Judy Malloy’s Motifs

During my visit to the MoMA Library to document its version of Uncle Roger, I had the opportunity to examine other works by Malloy that pre-date Uncle Roger, some by as much as six years. I had written in my chapter on Malloy in Traversals that she explores similar motifs in her work––both Uncle Roger and its name was Penelope, which she produced later, for example, include references to boats and water. But it was enlightening to see the extent of her exploration in earlier works.

Below is the list of art works studied. I have noted motifs in those that are also found in Uncle Roger. The most interesting can be found in “Eschew Gluttony,” which features a character named Roger who is as Falstaffian as Uncle Roger. Also note the focus on cats, computers, card catalog cards,sex, food, potato chips, cockroaches, and a blimp. These motifs are fully developed in Uncle Roger.

This discovery underscores that Uncle Roger was many years in the making, the logical culmination of her visual art practice, and at the same time the beginning of her experimentation with new digital media that came into full flower with its name is Penelope.

Come Back, Kitty Kitty Kitty (1979)
Hand-drawn graphic narrative
This is the only early work that had a sales price on it ($.75)
Appears in 500 3 x 5 Cards and Other Stories (#6 in the book)
***Includes references to cats

Honesty Is the Best Policy (1979) Hand-drawn graphic narrative
Appears in 500 3 x 5 Cards and Other Stories (#1 in the book). Includes references to cats, cockroaches, sex, a computer, card catalog cards

Eschew Gluttony (1979)  Hand-drawn graphic narrative
Appears in 500 3 x 5 Cards and Other Stories (#2 in the book). Includes a character named Roger, who is very much like Uncle Roger; also references to food, potato chips

Is Everybody Done Now? (1980)
Hand-drawn graphic narrative
Looks like it was intended for card catalog
Appears in 500 3 x 5 Cards and Other Stories (#7 in the book)
***Includes references to a character named David; references food

500 3 x 5 Cards (1980)
Hand-drawn graphic narrative
Appears in 500 3 x 5 Cards and Other Stories (#4 in the book).
Includes references to cat, sex

A Year in Reno (1980)
Hand-drawn graphic narrative, organized around the conceit of a calendar
Appears in 500 3 x 5 Cards and Other Stories (#10 in the book).
Includes references to a cat

And Then (1980)
Hand-drawn graphic narrative, organized around the conceit of a calendar
Looks like it was intended for card catalog but is not (missing dots for holes)
Appears in 500 3 x 5 Cards and Other Stories (#11 in the book).
Includes references to cats, food

Dallas Berkeley (1981)
Hand-drawn graphic narrative, organized around the conceit of a calendar
Appears in 500 3 x 5 Cards and Other Stories (#8 in the book)

Super Lucy (1982)
Hand-drawn graphic narrative
Includes references to computers, sex, tweed jacket

 500 3 x 5 Cards and Other Stories (1984)
A compilation of many of the hand-drawn graphic narrative that Malloy had previously made:

1. Honesty Is the Best Policy (1979)
2. Eschew Gluttony (1979)
3. Forget It! (?)
4. Private Parts (1980)
5. 500 3 x 5 Cards (1980)
6. Private Parts (1980)
7. Come Back, Kitty Kitty Kitty (1979)
8. Dallas Berkeley: Technical Difficulties (1981)
9. The Big Zucchini (1981)
10. A Year in Reno (1980)
11. And Then (1980)

Lucy Comes Back! (1986)
Hand-drawn graphic narrative, organized around the conceit of a calendar
***Includes references to cat, blimp

Bad Information (1986-88)
12 catalog cards, each with a truism, reminiscent of Jenny Holzer’s work.