Jo, Don’t Go There

Jo is a nonbinary trauma survivor, video artist, and clown hailing from NYC. Jo has found hirself hiding and occupying space in Toronto during the height of the pandemic and using their art-making practice to confront their trauma with raw and unrelenting sincerity. Jo is also a misfit navigating OCD and Complex PTSD – but not all alone! There’s also Jo’s alter-ego Oli Oli Ennui: an imaginary friend and Tulpa birthed from Jo’s suppressed pain. Jo’s consciousness embodied. A snarky trickster clown; a little shit who doesn’t take all this modern art stuff too seriously and has a HUGE chip on their shoulder.

Jo asks: If you know Jo’s troubled past, does it give you a window into who they really are? If you experience Jo channel and embody their imaginary friend, Oli Oli Ennui, and become subjected to chastisement, snark, unproductive conversations, punk injected cabaret, and highly inappropriate jokes, does it give you insight into Jo's psyche? Does it maybe even give you insight into your own?

Experience Jo’s multi-media happening and answer for yourself. Jo’s home-grown happening is told through a video series, music playlists, Instagram uploads, photo exhibition, cabaret performance, clown turns, attempts at stand-up comedy, and a live installation performance. Jo’s trauma and neurodivergence fractal in myriad forms, so you can choose your own adventure. And if nothing else, Oli will entertain you with songs, shark smiles, and snark. Thoughtful or funny (you decide), this collection of fragments resonates in permanent refrain: Do you know me now? What about now?

Follow Jo on Instagram @jo_dontgothere

Slated to appear in Workman Art’s Rendezvous With Madness Festival 2020

The Production was Canceled and is Postponed until a later date.

Created and Performed by Oliver Jane

In Collaboration with:

Jon Jorgensen (Video Editing)
Rob Wierzbicki (Original Music)
Leah Pritchard (Content Creation and Performance)
Jillian Reese-Brown (Voice Performance)

With additional video, music, and multimedia installation collaboration and assistance with artists announced at a later time..