My blog was originally inspired by a need to share my experiences as a sibling to a severely autistic, low functioning, nonverbal individual, my brother Mike. I am certain this history was the origin of my creativity; I had to explore every possible way to understand him.
I published a series of posts (Young Mike, In Transition, Final Transition) about Mike and his transition from good looking child to a difficult-to-look-at adult. Revisiting the past, the unfolding of circumstances in Mike’s life, the utter futility of attempts to communicate with him culminated in a final portrait (reproduced below) that showed my frustration and discomfort with my compulsion to portray my brother.
Final Portrait
12″x9″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Block
I had to force myself to take a break from blogging about Mike.
Origins:
I began a photography project about Mike on his 40th birthday. It had always been a problem gaining his attention, but in one photograph one of his eyes was looking right at me. Mike’s other mis-aligned eye was gazing off in another direction. He seemed to be smiling at me.
Brother Mike
Build-a-Brother:
I printed this photograph, covered up half of Mike’s face and was startled to see the attention about which I had always dreamed.
Attention
Then I had a brainstorm. I cut the photograph in half and held it up to the mirror. Instead of one eye looking at me, there was my brother, looking at me with both eyes.
Made-Up Brother
Portrait
The portrait below is a rendition of my mirror portrait, the brother I should have had.
Mirror Mike
12″x9″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Block
Really interesting Jack. The mirrored photo makes him look like a completely different person.
Yes, it was a shock when I first saw it.
Thanks, K.
j
I hate these small comment boxes, I’m always pressing send by mistake…to complete my thought, the transition is startling, and makes me wonder if his thought process is similarly divided. It’s a mystery that may never be solved. But I always wondered about my mother when she was deep into Alzheimer’s because every once in awhile she would connect with us, and it was also always startling.
Your paintings are very evocative too. (K)
I know that his eyes seemed to operate independently (when each was in operational order). An interesting concept of divided thought processes. However, sad to say, I have seen little if any evidence of thought at all.
Thank you again, K.
j
Really interesting Jack – thank you. It is actually the half photo I love most of all, rather than the spliced one…
Yes. It is interesting to look at half faces of people in magazine photos. You’d be surprised at how different each half can be.
Thanks, Liz.
j
I’m a little late to his one but this post has nearly brought me to tears. That your brother inspires such thought and creativity is remarkable. I love both portraits. N.
Thank you, Nina! I’m glad to know that this post touched you.
j