Photographer Dina Goldstein captures iconic, aging Vancouver and Victoria artists in OG Punk
Members of Dayglo Abortions and Death Sentence as well as other key figures of the 1980s local punk scene featured in new exhibition at the Polygon
Chris Norman by Dina Goldstein for OG Punk 2021. Photo courtesy the artist
The Polygon Gallery presents OG Punk by Dina Goldstein from November 3 to January 2, 2022.
LOCAL POP-SURREALIST photographer Dina Goldstein is known for the subversive humour that comes through in her large-scale tableaux. Drawing on recognizable figures like Ken and Barbie and Disney princesses, she explores notions of sex, beauty, gender, and religion.
Over the past decade, the Israeli-born artist and mother of two has exhibited extensively at festivals and museums around the world. She won the Prix Virginia prize for female photographers in Paris in 2015, has been commissioned by places such as the Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco, and earned a residency at Arte Laguna to spend time in Mumbai. And yet she has never had a solo exhibition at a venue in her home town of Vancouver—until now.
OG Punk at the Polygon Gallery features punk icons of Vancouver and Victoria, key figures of the 1980s scene such as Doug Donut and Chris Norman of Death Sentence; Billy Hopeless of the Black Halos; bar and music manager Wendy Forsythe, better known as wendythirteen; the Dayglo Abortions’ Murray Acton, aka the Cretin; and more—all photographed as they are in the here and now.
Accompanying each photo is a Q&A, in which the artists respond to the following questions: How did you get involved in the punk scene? What year? Best punk memory? Has punk changed since the 80s? If so, how? Is punk here to stay?
wendythirteen by Dina Goldstein for OG Punk 2021. Photo courtesy the artist
The series was unplanned and unexpected and came to life during the pandemic, Goldstein explains.
Here’s how it all came about, in her own words:
“I was spending more time outdoors, taking my dog Arlo out for a walk around my studio on the east side. I would notice these aging punks, with their punk regalia, spiked hairdos, and tattoos.
“I first saw Chris Norman of Death Sentence sitting at a bus stop. I practically ambushed him but he was super relaxed and said ‘sure’ with a classic cockney accent [when asked to be photographed]. Chris is the real deal—punk hardcore with a hazy history and an unconventional lifestyle. He is featured in the show with a massive mural.
“I later met Mad Dog, a musician and artist. He thought that I should get together the remaining and still alive original Vancouver punk scene bunch. These people partied like no one else during the ’80s and ’90s. He was very helpful connecting me to wendythirteen and some others. wendythirteen has been ill and Mad Dog felt that it was important to capture her for the series.
“I began to photograph the series just after the beginning of the COVID vaccination [rollout]. I made sure that everyone involved was vaxxed, and I invited them to my studio. This was super important because many of the participants are currently ailing or have preconditions.
Mad Dog by Dina Goldstein for OG Punk 2021. Photo courtesy the artist
“For this series I’m working with one assistant, so very different than the large crew needed for my tableaux.
“There is no makeup. They come as they are. There is no artifice other than the lighting which is crafted to portray these individuals as emblematic and iconic figures. For wendythirteen we set up a studio in her parking lot, and I was invited in to photograph in her home.
“Wendy connected me with Nadine L’Esperance, who collected the Victoria punks, mostly involved with the Dayglo Abortions. I rented a studio in downtown Victoria and everyone came in for the shoot. It was like a reunion for them. There were some others that I wanted to include like Joey Shithead from D.O.A and I, Braineater, who were key figures. Scheduling would not allow for them to make it into the Polygon exhibition. In the middle of all this my East Van studio flooded, and I had to move out.
“This is an ongoing series that will also be shown in Toronto at CONTACT [Photography Festival] at the Abbozzo Gallery. There are many names and suggestions coming through and I will continue to reach out to people who want to be photographed.
“I was a teen in the 80s, but I remember the punks at school. As an immigrant and artist, I have always felt like an outsider. So I can relate to those that don’t fit it and are non-conformist. I have never felt a real belonging to a subculture but I have been documenting outside cultures for over 30 years. I refer to this element of my practice as photo anthropology.
“I can also relate to the responses to the interview questions, like where Billy Hopeless said ‘as long as someone’s feeling disenchanted, dissatisfied, bored, sick of crap, outcast and unable to fit in, artistically inclined, it [punk] will always be…’ Or Murray Acton: ‘…the attitudes are still about rebellion and individuality.’ Or what Lisa Jak said: ‘…anywhere and anytime there is oppression, ignorance and fucking stupidity…some Punk will be there to question and fight it.’
“So I guess I am a punk!”
For more information, see the Polygon Gallery.
Rob Punk by Dina Goldstein for OG Punk 2021. Photo courtesy the artist
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