Jay Bolotin
The Jackleg Testament, part one: JACK & EVE
The Cincinnati based artist Jay Bolotin creates elaborate fantasies in a prolific
body of work that includes painting, printmaking, sculpting, song-writing, and most
recently filmmaking. The woodcut prints which fill the Private Dining Room in Proof
were created by the artist to be digitally scanned and then animated in to a one-of-a-kind
"wood cut motion picture" opera, The Jackleg Testament, which
reinterprets the story of Adam and Eve as a dark provocative tale in which Eve is
lured from the Garden of Eden by a Jack-in-the-Box. In the past, Bolotin has translated
his narrative woodcut prints into concerts, stage productions, and mechanical operas.
This project represents a desire to more directly translate the prints into a moving
image. From the simpler, handmade quality of the woodcuts, Bolotin draws forth complex
textures and layers to create striking images and a dense narrative. Bolotin also
adds handwritten notations that reference the motion picture by identifying objects
and quoting characters.
Exhibited Works
The Jackleg Testament, part one: JACK & EVE, 2004-2006.
Portfolio of 40 woodcut prints, Edition 1 of 35.
About The Jackleg Testament:
The Jackleg Testament is an animated woodcut opera that re-tells the creation
stories of Western religion. In Bolotin's version of events, imagination commingles
with literary and biblical references. The character of Jack, portrayed by the mannequin
inside of a child's jack-in-the-box toy, lures Eve away from Adam and the Garden
of Eden, and together they travel to Nobotown where the omnipotent figure of Nobodaddy
reigns. Once in Nobotown, Nobodaddy arranges for Jack and Eve to participate in
a stage production in The Theater of the Western Regions-a play within a play. In
the chaotic aftermath of the play Jack and Eve are banished, Jack into the future
and Eve to her original fate in Eden.
Past Exhibitions
Lauren Argo
Life as Art: Live Art Installation
June 4 - 24, 2006
enclosed window space at 21c Museum Hotel’s restaurant, Proof on Main
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exhibition details