Testify! #15 Q&A w/ Cody Thompson

Cody Thompson Doll Maker

Q1: So, the more I went through your stuff on MySpace, the more I became a little scared of you. Those eyes, those self portraits, those dolls... I imagine all of it is in some way how you see/want to see yourself?

It is mostly how I see the world as well as what I think the world wants to see. Oversized expressive eyes are universally attractive. People also seem to appreciate the blurred lines between attractive and repulsive, male and female, etc.

Q2: The self portrait sequined tapestry. Amazing and fucking creepy. All art should be. Are you using irony to confront something within yourself or are you just a complete narcissist?

I really just wanted to make a sequined flag in the Haitian Voodoo tradition, but did not simply want to make a copy of a genuine Voodoo flag. I felt that if I was going to spend that much time to hand sew all those sequins and beads that the subject of the flag should be important to me. So, where in the center of a Voodoo flag would be one of the Voodoo gods I placed the image of myself. Narcissist, I guess.

Q3: Gender and character are present in your work... Is that something you've always considered? (and btw, the cholo costume kills me. especially cause you stuffed your shirt to make your self look fat. I'm speechless.)

I haven't always done anything, but I have been long fascinated with the human form, especially that of the male. As for the cholo pic, it was Halloween about four years ago. The only thing stuffed into those shirts is me. I was a lil' heavier then and am puffing out my chest, you know, like a cholo. The hickies are real too.

Q4: The dolls are great. Do you keep them, sell them, display them in galleries? Would you like to license them to a fringe toy company? Or work for the Jim Henson Company?

Thank you. I do keep a few special ones and pass some to friends. I also do sell them, right now you can get them straight from me or a shop in L.A. called Steinberg & Sons. I have had them at a gallery as well as the beaded self portrait. I hope to do more gallery stuff in 2008. I recently licensed a few dolls to Urban Outfitters. The Christmas themed dolls will be in their stores around the holidays. I wouldn't kick the Jim Henson Co. out of bed, but I would prefer to concentrate on my own work.

Q5: How did you end up in Providence? Have you fallen in love there? Could you possibly love a guy with much more hair and belly than you have?

I followed a friend of mine from my hometown in Southern California who moved here about two years ago. I visited her here a few times and found Providence to be a good balance of affordable living/cool place/as far from So. Cal. as I could get. So I crammed all my crap into the back of my pick-up and cruised over. I have not fallen in love here yet, it has only been four months. I have a little time before Winter hits, hopefully I will find someone to keep me warm by then. I am saving ALL my love for a man with more hair and breadth than me. Send submissions with photo to: rhinestonesowbug@msn.com