A lot can happen in 25 years.
A quarter-century ago, Google was just launched, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal was in full swing, the assembly of the International Space Station began, Offspring’s Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) was on every radio station, and so much more.
But since then, local artist Sean-William Dawson has been creating and exhibiting his work that has helped shape the identity of our artistic community.
To celebrate this landmark, Georgian College is holding a 25-year retrospective featuring his work. And no exhibit would be complete without a soundtrack, compiled with music from our city and community of musicians. In partnership with Barrie-based independent record label Tarantula Tapes, this retrospective is a celebration of art that isn’t confined to a single form.
Before the exhibition opens next week, Sean-William along with Casey Cuff and Core Bee of Tarantula Tapes took the time to talk to me about the event.
Richard: How did you three connect and decide to collaborate on this project?
Casey: Our friend Rob, from The Speed Humps, has known Sean for many years. Rob had been talking to Sean about an idea for a soundtrack-style compilation and put us in touch with him to discuss. His whole vision was incredible so it didn't take much to get us on board.
Sean-William: Yes, Rob Freeborn and I met at Georgian College. We were both enrolled in the fine arts program — 1994-ish. We have stayed in contact ever since then. We’ve also supported each others various art and music projects over the years. As well, both of us love punk and metal music, so we’re always talking about that as well attending the same concerts.
Over the years, I’ve done art for many bands — Indian Handcrafts, Brutal Youth, Mad City — so when Rob’s band The Speed Humps needed an album cover, he asked me and they liked what I presented.
When Georgian decided to curate a 25-year retrospective of my work, I absolutely knew that my love of music — and the art it inspired — had to be part of it. So, since I had worked with so many bands, I thought why not try to put something like a soundtrack out with all those bands on it.
With Tarantula using my art before, it only seemed natural to approach them with the idea.
Richard: From the outside, there doesn’t seem to be a clear connection between Sean-William’s work and the Tarantula Tapes record label. How are they complementary or supportive of each other?
Core Bee: Sean did the album art for The Speed Humps' Consumption EP, which was the first release on Tarantula Tapes. We all have a ton of mutual friends. Sean has been working with musicians in the area for many years, hence the large number of tracks on the soundtrack.
Sean-William: Well, as Core stated, I did the cover for the first cassette release on Tarantula, so that was the initial connection. However, I grew up absolutely loving '90s skate punk — NOFX, Pennywise, Bad Religion. Some of my best buddies in high school were Scott Harbinson and Cory McCallum who formed Five Knuckle Chuckle, So I was immersed in skateboard/punk rock culture. I loved the music, the sense of community and its DIY esthetic. I adapted this approach in my art. To this day I consider myself a ‘punk rock artist’.
So, working with Tarantula just made sense. From the bands on the label, to Core and Casey’s work/business ethics, it seemed to all be parallel with my work and career. It was like a match made in heaven!
Richard: What do you hope people walk away with after experiencing the retrospective?
Casey: I hope people further respect all forms of art and the hard work and passion people put into creating it.
Sean-William: I agree with Casey, but also hope people realize how all the arts are tied together, both in the work and the community. Another aspect is that this cassette as a whole wasn’t just simply created over the last couple of months, but from 25 years of relationships built in a community that is there for each other.
Richard: How does it feel to have a 25 year retrospective of your work?
Sean-William: Absolutely amazing! I feel honoured that so many people have worked extremely hard to put this exhibition together. It’s also very surreal to have a 25-year retrospective at the school where I received my fine art training and degree.
It also has made me sit back and say, “Holy crap, I’ve done a lot of stuff.” From projects with the MacLaren, to running my own ‘artist in the classroom’ business where I ended up teaching tens of thousands of students, to exhibiting all across North America. It’s also been eye-opening realizing how much art work I’ve created.
I don’t normally sit back and take stock of how much work I’ve produced, I just keep making art, so with an exhibition of this scale it makes you really take inventory of what you have created and accomplished.
It’s also like a walk down Memory Lane. You are looking at some work that was created 25 years ago and it brings me back. It reminds me of my mind frame and life situation of that time.
I guess overall I’m actually a little dumbfounded. I was a fat kid who grew up in a very sports-oriented town. I was constantly picked on and belittled because I was into skateboarding, punk/metal music and art.. Now I have an exhibition that is celebrating these elements.
Richard: As a keen observer of the world and its culture, is there a particular element or criteria that inspires you creatively?
Sean-William: It varies from body of work to body of work. Television and movies have been a constant. Materials play a huge role in my process and can be just as influential. After all, the materials I use are part of pop culture — reclaimed wallpaper, bed sheets, sewing patterns, etc. The only criteria I really am a stickler to is the materials. I won’t use anything brand new off the shelf — with the exceptions of art materials like pencils, ink, film etc. The surfaces need to have their own history to them. It’s a layer to the work that you can’t manufacture.
When I am inspired by something, I take a lot of time to think about it. I usually start with a concept/comment I want to put out to the world to consider. Then I think about the materials and images that help bring that to fruition. I also greatly consider scale, both physical and number of pieces. Finally I contemplate the reactions/interpretations that may occur when presented publicly (Exhibition). If I find all these elements/answers, I then proceed to creating the body of work.
Richard: In your continuing investigation of pop culture, are there any contemporary trends that you find worrying? Inspiring?
Sean-William: Presently, I have the same answer for both inspiring and worrying … the digital space. I am completely fascinated with the possibilities in the digital world. In fact, people that come to my opening Feb. 15, they will be able to download — for free — my first ever AR (Augmented Reality) piece. I've started a partnership with an incredible digital artist Mike Dopsa. I come up with an art concept, discuss it with Mike, then make a physical work of art and Mike translates it to his digital vision. It’s an extremely exciting process and I am head-over-heals happy with our results.
What worries me about this is actually the way that people from my generation are so dismissive to the digital art world. Some galleries are starting to accept it, but for the most part it seems to be looked at as a fad. My primary belief with art is that it has a job in the world, it is meant to represent time and place.
It is also the world’s most universal form of communication. The fact is that we live in a digital world, and ironically, we have a tool, computer, that allows us to communicate to the entire world. So, to think of digital art as a fad is naive and primarily based on fear, in my opinion.
Richard: How did Tarantula Tapes come to exist and what has been the response from artists and the community since being established?
Core Bee: Tarantula Tapes was born at the same time we released one of our bands' EPs — The Speed Humps’ Consumption. With very few commitments over lockdown, we had the spontaneous idea to start a label with Consumption as the first release. Knowing so many bands in the scene that we wanted to hear in physical formats, it snowballed from there. Here we are, 40 releases later.
Casey: It's been a positive experience the entire time. Our scene and network have been incredibly supportive and really helped us grow. We're told our name pops up a lot and that people only have good things to say about the label and bands and that is truly humbling.
Richard: Is there a criteria of what artists you want to work with as Tarantula Tapes?
Core Bee: The main piece of criteria is that we have to really like your band! It has to be something we can get behind, we like to listen to, and people we want to book/play with. We also want bands to be active in playing and promoting themselves. We are DIY, after all, so we expect the bands to be motivated as well.
Richard: As musicians yourselves, what advice can you give emerging artists looking into recording?
Casey: You don't need a ton of money and expensive equipment to do it so if you can do it yourself or know someone who can do it for you - go for it! It's great to be able to capture those moments in time and have something to hold in your hands, share with people, and submit to labels if you're not self-releasing, you can do that too. You don't need a label to get your music out there. You just need to have passion for your project and be motivated to hussle.
Sean-William Dawson's Simple Abundance: A 25-year Retrospective opens Feb. 15 and runs until March 26. A limited edition Art Exhibition Soundtrack is available on cassette to those attending the opening night. More information can be found by clicking here.
Admission to the retrospective is free and is being held at The Campus Gallery, located in room 140, D building (Helen and Arch Brown Centre for Design and Visual Arts) at Georgian College's Barrie campus, 1 Georgian Dr.
For more information about the event and The Campus Gallery, click here, or give them a follow on instagram @thecampusgallery
Stay connected to Sean-William Dawson @seanwilliamdawson on instagram and through his website. Stay connected with Tarantula Tapes @tarantulatapes on Instagram and thorough their website.
