SUPPLEMENT is a series of seven single folded broadsides by John Dowd. Each collages a set of images that address a chosen topic: SUMMERTIME, PERFORMANCE, WRIST WATCH, EARTH, SUN, SOLO, and SPECIAL. Sourced from a variety of media, they are reassembled to build new narratives.
A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT, the largest in the SUPPLEMENT series, focuses predominately on Little Richard. Alongside a variety of photos of the star–him singing, dancing, posing with The Beatles, and sitting for a headshot–are illustrations of animals, including baby chicks, grown hens, and a Cocker Spaniel. Along the inside seam is a simple cartoon drawing of a figure trying to open a door. Rather than pull it open by its handle, he pulls the entire door off its hinges, allowing it to fall on his body. By playfully juxtaposing these visuals together, Dowd invites viewers to read between the images, opening them up to interpretations beyond those intended by their original contexts in pop culture or daily life.