Here is one of my dolls. -- Jo-Jo Baby

Which is pretty fitting, considering that Jojo's lively demeanor, colorful appearance and eye-catching art make him one of Chicago's most visual – and visible – personalities.

Little known fact: as a child, Jojo wanted to be a priest. A stint at Quigley North Prepatorial Seminary deemed him "too theatrical" for the papacy. That's an understatement (although he did hone his hair sculpting skills for the stage – for artists Cinderella, Judas Priest, UB40, Guns and Roses and others). Jojo's vibrant hair styling was even put to the test by Dennis Rodman, who hired Jojo as his personal stylist for two years during the peak of the former Chicago Bull's glory.

Already a figurehead at Chicago's nightclubs, Jojo's style sense eventually led to greater exposure. He's seen features in the Chicago Tribune, The National Enquirer, The National Examiner, Velocity and People magazine. Jojo has also appeared on television programs, including "Jenny Jones" (12 times), "Jerry Springer Show" (3 times), "Leeza" (3 times) and "Wild Chicago" (3 times).

But Jojo's work extends beyond the human canvas. Jojo learned his dollmaking craft as the only student of the late Greer Lankton, who was part of the Andy Warhol Factory and worked with Jim Henson productions, applying feathers to the first Big Bird. She was a tremendous inspiration and a good friend.

Jojo's own intricately crafted dolls humor some, startle others and amaze all. They have been displayed at the Around the Coyote art festival in Wicker Park, where some of his creations commanded prices up to $2000.

He's also shown them in doll/puppet shows that he holds with fellow artist and club personality, Silky Jumbo, with whom he has collaborated with on several magnificent performance pieces at some of Chicago's popular nightspot and outdoor festivals.

bio reprinted from web page

how to become a woman in easy steps....from boy into drag queen...duck tape , bird seed boobs carved pieces of your coach into hips and so on and how the media even influences drag queens in how they should look.and silky jumbo ( a club star here )has been made into a ten -foot doll.i will also be shown with phebe fisher here in chicago at the las manos gallery this agust 16 till the end of the mounth. hope someone will show up ....so i can scare some people with also my genital landscapes

We've been 120% impressed and inspired by Jojo and his art since the day we laid eyes on him close to 10 years ago. Which incidentally was the very first night we ever went out clubbing in Chicago.

From his dolls, to his drawings, sculptures, installations costumes, character exploration, hair and makeup skills, Whatever Jojo touches becomes beautiful and mystical. So much of his personality is transferred into his art that it is hard to separate the two.

Pictures rarely do Jojo's dolls justice. Each one has an energy, a personality that does not show up on film. When you see them in person, you can tell that each and every detail was meant to be. These details really make the dolls. Many of them have custom made clothes and they all have accessories and personal effects. There are a few like "Pansy" in the second image above, that I swear move when you aren't looking

Oh, and besides being an amazing artist, Jojo is a great friend.

XXXOOO
Satori

Z+S, you describe JoJo's dolls as though they are magical (which it seems they may well be)...

BTW, JoJo did not write us specifically requesting to join the forum like the rest of our ArtMakers have. He just started sending his doll images to us to post. He did not even send his log-in name after several requests.

As I was so "moved" by his dolls that I wanted to share them with all of you (and because the forum exists to meet as many of the diverse communicative needs artists have) I asked Chi Chi to please find and give JoJo access so he could see his dolls on the Motherboards.

Since posting them, I am exultant he has chosen to share his creative process with us as well. His net-manner is just as wonderfully insightful and jarring.

And, I do believe his dolls have cast a spell on me. I keep looking at this topic. And, I actually miss seeing the dolls when I've not been in the forum for awhile. (They were in my inbox for a few days and they kept gazing at me, reminding me they were there).

JoJo -- Good luck with the show! Please let us know how it is going ... we would love to know.

Lastly, I am now saving for one of your dolls myself.

[This message was edited by TonyaKnudsen on 08-17-02 at 01:15 AM.]

my word, thank you , i will send more because there is more to give. the show was a success...phebe fisher and i put on a great show...and a great turn out. i will be sending one of my genital landscapes that i love ... i will never sell one because it takes to much energy to get and find a model to put their cock in plaster... one of my new friends is cynthia plaster caster....so cool. all we talk about is plaster and cock what else.? i will send more work soon

I AM EVEN WORKING ON A DRAG QUEEN DOLL RIGHT NOW AND I AM THINKING OF DOING ONE OF MYSELF. I STARTED GIVING AWAY SECRETS IN BEING A DRAG QUEEN...PART OF MY NEW SHOW WAS CALLED HIDING THE CANDY...AND SHOWING TAKING THE AVERAGE BOY WITH FEMININE FEATURES AND SHOWING HIM HOW TO HIDE HIS PENIS. I WANT TO DO A SHOW WHERE THERE ARE BOYS OUTSIDE A DRAG SHOP PANHANDELING FOR DRAG...DUCT TAPE , BIRDSEED TITTIES, EYELASHES AND SO ON AND THE MANIQUINS IN THE WINDOW ARE DRAG QUEENS WITH JUST THE UNDERLACING OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ONE

I'm very excited for you that the show has gone well.

One thing though ... a lot of people get offended by people who email and type using all caps (they consider it yelling.) However, if you want to come in here and yell Good News! I'LL YELL TOO!

JoJo's A STAR!

i didn't mean too.i just have all this room in my gallery now that the show is up....i just want to make more...to fil up space. i have been painting jo-jo's closet and sanding the floors....hehe. i want a skeleton...for the closet.

You did have a good show!

Was out last night at a renegade punk bar in Billyburg (i.e. Williamsburg, the Brooklyn art mecca) tossing back stale beer / listening to Sepulatura with a newly migrated New Yorker who came to us via London from Chicago.

Indeed, I am growing quite fond of this witty, brazen and beautiful girl who aspires to wrestle more than anything in the world.

We were talking of the windy city and I mentioned you had joined the ArtMaker forum. And such a smile came across her face as she told me how much she loved the very talented JoJo and his work.

It is one thing to meet someone via these boards and be introduced to their art; but, it is another to see the admiration of someone through the eyes of those who love them. M sends her love and will hopefully be joining us in here soon (even if I have to put her in a headlock). And you gotta check this out if you haven't seen it ...

just one of her many current incarnations

Aside from that, have you tried to resend those last couple of JPGs for posting that I could not open? I will be creating a post in Welcome to ArtMaker this week that gives step by step instructions for how to post images/perhaps other media links here.

being a doll-maker i love other doll-makers such as hans bellmer or lisa lichenfels....amazing.
i'm working on finishing a punk rocker he is looking so cute...and 4inch simese twins....i still think i make people i want to know....like the punk rocker i saw on the corner one day and could not walk up and say hi for some reason ....so i made him.we are starting to do first fridays again here in the flatiron building .....every first friday of the month all the galleries open and show new work i like it and the response it gets.....like OMG is this a penis gallery

Hey

So excited that you have some new children
Can't wait to see the punk-rocker!

XXXOOO
Satori

quote:

---

like the punk rocker i saw on the corner one day and could not walk up and say hi for some reason ....so i made him.

---

Jo-Jo, a beautiful statement, and very insightful. I think that sentiment akin to the etiology (cause of a condition) that links all artists together ... something to do with needs and communication anyway. But why dolls? Why not another medium? I know Greer was a great influence, (I have been reading that topic, so intense, it weighs now in the back of my mind.) but was there anything else?

We will have to get you and Madame Dollhaus in touch some day. You will love the dollhaus. It’s creepy, painted hot pink and Madame serves tea. See topics here and in Nightlife and Events. I purchased one of Madame’s dollhaus dolls the week before last. There seems to be some confusion with regards to her identity, which is most peculiar. Madame suggests she may be Suzi. Here is a webcam shot of Suzi and I. (Funny, she really does look more and more like me everyday. D. actually pointed it out and I agree.)



Also if you get a chance, please see last post in Welcome to ArtMaker - it may be time to start thinking of that show (maybe a little thinking now for a show later on down the road). Would love your input on this matter.

Zazoo & Satori must have both posted the same message twice above (or are double excited about your punk rocker) as am I.

[This message was edited by TonyaKnudsen on 10-21-02 at 09:31 AM.]

But if I'm not mistaken isn't the doll sucking on Zazoo's nipple. It's so hard to tell sometimes.

Yu tu genderart dolls rock so hard!

it took a long time to make that silky jumbo and he is still not done ....but i do love him . he is the first in my line of club celb. and drag queens i want to do.....and as far as the only meddium i work in i do paint and sketch all the time , and do make alot of my clothes and lights and erotic landscapes made with castings of genitals .....it such hard work but i love it....cythia plaster caster was amazied that i do all my own fluffing. if anyone would love to model for one of my domes let me know

Jojo,

I was digging through our picture box and found the ones I had taken of your dolls last year. So I'm posting them for you... If I forgot,or get someone's name wrong, for god's sake correct me

XXXOOO
S

This is Gabrielle, Pansy's guardian: