JoJo Baby documentary produced by Clive Barker Premieres Nov. 6

JoJo Baby, who changed his name from Joe Arguellas in 2007, is the subject of a Clive Barker production Seraphim film directed by Mark Danforth.  JoJo Baby, the documentary, premieres Nov. 6 at the Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark at 5 p.m. as part of Reeling 2010: the 29th Chicago Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

This documentary celebrates the life and art of an artist who grew up in Logan Square and has lived and worked on the corner of Milwaukee and North Avenues for the last ten years. "Jojo is an extraordinary man," says Barker.

According to the film's promotional material, it "... takes a peek into...(his)... colorful and often zany life... we are transported into the mind and world of an artist like none we've ever seen. With his dolls and art filling the space to capacity, Jojo guides us through his creative process all the while opening his heart to a life that has had its share of sadness. A powerful and deeply moving journey, JoJo Baby is a celebration."

Jojo's home and studio are in Gallery 352 in Wicker Park's Flat Iron Building. It is the last of the galleries tucked away on the building's third floor. He describes his space as being the piece of cheese at the end of a maze. (If you have not been in the Flat Iron, this may sound strange. So go over for a First Friday open house or just take a walk through and you will understand.) Appropriately, Jojo has painted the exterior wall of his space as a giant piece of ...you've got it ... Swiss cheese.

"I started out in this building ten years ago on the third floor, in like a broom closet, for about two or three years. I wanted to show people that you did not have to have a huge gallery and white walls, serve wine and cheese and have violins playing. I wanted to show that you could have a nice gallery in a tiny tiny space, " Jojo explains.

"Then I took over the third floor followed by the second floor point space (Milwaukee and North Avenues) for  six years. Earlier this year the building owner, Bob Berger, said that I wasn't commercially viable anymore to have the corner space. I said, 'Well that is interesting because there is this documentary coming out this November about me.'  He said, 'Well great, then you can afford the new rent.' They were raising my rent from $850 to $1500. 'Well we hear you're rich.'  I said, ' I'm not rich. You don't have a documentary and then suddenly you're rich. That might come with appearances afterwards.' Then he said, 'Well if you can not afford the rent then maybe you should stand on the corner and pan handle so you can pay your rent like Jimmy Fitzgerald did.'"

He is not pan handling but Gallery 352 is small. While I have not seen the film as yet, I have had the pleasure and honor of meeting and talking with Jojo in his home. He is a nice creative man, sweet and unassuming with a mission in life...to make others comfortable and happy.

For tickets go to the Reeling Chicago Film Festival website. Also see: "JoJo the person."