DAVID CHOPS
White Water Gallery has launched Hyper Creative, a new, bold video series on our YouTube channel that spotlights the compelling stories of art, artists, and arts and culture workers in the Nipissing region of Ontario, Canada.
In this first episode, join Executive Director and host Alex Maeve Campbell on a journey to the world of artist David Chops and his interactive installation Urban Perception, Natural Reality. This episode includes an artist talk, as well as a behind-the-scenes interview with the artist. -WWG
Past Work Gallery
ABOUT THE ARTIST
David Chops is a self-taught artist based in the Boreal Forest of North-East Ontario. A survivor of poverty, child abuse, drug addiction, and homelessness, David found solace in underground social movements and a DIY ethos, which continue to influence his work. His creative practice blends urban and rural influences, thriving in nature while feeling a sense of belonging to both worlds. As a climate change migrant, David has honed his skills and expanded his art, creating ambitious projects using non-traditional mediums. His work, including large sculptural pieces, immersive installations and interactive pieces, draws from his personal journey and his desire to explore fundamental truths about life and the world. Through his art, he seeks healing and to connect personal stories with larger societal issues.
Arts and cultural training and learning
1980's-present- Self taught artist, learning online, from friends or just by trial and error.
2017-present- Owner and operator of handyman business has given me experience in the manipulation of a variety of materials, and the ability to design, plan, and budget large projects. The skills learned and tools acquired through this have proven extremely useful for producing the art I am focused on in a skilled and efficient way.
Artistic and cultural work presented to the public
February 7-21st 2025- "A Spectrum of Interconnected Cooperation" at Ice Follies, a biennial festival of contemporary and community engaged art in North Bay, Ontario. Given a materials budget and paid an artist fee.
November 25th - December 21st 2024- "Urban Perspective, Natural Reality" Solo exhibition at White Water Gallery, North Bay, Ontario. Did an artist talk and reception. Paid artist fee.
September 21-22, 2024- "The Temple of Acceptance" exhibit at Artfarm, arts and cultural event North-East Ontario
June-July 2024- Solo exhibition "Wet-Bulb Sleeper-Cell Manifesto" at Gallery 222, North Bay, Ontario. Paid an artist fee.
September 21-22 2024 & May 16-20 2024- "Celestial Illuminary" On exhibit at Sideburn art and cultural event. Stone Mills, Ontario. And on exhibit at Artfarm, also arts and cultural event North-East Ontario. Made possible in part by a grant from Sideburn.
April 6th to May 4th 2024- "Mechanism" On exhibit for the 15th Contemporary Art Juried Exhibition at the Museum of Northern History in Kirkland Lake, Ontario.
September 23, 2023- "The Temple" and "The 7 People of Grief" On exhibit at Artfarm in North-East Ontario.
2019 "Quadracycle of Doom" at Makers Fair, ScienceWorks Science Museum. Ashland, Oregon.
2018 "Quadracycle of Doom" and "Optimal Delusion" at Burning Man at Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Was granted early entry tickets to set these up.
2017 "The Booth" (shade structure and portal version) and public graffiti wall set up at Possibility art and cultural event. Alvord Desert, Oregon.
2015 "The Booth" (coffee version) makes appearance at Sonic Bloom arts and music festival in Bellvue Colorado, Recess music festival in Washington State, and another arts and music fest in Oregon. (It was a road tour, going from one to another in a big loop)
2009 "Chops Bike" on exhibit at Portland Art Museum. Portland, Oregon
2006-2008 Exhibited and sold paintings from Watershed Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2006 "Untitled", stencil, and assemblage artworks on exhibit at Portland, Oregon City Hall
Artists and community collaboration activities & Arts and cultural work experience
2023-Present Founder and lead organizer of Artfarm, an arts and cultural event with focus on building and strengthening community through creative cooperation.
2014 I became lead art director for a social justice campaign. I held banner, sign & t-shirt making workshops and produced materials for use in protests, rallies, flyers and on online.
2006-2008 Lived and worked from an industrial arts warehouse I helped to develop, called the "Watershed" In Portland, Oregon. Exhibited and sold many wall hung paintings from the gallery I created within.
2006-2007 Created and hosted stencil art workshops teaching stencil cutting and provided a group stencil cutting event. This would contribute to stencil art becoming a feature of the developing bike-punk culture in Portland, Oregon.
2005-2019 I co-founded “Dropout Bicycle Club” that provided community bike-rides, workshops/skill-shares and events focused on building and riding art-bikes (made by cutting up old bikes and welding them into new creative, often hard to ride works of art) We maintained a clubhouse and workspace to support these efforts and inspired other art-bike clubs to form in Portland, Oregon.