Need by Dinty W. Moore Available Now

Junk presents the first of its visual arts submissions: “Need,” by the esteemed Dinty W. Moore.

Tim and I were so excited when we saw this photo. Not only were we happy to receive a submission from Dinty Moore, but the photo reveals so much about the effects of addiction. The setting reflects the desperation and defiance of the addict. The composition and framing of the subjects illuminates a network of need—the girl holds a protective hand over what might be a baby strapped to her belly, track marks riddling the back of her knee. The dog pines for the girl’s attention, its leash dangling uselessly. And the bottle of wine—almost a study itself—lies drained to the dregs.

And what does this piece tell us about Mr. Moore? It’s almost as mysterious as what the poor child in the picture holds in her arms. We know the photo was taken in Florence, Italy, in the late summer of this year. Perhaps a vacation? Possibly business? What does it say when a photographer visits one of the jewels of the Renaissance and returns with a photograph of a junky as mournful and evocative as this?

We don’t know. We can only guess, dear reader.

What we do know is that this is a fine piece of visual nonfiction, and we are pleased as punch to present it here on Junk.

-XS

Advertisement

Call for Submissions: Visual and Performance Memoir

Since Junk’s launch in November, we’re received a steady stream of submissions, and Tim and I are pleased to see some good, quality work. Next week, we’ll publish the first of our visual submissions, and we’re excited. Most of the work submitted to date has been prose, which is great, we love the written word—have no fear, writers! But we’d also like to put in a plug to visual and performance artists. We want to see your work!

We want photos, comics, paintings, drawings, performances, from people who are willing tell a story about their own addiction or the effect of addiction on them from someone else. Self-portraits can be revealing; a recent trip to a museum exhibit of Picasso’s work reminded us of this. One of our favorite visual artists, Cindy Sherman, combines storytelling, photography, and performance in an intriguing way. Or maybe you are a singer-songwriter with work you’d like to share to our audience—we watch YouTube, too.

You don’t have to be Picasso or Cindy Sherman to get our attention. We’re just trying to get YOUR attention. Submit!