Performance: The Revenge of the Four Fives

In 2023, artist Christopher Burch was one of four artists-in-residence selected to participate in the San Francisco Arts Commission's Artist-in-Residence program at the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL). Launched in 2015, this program aims to foster partnerships with City departments, enabling artists to contribute to civic dialogue. During his residency, Burch spent time in the SFPL audio archives, drawing profound inspiration from quintessentially African American musical genres that emerged and flourished during an era when auditory experiences were primarily confined to the 33, 78, and 45 RPM vinyl formats to develop the musical project "The Revenge of the Four Fives," which masterfully interweaves elements of jazz, blues, soul and hip-hop. This innovative fusion reimagines and redefines the boundaries of hip-hop, utilizing poetry and various narrative structures as conduits for a profound homage to the dynamic and ever-expanding realm of the Black radical imagination.  

The album release of "The Revenge of the Four Fives" includes a live performance, underscoring African American music's enduring legacy and innovative spirit to create a space where historical influences and contemporary creativity converge to celebrate and elevate the legacy of the radical black imagination that still lives and breathes in San Francisco. 

About the Artist:

Christopher Burch, aka Goya_Goon (b.1979), is a multi-disciplinary maker and educator based in San Francisco, CA, and St. Louis, MO. Engaging with myth, legend, and folkloric expression, Burch breaches issues of identity, spirituality, and social justice. Through a wide range of mediums, including painting, drawing, sculpture, music and large-scale public works, Burch generates an enigmatic sense of wonderment that, at its core, is a testament to the poetics and resilience of the human spirit. Christopher Burch Studios (christopherburchart.com)