ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Gary Fembot takes the zine, the Frisco scene & the freaky film supreme.
Fembot zines are on my shelf since they were published in San Francisco in the nineties. They speak to an important document of the music times (60s-90s), and women in music. History had a lot going on then. Gary wrote about things others did not, including writing about what women were doing. He cut and pasted it — edited and published it lovingly. AND he got it out there like passion tends to prod one to do. I’m sure there are many others that have all their copies also. Show of hands please.
Performing in the bands Sta-Prest (as D. M. Feelings), Feelings on a Grid, and Puce Moment, Gary writes, sings and plays keys. ”I really like to sing.” Whether spinning revolutions as a DJ at “The Clap”, or performing in underground theater with “The Sick and Twisted Players”, Gary set the stage.
Gary has directed, produced and edited numerous films made with Super 8, 16mm and video, including “Mondo Bottomless” (2006), The Willows” (2007), “AIDS Camp” (2009), and “Together People” (2012) (trailer below). His work has international and Festival acclaim, from Berlin to Bilboa (Spain), Texas, Canada, London, New York, The Bay and LA. Including screenings at Frameline (2007, 2011, 2013, 2014), National Queer Arts Festival (2012), MIX NYC (2013, 2017), Reelout Fest (2011), and Artists’ Television Access among many other notable art and film groups.
Gary’s work is a strikingly unique curation of style, pop, gay, the unafraid, the wicked cool, the aesthetic of mod-hip-agogo, funny as heck without any one being the joke. Calling it like it is, in stripes or pleather, Gary Fembot’s gallery of outstanding representation lives the beat of a super drum. Roll it back in color and in black and white, Gary’s repertoire is both floating in the glittery shimmery air, and rooted solidly in the ground. Proof that imagination is real.
Live shows and the hand to hand combat of the lifestyle of the artist Gary is, made it that way. The experience is the foundation. Get experienced!
Read the interview below to hear more about what Gary Fembot is doing now…
The Spotlight 🎤 Gary Fembot
Did you study art and/or are you self taught?
“Self taught.”
What tools are your favorites right now?
“hmmmm...still working with Super 8 film. I hand-painted some recently.”
What inspires you to start a project? Finish it?
“I watch a lot of old movies and apply them to what's happening around us. Right now it's a movie from 60's Italy called "I Knew Her Well". I usually start a project when Mercury is out of retrograde, then finish them when Mercury is in retrograde.”
Do you ever have a creative “block”? If so, what do you do to shift it?
“Yes, I'm kind of having one now. I'm doing smaller projects rather than the big blockbuster 20 minute movies I've done before.”
Who are your artistic favorites that you have learned from their work, or working with them? What do you use that you observed from their work?
“I like exploitation films in general. They're political in weird ways. Also paperback novels from the 60's and 70's that went over the top with the social movements that were happening at that time.”
How do you enjoy collaborating with other artists?
“The last group project I did was with my friends Chloé and Gwenaël, it's called "Neurotics Anonymous/Neuroticos Anonimos" and we almost drowned in Puerto Escondido. That was fun. Brontez Purnell has also asked me to film a lot of his projects. They can get really chaotic but always turn out really cool.”
How do you license your work?
“Nope.”
Where do you see yourself in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?
“I don't know. I have a boyfriend now who wants me to dance around and play tambourine while he plays accordion in Golden Gate Park. Other than that, I don't have any big projects in the works.”
Who would you like to make art with? And why?
“I'd like to do a small vocal group called "People of Interest". I'd like to just focus on one thing and I really like to sing.”
If you had only one album to listen to on a stranded island what would it be?
“"Forever Changes" by Love.”
Where do you see art going in trends and styles next?
“I hope it gets more smart-assed. There's a little too much earnestness right now.”
Thank You Gary Fembot!
To see and hear more about the work, click the links!
“Together People” Trailer
Photo Credits
1. Gary Fembot (in triplicate), 2. “AIDS Camp” (2009), 3. Gary Fembot (with camera), 4. “Scream of the Mandrake” (2015), 5. “The Willows” (2007), 6. “Together People” (2012), 7. “Together People” (2012), 8. “AIDS Camp” (2009), 9. “The Willows” (2007), 10. Gary Fembot (with camera), 11. “Forever Changes” Album Art by Love (1967), 12. “Scream of the Mandrake” (2015), 13. GreenGns (2021).
Connects & References:
Contact Gary : dmfeelings@yahoo.com / P.O. Box 421912, SF, CA 94142
ZineWiki Gary Fembot, Fembot Zine
Tags
#interviews, #film, #filmhistory, #art, #arthistory, #music, #bayareaartists, #zines
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