“Wicked Cliche’ ‘Inner-Child Concept Art Show”
Sunday, September 29th from 2-6 at The Armory.
This event is for adults. Some subject matter may not be appropriate for actual children.
This is a concept art show that will combine my paintings, drawings, photography, dioramas, poetry, rap, a playlist of music, and party-planning skills to paint a picture of an idea. The first 20 guests will receive a goodie bag with penny candy, fidget toys, and stickers.
Artist: Jymi Cliche
I am a 46-year-old LGBTQIA artist with Complex PTSD and Dissociative Identity Disorder. Right now I’m doing therapy work to get to know all the parts that make up my inner system of personalities because three of my inner children, Jaime, Max, and Jay Jay, had taken the wheel for a while after I was wounded from a recent four-month inpatient psychiatric hospitalization in which many of my basic human rights were taken away and I was abused every day. It did a number on me and after I was ganged up on and got violently attacked in one of the hospitals I was in, my inner child, Jaime, who is 4 years old and Autistic, took over. That was in March. The inner children have been out for months, taking control of me, sometimes like I’m possessed. I’m always there in the back and have some control and now I’m mostly in the front again but Jaime, Max, and Jay Jay are a much bigger part of me than ever before and they so important to me right now as I try to nurture myself back to health through them after all of the trauma. The art for this show has all been a form of therapy for me and for my wounded inner children.
I’m in the position where I have to re-parent myself and I have to let my inner children play when they need to play. That’s probably a lot more playing than the average 46-year-old but I am an artist. I feel like, for many artists, our inner children are where the root of the art is. Jaime and Max are twins and most directly influenced by Basquiat and Keith Haring. They are a yin and a yang of my opposing tastes and personality traits and sometimes I don’t know who is who but I think Max is the Basquiat and Jaime is the Keith Haring, although I’m not sure. They like to play tricks on me as I try to figure them out. The art I’ve created this year has largely been done in hopes of uncovering the mystery behind who Jaime, Max, and Jay Jay are and how they became such a big part of me.
I will be showing nine new 2×3 foot paintings that are hanging on the walls of The Armory, plus folders will be available to look through, the day of the show on Sunday, September 29th, of art done while in-patient, as well as some 8×10 inch photos that were done right after getting out of the hospital, mostly of my toys, which have been a comfort to me. My inner children need to play and so everything we do now has become an art because art is a form of play. Creating is the main thing that keeps us going. It helps us to feel connected to our spirits and to the universe as a whole. Now that Jaime, Max, and Jay Jay are such a big part of me, I have a childlike faith in magic that I haven’t had in a very long time and I hope to never lose it. This art show is a tribute to them, to thank them for what they have added to my life, as far as who I am and what my role in the world is and I want to inspire others. I know I may be a little off balance or out of sorts lately and that certainly comes with its challenges but I like to look on the bright side and try to be grateful for the surge of creativity it has offered me.
“Shrine To Max’s Relapse”, photo from late July, 2024
“Jaime Christmas” (2×3 foot acrylic and cold wax painting that is currently hanging at The Armory in Somerville, MA) done in January or February of 2024
“Map Of The world I Go To In My Dreams” 2×3 foot acrylic painting, currently hanging at The Armory… done in October of 2023.
“Midnight Snack” black and white photo of my/Jaime and Max’s comfort toys, Kermit and Animal taken in June of 2024
“Hurt Kurt: Shrine To 8 Year Old Max” a photo from June 2024, and the painting in the photo was done somewhere between December of 2023 and February 2024
This is a photo scene of my toys in front of a background I painted to resemble the famous Jay and Silent Bob set, from the end of July, 2024
“Eyes Off The Jack” a black and white photo from June 2024
“Out For A Walk 2 The Garden” a photo of my Muppets at the end of July 2024
Jaime and Max’s Picnic Meditation (a meditation shrine from July 2024)
“Back From Outer Space” a self portrait of myself as Jaime from June 2024
“PEACE! I’m so grateful to see you again, brother.” self portrait of me as Max from June 2024
This art show will be a lot of fun and will be open to the public for a suggested donation of $10-$15 to Out Of The Blue Gallery. It will be Sunday. September 29th, from 2-6, in the basement of The Armory on Highland Ave in Somerville MA. The building is an actual armory from the Revolutionary War, so it is cool to see for that reason alone. My art will be on the walls along with many other artists in what is like a free museum of local art that very few people are aware of. This is a solo art exhibit and is a full concept I have put together with permission and help from Out Of The Blue Gallery. The other art is still there to enjoy alongside mine. It’s worth coming out for it whether you’ve been to the Armory before or not.