Exhibition - Gonzalo Silva: Obsessive Compulsive Drawings

GONZALO SILVA Music & Visual Art:
“Playing bass and drawing with black ballpoint ink are one in the same for me – two utilitarian mediums through which I channel my compulsive whims by either outlining a chord progression set to words, or by filling  8.5x11 stationary I receive in the mail with Bic medium ink. When writing songs or creating drawings I do not have a particular subject in mind. The work reveals itself through the process of creation.”
 
Visual Art:
I expand the utilitarian boundaries of the household ballpoint pen detailing away my compulsions on the back of 8.5”x11” stationary. These items are personal to me - like summons, default notices, or support group meeting lists.

In April of 2017 I had the sudden impulse while eating Chinese food on break between shifts busking to buy a black medium ballpoint pen from the bodega across the street for $1.25, and proceeded to draw instinctively and without judgement whatever I fancied behind whatever paper was on hand, which was mail imprinted with my name and address. Knowing then and there, that’s how my art will always be traced back to me and no one else. I found that if I detail away taking however long without any pressure from or needing to prove anything to the outside world, I became more serene and objective. Nurturing the practice as my morning routine. Each drawing increasingly more dense and detailed spurred by the personal challenge of seeing how exact I could become drawing with what I consider a blunt instrument. The same one I bought that day, many refills later.

Music:
I expand the utilitarian boundaries of bass guitar known to support other instruments, by writing and performing exclusively on it supporting myself singing my songs busking in the subways of NYC.

While attending Berklee College of Music studying electric bass and songwriting in the 90’s, I tried my hand busking in Park St. station, Boston, performing strictly the handful of songs I had written so far and walked away with $5 in loose change. I haven’t looked back since. I quit my part time job, graduated college, and started busking full time while aiming to make a name for myself playing clubs around town. After some time grinding away with little to show for my effort, I migrated to NYC with even bigger hopes only to be daunted by an even bigger club scene I no longer possessed the will to challenge. I defaulted consolidating all my effort doing the only thing I know and have been known for, busking. Showcasing underneath the capital of the world my various moods crafted on the same blunt instrument I’ve owned this entire time.

Bio:
Born in Santiago, Chile. Emigrating to Melrose, MA as the youngest in the family. Becoming hooked on music through MTV. Begging for an electric guitar at 11. Taking music seriously at 13 by joining the school orchestra on double bass. Merging those loves into electric bass, finding my singing voice through songwriting, and floundering into the artist I’ve become today.