Jessica Woolard
At 1.65 meters tall and a light 52 kilograms, Jessica Leanne Woolard is unflinching in her cynical honesty and is predominantly unconcerned with the opinions of others.
Having always been interested in art, photography, and making things, "J. Woolard" took a job in a one-hour photo lab at age 16. That job turned into a theme in her life. A succession of camera equipment, paint and photo processing labs have surrounded her ever since. She now has more than eight years of one-hours under her belt, about a year after earning a BFA from the University of Louisville.
Jessica has dark brown eyes and usually has her hair dyed black. She is pictured with blonde hair on the cover and on some of the following pages as the result of a wager with me. It went something like this:
You should dye your hair blonde.
You should get a job.
If i get a job will you dye your hair blonde?
If you pay for it.
So the dark, skeptical chain smoker who sometimes hid her face behind asymmetrical jet-black hair, became a blonde. I loved it. She was okay with it for a while, I guess. But after a battle against dryness, a few cuts, and more attention that she thought it was worth, it met its end after a few months. The journey ended with a shaved head.
All this talk about the way she looks is a misrepresentation of what she's all about. Jessica, who almost never wears makeup, is typically more concerned with creating something or hanging out with friends than spending any amount of time in the mirror. Her art and photography generally depict unembarrassed naked forms that are not always the popular idea of beautiful, and are occasionally intentionally objectionable by being decorated with blood or immodesty.
Somewhere mixed between the reluctantly cute façade and the sick thrill of a penchant for deliberately invoking unease, is a secret, endearing person who is inevitably developing a new, bizarre catchphrase and appreciating its acceptance among friends with an impossibly wide, crushworthy smile.
DO YOU DO YOUR OWN LAUNDRY?
Since I was in 5th grade. The one time my mom decided to do it, she found cigarettes. Not awesome. I told her I would never do it again. I lied.
WOULD YOU RATHER BE SEEN AS ARTISTIC OR INTELLIGENT?
I don't know if I am either. Not yet at least. I am very observant, which is something I often confuse for intelligence. Which is better, I guess. Anyone can know the capital of Nebraska. But you can't find what I know on Wikipedia.
WHO WOULD YOU BE MOST SURPRISED TO FIND OUT IS STILL ALIVE: ELVIS PRESLEY OR KURT COBAIN?
I really don't care.
YEAH, BUT REALLY, WHO WOULD YOU BE MOST SURPRISED TO FIND OUT IS STILL ALIVE?
I guess Elvis. But I really don't care. Back to that intelligence question... I also have a shit load of common sense.
DO YOU KNOW ANY GOOD JOKES?
An old favorite: What does the wife do when she gets out of the battered women's facility?
WHAT?
The dishes, if she knows what's good for her. [laughter] A new favorite: What's the number one cause of pedophilia?
[laughs] WHAT?
Sexy kids. [much laughter]
THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
My friend Drew [Sellers] told me that one. He likes to imagine kids in sexy clothes, where as I like to imagine kids looking like kids, and someone thinking that's sexy. [laughter]
Issues 6 to 12
The printed versions of K Composite Magazine Issues 6 to 12 are available as a paperback book. 43 interviews in 198 pages!
