Saint Jo, Scribe of Our Souls

2023-2024
Oil and brass leaf on wood

Audio description of artwork by Ed Griffiths.

Reading of artist statement by Chris Ferric

This painting is for Jo, my friends, my communities.
Jo is disabled, sexy, trans, old, and worthy of the care and attention required to paint an oil portrait made-up of many caresses of her face and body.

Jo was ordained by The Order of Perpetual Indulgence. She is surrounded by a halo of golden nibs gifted by Brother Bimbo.

This portrait bears scars from mishandling by a major state gallery. They aren’t hidden, they are part of her story, in gold.

Jo is manifest fully: father and grandmother; Elder; playwright; performer; Queen Jesus; St Jo, Scribe of Our Souls.

Jo reading the poem she wrote, as a response to the portrait painted by Chris Ferric. Text below.

This is my face
An old face
In a world that fears death
& tries to ignore it
& so fears old age
& tries to ignore it too
But it won’t go away
Just as I won’t go away

This is my face
A trans face
In a world that wants men to be men
& women to be women
& tries to suppress
Those of us who cross the line
Those of us who defy the frontiers
& wants us to disappear
But I won’t disappear

I love my femaleness
& I love my maleness too
Because I am old enough
To have known much hatred
& old enough to have overcome it.

So I love my aging
& death is my sister
& life my lover & friend

Jo Clifford 13th April 2024