, Robert Trujillo, Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz and Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh all stopped by.
“Mark Mothersbaugh was a huge influence on GWAR. More than Kiss and Alice Cooper, Devo is a punk band and that’s where we come from, that’s where we get our juice. They were a concept band and never gave that up, and that was really cool. One thing we emulated, their constant awareness of their visual image.”
Bob Gorman, one of the artists that created material for the band GWAR’s stage decoration adjusts items on display. Tour memorabilia, props and other pieces from the heavy metal band GWAR are on display at the Beyond the Streets Gallery. The exhibit, which opens September 12, highlight’s the band’s 40th anniversary.
(David Butow/For the Times)
Super fan Anthony Mejia, a stay-at-home dad, drove two hours from Rancho Cucamonga to attend opening night at the gallery, where current and legacy members of the band performed a half hour acoustic set.
“The band has been the soundtrack to my life and has given me so many great times through their music, art, humor and wild stage antics.”
“GWAR was the first group where I instantly felt like I fit in,” he acknowledged.
“Growing up and being into nerdy things like comic books, video games, magic the gather and sci fi/horror movies wasn’t the easiest way to make friends. I instantly felt a connection and I knew I found a group of artists that understood me and would welcome me as one of their own.”
Mejia loved seeing how the exhibit touches on the band’s early punk days, when the band lived and rehearsed in an abandoned dairy building in Richmond, Virginia.
Upon seeing the display of one of the tanks and air compressor that GWAR uses to spray gallons of fake blood onto the audience, documentary filmmaker Eric Pritchard fondly remembers the GWAR show he saw in Los Angeles back in the early 90’s.
Costumes, stage decoration, tour memorabilia and other items from the heavy metal band GWAR are on display at the Beyond the Streets Gallery. The exhibit, which opens September 12, highlight’s the band’s 40th anniversary.
(David Butow/For the Times)
“Their outrageous onstage presence was like pure metal theatrics on steroids, but ironically, their music was technically really good and catchy and not as chaotic as they appeared. If you weren’t in the know, you could look at it as ridiculous, but it’s pure camp, and their fan base truly gets it. It’s why they’ve been around for over 40 years.”
Pritchard also admires their DIY aesthetic, in creating an assortment of subversive props.
“I liked the way they leaned into the horror genre with all the blood and gore; that really fed the fans who craved that kind of entertainment. They were also so inclusive and made their audience part of the show – you didn’t just go to watch them, you were part of it. It was an experience, like ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’”
Let There Be GWAR (434 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036) runs through November 2, at Beyond the Streets. (434 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036)
On October 24th, you can catch the band perform on the Shudder Channel during an episode of The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs’ “Splatterween” series.
This story originally appeared on LA Times
