(Cahan
42) |
"Hello!
I'm Jimmie . .. . As an Artist, I am confused about many things. . .";
"Useless
nipples";
under
the opening, "I am basically light-hearted";
Indian
penises are unusually large and colorful."
¡@
|
Self Portrait, a flayed, full body nude, a red "skin," a
hide or hiding -- is a bitter and witty icon displayed o n the wall.
As though illustrating the dilemma of the 'invented Indians," the
self-portrait is all surface. Durham, who has proudly called himself
a "double Red," has branded a red star on his forehead, imprinted his
chest and thighs with fish and his ankle with fern. He has
sea shells for ears, bits of animal hide hair; one turquoise eye is just
to show a little "Indianness," and the feathers revealed by an open chest
cavity imply a certain "light-heartedness." "I have 12 hobbies!
11 house plants! People like my poems," are among the "captions"
mapping such landmarks as an appendix scar, and defiantly "large and colorful"
genitals. (Cahan 64) |
