G. B. Jones

File:GBJones.jpg

G.B. Jones

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This is about the person. For the book of her art, see G.B. Jones (book).

G.B. Jones is an influential artist, filmmaker, and musician from Toronto.

From the early eighties to the late nineties, she performed with the all-women experimental post punk band Fifth Column, playing drums and guitar and was one of the founders of the group. As a result of the song "The Fairview Mall Story" from the band's first album To Sir With Hate, released in 1985, Fifth Column paved the way for the queercore movement, along with the fanzine J.D.s, which G.B. founded and co-published with Bruce LaBruce, the first issue also appearing in 1985. Fifth Column went on to release three singles and two more albums: All-Time Queen Of The World and their last, 36-C, containing their best-known and most controversial song "All Women Are Bitches", chosen "Single of the Week" by the UK paper Melody Maker.

She is well known for her appropriation and re-interpretation of the fetish art of Tom of Finland, through her series of 'Tom Girl' drawings. These drawings first came to public attention through the zine J.D.s, which was published from 1985 till 1991. In 1996 a gallery in New York released a book of the drawings, and other artwork, entitled G.B. Jones, with commentaries by Kevin Killian, Dodie Bellamy, Dennis Cooper and others. Although widely available in the U.S. and Europe, copies were seized at the Canadian border and it was officially pronounced banned in Canada.

In 1991, G.B. and a rotating roster of editors, including Jena von Brücker, Rex, Johnny, Caroline Azar and several others released the contentious zine Double Bill, often referred to as an 'anti-zine' or 'hatezine' (as opposed to 'fan'-zine), a new category in the self-publishing world. Five issues were produced, the last one in 2001.

Her work has been printed in a wide variety of media including fanzines, magazines, books, posters, t-shirts, and on record covers. As well, her drawings have been shown in art galleries and museums throughout Europe, Canada and the United States.

She has also directed, and appears, in a number of underground films. As well, she was a contributor to the film zine created by Miranda July called Joanie4Jackie. She starred in No Skin Off My Ass; her own movies have all been made on Super 8. The Troublemakers premiered in 1990, and proved influential despite being rarely shown. Her best known work is The Yo-Yo Gang, released in 1992, a 30 minute 'exploitation' movie about girl gangs that has gained 'cult film' status.

Films

• Fifth Column at the Funnel, directed by John Porter (1985)
• The Troublemakers, directed by G.B. Jones (1990)
• No Skin Off My Ass, directed by Bruce LaBruce (1991)
• The Yo-Yo Gang, directed by G.B. Jones (1992)
• Cross Your Heart, directed by Suzy Richter (1993)
• She's Real, Worse Than Queer, directed by Lucy Thane (1997)

Printed Works

• The Salivation Army Black Book by Scott Treleaven, Printed Matter Inc./Art Metropole, 2006, ISBN 0-89439-021-X

• Juicy Mother, edited by Jennifer Camper, Soft Skull Press, 2005, ISBN 1-932360-70-0

• Boy Trouble, Robert Kirby and David Kelly, editors, Boy Trouble Books, 2004, ISBN 0-9748855-0-9

• What's Wrong? Explicit Graphic Interpretations Against Censorship, edited by Robin Fisher, Arsenal Pulp Press, 2002, ISBN 1-55152-136-9

• Dangerous Drawings, edited by Andrea Juno, Juno Books, 1997, ISBN 0-9651042-8-1

• G.B. Jones, edited by Steve LaFreniere, Feature Publications, 1996

• Discontents, edited by Dennis Cooper, Amethyst Press, 1992, ISBN 0-927200-10-4

• Double Bill, edited by Caroline Azar, Jena von Brücker, G,B, Jones, Johnny Noxzema, Rex, Issues 1-5, 1991 to 2001

• J.D.s, edited by G.B. Jones and Bruce LaBruce, Issues 1-8, 1985 to 1991

References

• Spencer, Amy; DIY: The Rise Of Lo-Fi, Marion Boyars Publishers, London, England, 2005 ISBN 0-7145-3105-7

External links

• Profile of G.B. Jones 2005
• "Taking Responsibility: Artists Shouldn't Be Delinquent": an article about G.B. Jones
• New work by G.B. Jones
• Review of the art exhibition Crush
• Article about What's Wrong?
• The Yo-Yo Gang at IMDb
• Article about The Troublemakers
• Detail from the drawing Subversive Literature
• "Pink Steam" art exhibition in San Francisco, July 2004 Webcite archive link
• Review of "Pink Steam"