Deadeye Dick - Fragments of a Portrait

[ded i]

Deadeye Dick is about an artist who loses one of her eyes. I am that artist.

Deadeye Dick is a self portrait in mixed media. The complete portrait consists of many separate pieces of work.

Only some parts of the portrait "Deadeye Dick" are exhibited in Flippo Gallery.

The prints of pinhole camera photos and collages* should be read as a comic book, or graphic novel. Deadeye Dick appears in each photo and she speaks in each collage. Her words are quotes from Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Deadeye Dick."

The computer in Flippo gallery may be used to access another fragment of the portrait called "Deadeye Dick." The computer is connected to Jerzee Devil forum where Deadeye Dick interacts with forum members. Gallery viewers have access to the forum and can communicate in real time with forum members.

When you use the computer, you have become part of the artwork "Deadeye Dick."

When you look at the forum, you might form a idea of my personality in your mind. The "personality" you form in your head is also a part of the self portrait or the artwork I call "Deadeye Dick."

With your participation, and that of others, Deadeye Dick becomes animated, and it becomes more of a group portrait or a autobioGRAPHIC novel.

Portraits can be more than one painting or photograph.

Your thoughts, ideas, and participation help complete this portrait.

Thank you for your help with this project.

Deadeye Dick, aka Judy Simons


*(originals at Gallery Merid, Stuttgart, Germany)

[ded i]

Portrait with Lizard - Pinhole #103 & 104

These images are part of the portrait called Deadeye Dick. The original cameras with collages and photos are on display at Gallery Merid, Stuttgart, Germany. Prints of the work are displayed at Fllippo Gallery.

The pinhole camera had two apertures or pinholes. Each was exposed separately, and the result was two images merged onto one piece of film.





The artwork shown below was applied directly to the camera. It should be read as "text" for the photo image.

All the words used on the collaged camera boxes are quotes from Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Deadye Dick."

The pinhole camera photo was taken shortly before my left eye was removed in April, 2006. This project was conceived to help me get through that transitional time.

I wish to thank Burkhard Walther at Gallery Merid for "holding my hand" while I embedded my work into his project.

[Umberto]

Brilliant.

Your art is so multi-dimensional.
Temporal spatial absorbative osmotic art.

You're not from around here are you?

[ded i]

Portrait with Lizard - Pinholes #105 & 106

Here I am immediately after eye surgery, head distorted by both surgery and the pinhole process. This image was also made with two pinhole camera exposures. These photos were taken by Christine Shanks (nigel_hell) with tech support from Tim Bentz and my husband Michael Gantt (Xrayzebra)






I was able to work on the camera collage about 5 weeks after surgery. Again, the words are quotes from Vonnegut's Deadeye Dick, and the subject matter refers to the photo image. Materials include eggshell, mirror shards, medicine labels, and one dried lizard.



I want to thank Christine, Tim, and Michael.

[ded i]

Portrait with Lizard - Pinholes #107 & 108

I am holding the first pinhole camera in this picture. I'm waiting to be fitted with a prosthesis. Again the camera had two apertures available, but only one was used this time because I wanted the image to reflect my eyesight. I now have one "peephole" instead of two.



The text in the collage is another Vonnegut quote. I've also indicated this work is "... to be continued."
The images used in all collages came from Art Forum magazine pictures of other artist's artwork. They went from one forum to another. The hands here are by Picasso.

Thank you Pablo Picasso and Art Forum Magazine!

[ded i]

Portrait With Lizard - Pinholes #145 & 146

This image was made with two pinholes. My arm and hand appear on the right as arms and body for the doll head. There is a dried lizard on my wrist. These images are about resurrection.



The camera art again refers to the photos and uses Vonnegut's words. You can see numbers on all the camera collages, they were put there by Gallery Merid and they indicate which aperture was used for each picture.
Collage materials include parts from a watch, dried insects, coffee stains, a detail of a child's drawing (by Lisa Peterson) and medical labels.

I want to thank Katie Sweeney Shaw, curator, Flippo Gallery, for the chance to show this work at Randolph-Macon College.

And, thank you, Ron LaBella, and everyone at Jerzee Devil Forum.

[ded i]

Originally Posted by Umberto

Brilliant.

Your art is so multi-dimensional.
Temporal spatial absorbative osmotic art.

You're not from around here are you?

And I want to thank Umberto!

[Umberto]

well ok then, thats more like it.

[Mr.LaBella]

[MarieLaveau]

Thank you, Judy.

[tubtar]

Originally Posted by Umberto

Brilliant.

Your art is so multi-dimensional.
Temporal spatial absorbative osmotic art.

You're not from around here are you?

Nor Kansas , me thinks. ( no disrespect to Ross " Wrocks " or any other Kansans here )
Your work is as powerful as it is inspirational for me.
You don't seem to deal with your loss .............. more like attack it.
It says fragile ( human ) and fierce to me.
The quote in 103 & 104 is awesome .........it was done for you , Vonnegut just didn't know it at the time.
Thanks !
J.S.

[RoadFish]

Powerful, emotional, personal and inspirational ... Thank you so very much for your unselfishness in sharing this page of your life in such an explicit, tender and artistic manner. Merci!

[Dr Mabuse]

i remember this... fondly at that... thinking how interesting this DD person was... one of the main reasons i took to this forum... and of course the venerable D aka Umberto D...

RF this is one of the best bumps in recent memory...

DD you rock...

[tmik]

I can't believe I missed this the first time. What a great series Judy!
I wish I had your understanding and ability to demonstrate that understanding of art and life around you.
You posting here makes us all better for it.
Thank you.
t

[Boogerball]

I dig!