Studio Judy G presents
THREE PUNK PAINTERS AND MY MOM
July - August, 2022
An exhibition of colorful paintings by colorful souls.
This exhibition features works by my mom, Shirley Gittelsohn, a celebrated Oregon regional artist, and three initiators of the San Francisco Punk scene. Penelope Houston shows her mugshot portraits, Debora Iyall exhibits a series of symbolic colorful scenes, and I, Judy Gittelsohn, present my recent large figurative paintings. The 1970’s and 80’s were the spark. While Shirley painted in Oregon, the three of us were flourishing in San Francisco.
Debora, Penelope, and I were studying painting at the San Francisco Art Institute.* We each performed in our respective bands during the late 70’s early 80’s. This show pays homage to this fertile time. In this exhibit, Penelope and Debora join me in showing our recent paintings.
Penelope Houston, with her punk band the Avengers, will be touring the US and Europe this summer. Her diptych paintings are from her mug shot series “Muzzlers” - slang for sex crimes. The front view is guarded, while the profile exposes a vulnerable quality. Her impasto treatment performs a kind of literary time travel, drawing these individuals forward to a contemporary sensitivity, revealing and in a sense returning to them what the original arrest documentation took away – their essential humanness.
Debora Iyall exhibits her recent colorful symbolic paintings. The multicolored emblematic works consider and reflect, as Debora has been wont to do. Her chart-topping band Romeo Void, had hits of Debora’s poetry and vocalization. Now with the assistance of technology, Debora’s new band will broadcast a performance during the July 10th reception. Coincidentally, EPIX is launching a documentary - Women Who Rock - featuring Debora on July 10, 2022.
I am a Watsonville resident, artist, and the owner of Studio Judy G and I will not be performing with any of my former bands, Pink Section, The Inflatable Boy Clams, or the Longshoremen. I will be exhibiting new narrative paintings – including symbolic interpretations of a Greek Chorus, three large Goddesses assisting in my direction – Love, Wisdom, and Fierce Calling.
Shirley Gittelsohn (1925 - 2015) painted Cannon Beach, Oregon by the boatload, creating over 180 paintings of Haystack Rock in her truly Oregon color palette of greens, grays, blues, and whites. Shirley paid homage to Cannon Beach, our family’s gathering place, and a place of gorgeous nature.
Three Punk Painters and My Mom is a nod to a time of great creativity, freedom, and community. While my mom was interpreting nature in Oregon, we three 20-year-olds, newly on our own, painted, performed, and lived in San Francisco. We were in the epicenter of the nascent Punk Movement. Honoring this, I bring you now, Three Punk Painters and My Mom.
