Sharon Cheslow
Born October 5, 1961 in Los Angeles, California, Sharon Cheslow is a musician, composer and artist. In 1981, she formed Chalk Circle, Washington, D.C.’s first all-female punk band. She was also in Bloody Mannequin Orchestra in the early 1980s and their recordings came out on WGNS. BMO combined hardcore punk with noise rock, no wave, and improvisation. With Cynthia Connolly and Leslie Clague, she compiled the photographic punk oral history book Banned In DC in 1988. It was one of the first books to document a regional American hardcore scene. In the 1990s she was in Suture (with Dug E. Bird of Beefeater and Kathleen Hanna), Red Eye (with Tim Green of Nation of Ulysses), The Electrolettes (with Julianna Bright), and a one-off project with Fugazi’s Joe Lally. Her recordings came out on Dischord Records, Kill Rock Stars, and her label Decomposition.
She started studying intermedia arts at Mills College in the music department when she moved to San Francisco in 1990, and later began performing and exhibiting experimental music, sound art and installations. Her sound collages and explorations are documented on the CD, Lullabye from the Sky, released in 2002 on Decomposition under the name Sharon Cheslow and Coterie Exchange. It featured collaborations with Tim Green, Julianna Bright and members of Deerhoof among others. The project was the audio component from sound installations she had been performing. In 2003 Fan Music: Winds of Change was featured at Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Her videos to the tracks Dream/Construct and September Son are on two Kill Rock Stars video compilations. In 2004 she toured and collaborated with Yellow Swans, Inca Ore, and Chuck Bettis. More recently she has collaborated with Weasel Walter, Christina Carter, and Elisa Ambrogio (Magik Markers).
She is also a writer and publishes Interrobang?!. In 2000 she edited an issue which featured writings by Pauline Oliveros, Maggi Payne, Nicole Panter, Public Works, and Allison Wolfe. She is a contributor to Thurston Moore’s book Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture.
CV
2007
7.15.07 San Francisco, CA – Hemlock Tavern w/ Sharon Cheslow solo, Ahleuchatistas
7.13.07 Oakland, CA – 21 Grand 1k tones 7th Anniv. Fest w/ Sharon Cheslow+Liz Allbee+Weasel Walter, inn. aff. (orchext.), Rubber O Cement, Tarantism, Bran(...)Pos
7.11.07 Portland, OR – Valentine’s w/ Sharon Cheslow solo, Grouper, Concern
7.07.07 Los Angeles, CA – David Patton Los Angeles w/ Sharon Cheslow+Steve Kim sound performance for opening of “Time Writers from the Mirror Horizon” curated by Gabie Strong
6.09.07 Los Angeles, CA – Telic Arts Exchange Sonic Triptych III – LA sound performance/event, participants included: Eva Aguila, Ori Barel, Sharon Cheslow, Aaron Drake, John Hastings, David Kendall, Steve Kim, Grace Lee, Brian Miller, Anna Oxygen, Michael Parker, Sara Roberts, Bita Sharif
Feb. 2nd-May 4th Centro Cultural Montehermoso, Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain Sharon Cheslow+Alyssa Lee Duct Tape Piece 2 video In the Girl Monster installation for “Switch on the Power! Noise and Policies on Music”
5.01.07 Valencia, CA – CalArts Main Gallery, “Sounding Out” Words To Keep Going 2-channel sound collage plus a screening of September Son video
3.25.07 Los Angeles, CA – The Smell w/ Sharon Cheslow+Steve Kim, Acre, Marissa Magic!, David Kendall, Sam Meister
2006
12.17.06 Los Angeles, CA – Il Corral Turn the Screws Festival w/ Guitar Quorum (David Kendall+Jesse Kudler+Sharon Cheslow), Wanda Gala+Bob Bellerue, Jeremy Drake, Adam Overton, Liam Mooney, Haircut Mountain Transit, Treasure Mammal +more
11.17.06 Valencia, CA – CalArts and 11.02.06 Oakland, CA – Mills College Right Now Be My Molasses 2-channel sound collage in “60×60 Pacific Rim” (a concert of sixty one-minute compositions)
10.06.06 Oakland, CA – in front of 21 Grand Sonic Triptych II sound performance/event, Illuminated Corridor, participants included: Erika Anderson, Jorge Boehringer, Maryclare Brzytwa, Ezra Buchla, Michael Carreira, George Chen, Sharon Cheslow, Sue Costible, Paul Costuros, Kristy Geschwandtner, Steve Kim, Alyssa Lee, Sam Meister, Steve Touchton, Weasel Walter
9.08.06 Los Angeles, CA – Telic Arts Exchange acks (Steve Kim+Sharon Cheslow+Sam Meister) sound performance as part of “Chung King Common” opening w/ Dawn Kasper, Norman Klein, Tara Kozuback, Tom Leeser, Fallen Fruit, Andy Kopra, Sara Roberts, Kelly Sears, Emily Lacy, Guthrie Lonergan, Albert Ortega
7.15.06 Oakland, CA – 21 Grand Vice Cooler’s Birthday show w/ Sharon Cheslow+Elisa Ambrogio, Hawnay Troof, Mirror/Dash (Thurston Moore+Kim Gordon), Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Harry Merry, Dinky Bits, Always
6.18.06 and 6.04.06 Bonn, Germany – Kult 41 September Son and Dream/Construct videos in Kill Rock Stars Video Screenings
6.06.06 Bainbridge Island, WA – Island Music Guild Hall Right Now Be My Molasses 2-channel sound collage in “60×60 Pacific Rim” (a concert of sixty one-minute compositions)
5.07.06 Los Angeles, CA – Il Corral Tarantula Hill benefit w/ Sharon Cheslow solo, Joseph Hammer+Mitchell Brown, Bob Bellerue+David Kendall, Albert Ortega, Robedoor, Toxic Loincloth and more
4.14.06 Los Angeles, CA – Il Corral w/ Sharon Cheslow+XK (Zeek Sheck), Bran(...)Pos, Feed the Dragon (Albert Ortega+Bob Bellerue), Impregnable, Gowns
1.04.06 Los Angeles, CA – The Smell w/ Sharon Cheslow+Weasel Walter, XBXRX, Silver Daggers, Hello Astronaut Goodby Television, Abe Vigoda Past Sharon Cheslow & Coterie Exchange shows/collaborations:
2005
12.16.05 Los Angeles, CA – Il Corral Turn the Screws Festival w/ Sharon Cheslow (solo w/videos of September Son & While the City Sleeps), G.X. Jupitter-Larsen (video), Toxic Loincloth (video), 16 Bitch Pile-Up, Spastic Colon, Damion Romero, Kitten Sparkles, Roman Torment, Tralphaz, Jarrett Silberman, Goneness (w/Wanda Gala), Robedoor, Obstacle Corpse
10.11.05 San Francisco, CA – Hemlock Tavern w/ Sharon Cheslow (solo w/video of September Son and duo w/Liz Allbee), Liz Allbee (solo), BARR, Princess
10.09.05 Oakland, CA – Mama Buzz w/ Sharon Cheslow+Liz Allbee+Weasel Walter, Core of the Coal Man, Snowsuit*+Vice Cooler+Megaweapon
9.16.05 Los Angeles, CA – Il Corral w/ Sharon Cheslow solo, Albert Ortega+Maile Colbert, Wanda Gala+Bob Bellerue, Obstacle Corpse, Impregnable
7.13.05 Los Angeles, CA – Il Corral w/ Sharon Cheslow+David Scott Stone, Rose for Bohdan, Polar Goldie Cats, Open City, Wives
6.17.05 Los Angeles, CA – The Smell w/ Sharon Cheslow solo, Love of Diagrams, My Little Red Toe, Reindeer Tiger Team, Silver Daggers
Spring 2005 East Coast tour collaborations w/Christina Carter, Kris Thompson, Bromp Treb (Neil Young of Fat Worm of Error) :
6.4.05 Brooklyn, NY – Flight of the Buffalo w/ Trebville Exchange (Sharon Cheslow+Bromp Treb), Metalux, Growing, Scarcity of Tanks (Matthew Wascovich+Kevin Shea+Brooke Gillespie), Dan Friel 6.3.05 Troy, NY – Wow Cool w/ Trebville Exchange (Sharon Cheslow+Bromp Treb), Andrew Kesin’s film “what was it that you felt”, Grey Skull, Duck (Matt Krefting+Jessi Swenson), Evolution Revolution 6.2.05 Cambridge, MA – Twisted Village w/ screenings of September Son & While the City Sleeps, Sharon Cheslow+Kris Thompson, Secret Diary (Donna Parker+Jessica Rylan) 5.31.05 Easthampton, MA – Flywheel w/ Sharon Cheslow+Christina Carter, Weird Weeds, Laudable Pus, BenGeorge7 5.30.05 Washington, DC – Black Cat w/ Sharon Cheslow solo, Hand Fed Babies, Sentai
2004
West/East Coast 2004 Tours collaborations w/Yasi Perata, Murder Murder, Yellow Swans, Chuck Bettis, Eva Inca Ore, Bromp Treb:
10.30.04 Oakland, CA – Ptomaine Temple w/Murder Murder (Paul Costuros/Liz Allbee/Chris Dixon/Sharon Cheslow), Le Flange Du Mal, Sixes, Harry Merry, Seven Central and Mountain 8.24.04 Easthampton, MA – Flywheel w/Bromp Cheslow Village Exchange (Bromp Treb+Sharon Cheslow), Crystal Cock Over Canada, Miss Kim (Raub Roy+Tim Sheldon) 8.19.04 Hadley, MA – Schoolhouse w/screening of September Son, Bromp Cheslow Village Exchange (Bromp Treb+Sharon Cheslow), Movies with Live Soundtracks (featuring Mat Brinkman, Jo Dery, Xander M, Ben Coonley, Laura Rodriguez, Peter Glantz, Carrie Collier), Dr. Doo (Ben Jones), Lionheart Mirth, Noise Nomads, Dffneg 8.12.04 Northampton, MA – Grandstands w/Sharon Cheslow solo, Misty, Evil Bill 6.01.04 Washington, DC – Warehouse Nextdoor w/Sharon Cheslow solo, SC+YS, Yellow Swans, Et At It, Hits 5.31.04 Baltimore, MD – Tarantula Hill w/Sharon Cheslow+Eva, Carly Ptak+Chuck Bettis, Yellow Swans, Et At It, Thunderberg/Natestorm (w/Max Demand) 5.30.04 Philadelphia, PA – Eli’s Warehouse w/Sharon Cheslow solo, Carly Ptak+Chuck Bettis, Yellow Swans, Et At It, Max Demand, Ohm, Robert 5.29.04 Brooklyn, NY – Aerosol Burns/Boogaloo w/Sharon Cheslow+Yellow Swans, Glass Candy, Flesh 5.28.04 Brooklyn, NY – Roy’s Loft w/Sharon Cheslow solo, SC+CB+JL+YS+Eva, Chuck Bettis+Jerry Lim, Yellow Swans, Japanther, Tyondai Braxton 5.27.04 NYC – Lit Lounge w/Yellow Swans+Sharon Cheslow, USA Is A Monster, Plate Tectonics, Chen Santa-Maria 5.26.04 Providence, RI – AS220 Sharon Cheslow, SC+CB+YS, Chuck Bettis, Yellow Swans, Noise Nomads, Mildew 5.24.04 Boston, MA – H.O.S.S. w/Sharon Cheslow+Kris Thompson, Chuck Bettis, Yellow Swans, Squids, Mildew, Karl Heinz+John Ruhe 5.23.04 Hadley, MA – Schoolhouse w/Sharon Cheslow solo, SC+YS, Yellow Swans, Idea Fire Co., Yonk Yonk, Double Dream/Aktion Leopard Unit (Chris Corsano/Paul Flaherty/Thurston Moore/Jim O’Rourke/Double Leopards) 5.15.04 San Francisco – Hemlock Tavern w/Murder Murder (Paul Costuros/Chris Dixon/Liz Allbee/Sharon Cheslow/Weasel Walter/Noel Harmonson), Burning Star Core, Open City 5.14.04 Portland, OR – Nocturnal w/Sharon Cheslow+Yasi Perez, Yellow Swans, Nice Nice, Nudge, Super Unity, Noggin 5.13.04 Portland, OR – Dunes Series w/Sharon Cheslow+Yasi Perez, Honey Owens+Adam Forkner, Zachary Reno+Peter Swanson, Doug Theriault+Bryan Eubanks 5.12.04 Seattle, WA – Drone Hill w/Sharon Cheslow+Yasi Perez, Yellow Swans, Open City, Burning Star Core, Dead Science
2003
Duct Tape Piece II sound/movement performance, Sharon Cheslow+Alyssa Lee Wilmot – Acme Observatory (Berkeley CA, Dec. 2003)
12.31.03 San Francisco, CA – Pond w/Erin Weber+Dana Kline+Sharon Cheslow, Eats Tapes
11.30.03 Oakland, CA – Ptomaine Temple Coterie Exchange feat. KIT, Yellow Swans, Gang Wizard, Vholtz
11.25.03 Oakland, CA – Mama Buzz w/Yellow Swans+Sharon Cheslow+Mike Donovan, Murder Murder, Eats Tapes
Fan Dance and Duct Tape Piece sound/movement performances, collaborations with Alyssa Lee Wilmot – Lola Gallery (San Francisco, CA, Oct. 2003)
Fan Music: The Winds of Change sound/movement performance @ Lincoln Center Out of Doors – “Homemade Instrument Day: Playing with the Elements” (NYC, August 2003)
6.03.03 Oakland, CA – Black Box w/Tim Perkis+Sharon Cheslow duo, Moe, Out By Five
The Body Is A System 2 channel sound collage @ Sound Junction 2 – “Works For Peace” (Sheffield UK, May 2003)
I Love To You sound performance, solo and collaboration with Golden Alligators’ (Yasi Perata+Aaron Russell) Truck Music – Randall Museum parking lot and surrounding streets (SF CA, May 2003)
3.27.03 San Francisco, CA – Hemlock w/Coterie Exchange feat. Tim Green+Alyssa Lee Wilmot, Wolf Eyes
2002
Fan Dance and Duct Tape Piece sound/movement performances, collaborations with Alyssa Lee Wilmot – Mills College (Oakland CA, Dec. 2002)
11.10.02 Oakland, CA – Rockland Festival, Heco’s Palace w/Coterie Exchange feat. Tim Perkis
See Emily Play electronic sound installation @ Int’l Mechanical, Kinetic & Electronic Arts Festival – CELLspace (SF CA, Nov. 2002)
10.17.02 San Francisco, CA – Hemlock w/Coterie Exchange feat. Alyssa Lee Wilmot+Satomi Matsuzaki, Deerhoof, Janet Pants Dans Theeatre
9.15.02 Vancouver, BC – Pat’s Pub w/Coterie Exchange (Sharon Cheslow+Miya Zane Osaki w/Erin Weber+Dana Kline), Mesh, Ink Brothers
09.14.02 Olympia, WA – Oly World News w/Coterie Exchange (Sharon Cheslow+Miya Zane Osaki), Mesh
9.13.02 Seattle, WA – Center on Contemporary Art w/Coterie Exchange (Sharon Cheslow+Miya Zane Osaki w/Erin Weber+Dana Kline), Mesh, Electric Birds, Bill Horist/Mike Peterson duo, dj Randy Jones
9.12.02 Portland, OR – Fast Forward w/Coterie Exchange (Sharon Cheslow+Miya Zane Osaki), Mesh, D. Yellow Swans, Sleetmute-Nitemute
Sonic Triptych sound performance, Sharon Cheslow w/Blevin Blectum, Ellie Erickson, Jenny Hoysten, Marisa Meltzer, Miya Zane Osaki, Bianca Sparta, Erin Weber, Alyssa Lee Wilmot @ Ladyfest Bay Area – New College Theater (SF CA, July 2002)
6.16.02 San Jose, CA – The Gallery w/Sharon Cheslow+Jorge Boehringer+Steve Gigante, Xiu Xiu, Tiny Bird Mouths, Good For Cows, Sweet Science
6.14.02 Oakland, CA – Jorge’s warehouse w/Sharon Cheslow+Jorge Boehringer+Steve Gigante, Brown Bunny Ensemble, Kristin Miltner+Kendra Juul, Seven Central and Mountain
2001
Somatic Lapse sound performance, collaboration with Randy Nordschow, performed w/John Shiurba – New Langton Arts (SF CA, July 2001)
2000
Lullabye From the Sky and Come Into My Room electronic sound installations at The Smell (Los Angeles CA, August 2000 w/Semiautomatic)
Geodessy For Guitars II sound performance/installation, Sharon Cheslow w/Amy Yao+Wendy Yao @ Lady Fest – K Warehouse (Olympia WA, August 2000)
Lullabye From the Sky electronic sound installation, w/sculptural elements by Jim Haynes – Mills Concert Hall (Oakland CA, April 2000)
Geodessy For Guitars I sound performance, Sharon Cheslow w/John Dieterich – Mills College (Oakland CA, March 2000)
1999
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep electronic sound installation – Mills Concert Hall Loft (Oakland CA, October 1999)
Come Up The Stairs electronic sound installation @ Haus de Snaus – Tehama Alley Clit Stop (SF CA, September 1999 w/Blectum From Blechdom, Kit Clayton, Alex Potts)
Dream/Construct sound performance with video, Sharon Cheslow w/Greg Saunier, Daan Vandewalle, Randy Nordschow – Mills College (Oakland CA, April 1999)
1997-98 (w/Electrolettes)
4.15.98 San Francisco – Slims w/Donnas
3.27.98 San Francisco, CA – Purple Onion w/Calculators
3.6.98 Stanford, CA – Stanford Univ. w/Champs
2.14.98 San Francisco, CA – Purple Onion w/Pants
2.05.98 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill w/PeeChees
11.08.97 Purple Onion – w/Sta-Prest
10.30.97 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill w/Dub Narcotic
7.04.97 Anacortes, WA – The Business w/Cha Cha Cabaret
7.02.97 Seattle, WA – Velvet Elvis w/Dub Narcotic, ICU, Cha Cha Cabaret
7.01.97 Olympia, WA – Arrowspace w/Miranda July, Cha Cha Cabaret
6.29.97 Portland, OR w/Cha Miranda July, Miss Murgatroid, Panties, Lookers, Cha Cha Cabaret
6.28.97 Chico, CA w/Daughters of Houdini, Cha Cha Cabaret
6.27.97 San Francisco, CA – CELLspace w/ Lady Miss Hand Grenade (Jen Smith), Melissa & Hilary Klein, Marisa Meltzer, Big Miss Moviola Project, Heart Revolution, Cloaca, Virginia Dare Images
photo Videos: While the City Sleeps (2003) out on a Decomposition DVD-R
September Son (2003) out on a Decomposition DVD-R and on the Kill Rock Stars Video Fanzine III DVD compilation
A video/sound version of Dream/Construct was exhibited at the International Dream Fest in NY in October 1999, and is featured on the Kill Rock Stars video compilation #2.
Past group photo exhibits: Tour Spiel – Photographs from the Road at Aquarius Records (San Francisco, CA, 2000/01) Experience Music Project (Seattle, WA, 2000-ongoing) Luminaries at Artists Theater Workshop (Oakland, CA, 1999) Banned In DC at Aquarius Records (San Francisco, CA, 1998/99) Terrafoto at Custard Ave. Theater (San Francisco, CA, 1998)
interrobang?! Writings and other things have been featured in:
Pretty Panicks Press Mix Tapes: The Art of Cassette Culture Flat Bike Poetry Journal Get Underground Ecstatic Peace Poetry Journal Curated: Deterritorializing the Territorialized at BaseKamp Interrobang?! Banned In DC Bust