[Leica] Billy Childish

[briandavidstevens at talk21.com (briandavidstevens at talk21.com)]

Hello LUG
The artist Billy Childish has his first major solo show at the ICA 
(Institute of Contemporary Arts) here in London. I popped in at the weekend 
and it's worth a look if you are in London town.
A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to spend a day with Billy at his 
home in Chatham, Kent. Pictures from that day can be seen here

http://driftingcamera.blogspot.com/

A cult figure in America, Europe and Japan, Billy Childish is by far the 
most prolific painter, poet, and song-writer of his generation. In a twenty 
year period he has published over 40 collections of his poetry, recorded 
over 100 full-length independent LP?s and produced over 2000 paintings.
 
Born in 1959 in Chatham, Kent. Billy Childish left Secondary education at 16 
an undiagnosed dyslexic. Refused an interview at the local art school he 
entered the Naval Dockyard at Chatham as an apprentice stonemason. During 
the following six months (the artist?s only prolonged period of employment), 
he produced some six hundred drawings in ?the tea huts of hell. On the basis 
of this work he was accepted into St Martin?s School of Art to study 
painting. However, his acceptance was short-lived and before completing the 
course he was expelled for his outspokenness and unorthodox working methods. 
With no qualifications and no job prospects Childish then spent some 12 
years ?painting on the dole?, developing his own highly personal writing 
style and producing his art independently.

C's & C's welcomed

Brian


Brian David Stevens
 http://driftingcamera.blogspot.com/