1954. Born illegitimately as Joanne Motichka in Newton, New Jersey.
She refers to her parents as impoverished violent racists, or redneck white trash, who abused their children. Plots to run away from home when she is 12 yrs old.
From early on, Joanne inspires to be a cartoon artist like the ones she observes on the boardwalks of Coney Island and Asbury Park: she uses humor in her cartoons to escape the trauma of her childhood. At 9 she begins selling greeting cards door to door. Scribbles and draws constantly in her notebooks.
By 14, Joanne has worked in a bakery and as a waitress in NJ before running away to Far Rockaway NY in 1968 right after her mother dies of breast cancer.
Early Life (Ages 1-13)
Early drawing by Matuschka, a self portrait as a cartoon artist.
On February 11th, 1968, Joanne's mom dies of breast cancer. On her deathbed she asks Joanne to promise not to become a drug addict or prostitute. Already a heavy drug abuser at that time, Joanne thinks to herself, “This is going to be a problem, a promise I can't keep.”
1968 (Age 13-15)
On August 13, 1968, Joanne steals a car to be used as the getaway vehicle for a robbery taking place at a deli in Pompton Lakes NJ. On the way there, she cracks the stolen car up and leaves it in a ditch before running to the store. As police arrive to capture both the thief and Joanne, Joanne escapes on foot.The following day she runs away to Far Rockaway, N.Y. There she works as a cocktail waitress and shacks up with Rockaway Dave, a local pool hustler for almost a year. As a fugitive, Joanne changes her name to Lisa Cross, and although a warrant has been issued for her arrest by her father, a police officer, she is thrilled to have her picture published for the very first time. This moment begins her lifelong interest in documenting everything she does, and later, being involved in having her persona’ photographed by herself and others.
Joanne appears as "Lisa Cross" in the WAVE, a daily newspaper published in the Rockaways.
Matuschka's self portrait as a busy waitress at the Aquaduct Dinner (now closed) in 1968
In 1969, Lisa Cross, is supporting her baby smack habit and going nowhere, living alone in a basement in Far Rockaway. One of her junky friends tells her that she is a "Nowhere chick, going nowhere fast." Offended by this line Lisa decides to turn herself in and returns home to NJ.
The next day she is arrested on her father’s front lawn and attends a court hearing whereby she becomes a Ward of the State of NJ and is sent to a Detention Center in Paramus, NJ. Lisa is now "Joanne" again.
Despite her bleak circumstances as a runaway fugitive, Lisa has a vision for her future and wants to make something of her life.
1969-70 (Age 15-16)
Joanne’s father remarries. "Oh no!"
After several court appearances, the Judge mandates foster care, probation and rehabilitation and releases her to her fathers ' custody until a new home is found. Shortly
thereafter, her father, a cop on the GW Bridge, marries a toll collector. Friction between the stepmother and Joanne pushs Joanne to the point of plotting the murder of her stepmother until she meets Connie Marco, a hippie on the school bus.
Now snorting smack, (instead of shooting it, Joanne offers Connie a hit. Connie declines and insists Joanne get off the bus at her stop and meet her mother. Joanne thinks to herself, “why not, I’ve got nothing better to do but go home and kill someone.”
Joanne's early sketches as a figurative model.
What happens next is nothing short of a miracle. Mrs. Marco phones Joanne’s probation officer and social worker that afternoon and adopts her that day. With Mrs. Marco’s love and attention, Joanne is introduced to the arts and begins working as a life sketching model, enrolls in art school, and begins her art career then and there.
Joanne models nude for life
sketching classes, works as an art assistant and continues waitressing. But the turning point is when she is caught skinny dipping in a lake in Mahwah, N.J. That day was instrumental for the young water nymph becoming both a photographer and a model for the rest of her life.
Caught in her birthday suit, 1970
THE BERKSHIRES: LENOX, MASS 1971-1973
Seventeen/Eighteen years old.
Meets and befriends Ira Cohen, Don Snyder, Gerald Malanga, Beno Friedman, Jason McWhorter amoung others. Becomes a sought after model for photographers and artists in the region.
Becomes interested in altering and manipulating photographic prints in the darkroom.
First Solo Show of Portraits at the Lenox Library. Reviewed in the Berkshire Eagle. Wins Art Award, graduation, Windsor Mt. 1972. Travels to Europe. Works for renown photographer, Clemens Kalischer at the Image Gallery in Stockbridge, Mass.
1972 Changes her name again to this time to MATUSCHKA after her professor calls out her last name in Chezesloviaka
1973 Travels to Europe.
Purchases first photograph from mentor Don Snyder. Don and she begin a 35 year collaboration and intensive correspondence.
Leaves the East Coast that summer to attend Prescott College in Prescott Az.
Has second solo show at the Bofus Gallery of expressionist works; reviewed in the Prescott Courier.
A suite of the artists poetry is published in a Scottland Anthology entitled "Akros."
"Died Playing Amelia Earheart in theatrical productions
show drawing of airplaine
Employment:
Photographic assistant
Life sketching classes
Waitress
Construction
Wood splitter
Art assistant
Fine art model for private artists
THE BERKSHIRES: LENOX, MASS 1971-1973
Seventeen/Eighteen years old.
Meets and befriends Ira Cohen, Don Snyder, Gerald Malanga, Beno Friedman, Jason McWhorter amoung others. Becomes a sought after model for photographers and artists in the region.
Becomes interested in altering and manipulating photographic prints in the darkroom.
First Solo Show of Portraits at the Lenox Library. Reviewed in the Berkshire Eagle. Wins Art Award, graduation, Windsor Mt. 1972. Travels to Europe. Works for renown photographer, Clemens Kalischer at the Image Gallery in Stockbridge, Mass.
1972 Changes her name again to MATUSCHKA
NYC 1974- 1980
NY Years
Employment: Go-GO Dancer in NJ
Taxi Driver in NYC
Various Modeling gigs
traveling to the middle east
traveling on the concord (use illustrations from the camel, jeep and airplane)
Roommates: Mel Odom
1974-1975
Returns to the East Coast
Attends SVA
Studies Painting with Jennifer Barlett.
Continues Studying with Don Snyder.
Models for Pushpin Studios.
Works as a NY Taxi Driver at night.
add part about Oui Magazine
use morgan car by Jeff Dunas
remember Richard Ely and his drawings
Europe & California 1975-1988
1979-1980 Lives in London Working on Memoir
Oui Magazine issues
The Year in Sex- Playboy Magazine
Remember Trangender Drawing: begins androygenous dressing
Remember MUSIC BUSINESS--- invites adds, photos
Early 1990s - Pioneering Work in Photography and Activism
Matuschka's impactful activism began in 1991 when she used her art to address the mismanagement of her breast cancer treatment and the lack of awareness of the disease. She joined and significantly contributed to several breast cancer advocacy groups, employing her art to challenge and change perceptions.Her work caught national attention in 1992 when she participated in numerous demonstrations which Fox Five aired after members of the group W.H.A.M.! were caught wheat-pasting Matuschka’s posters to buildings, trucks, and walls, with her memorable and iconic poster entitled “Vote for Yourself.” Throughout the 90s Matuschka’s iconic photographs appeared in thousands of publications, documentaries, books, TV programs and exhibitions were mounted in Museums and Public Art Centers from Germany to California. During this period, Matuschka was invited to speak at dozens of colleges and universities while receiving over 20 prestigious awards.
2000 – Present
On the Set (1999)
Remember white hot magazine
The Art Full Mind
Other publications?
Works on her archives and ongoing memoir