Introduction

The continuing art adventures of Doofus and the Duck and their Company of players, as created by my wonderful wife Emma during the never-ending time of COVID-19 pandemic continuing now for a fourth year into 2023. This is the twenty-seventh instalment of works, the Company remaining at the height of their creative endeavours.

Without further ado, back to the Doofus and the Duck…

October 2023 (cont.)

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the 45th anniversary of the first broadcasting of the award-winning, multi-part radio play by the BBC and as part of the Company’s on-going collection of Classical Movie Poster, their tableau of a theatrical release poster for the science fiction comedy film, directed by Garth Jennings, based on the television series which was based on the books of the radio play, entitled “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Universal Everyman, Dent Arthur Dent; and featuring the Purple Hippo as Marvin the Paranoid Android, with the Dolphin and the Bowl of Petunias as themselves

Exceedingly hoopy! Well done, those froods!

Doofus and the Duck present, in commemoration of the 806th anniversary of English King Henry III sealing the Charter of the Forest allowing free men rights of access to the royal forests and the 207th anniversary of the birth of noted Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax, their tableau of a work by an unknown artist of the love interest of medieval minnesinger, Herr Kristan von Hamle, entitled “Codex Manesse folio 71v,” featuring the Purple Hippo as The Coat of Arms

Excellent work from Doofus and the Duck (and it is lovely to see the Duck back in action!). Outstanding!

November 2023

Doofus and the Duck present, in celebration of the 300th anniversary of the first performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s cantata for the 24th Sunday after Trinity, “O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort” (BWV.60), an allegorical dialogue between Fear and Hope, their tableau of the central panel of a triptych by Spanish/Mexican surrealist María de los Remedios Alicia Rodriga Varo y Uranga (known as Remedios Varo), entitled “Embroidering the Earth’s Mantle (1961),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Personification of Time and Authority; and featuring the Purple Hippo, the Little Sheep, the Little Cheetah, and the Little Penguin as The Weaving Girls

Beautifully conceived and executed by the Company, this work by the much under-appreciated Varo, is wonderfully atmospheric yet retains its essential allegorical richness. Super!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the 50th anniversary of the death of the English scholar and author John Ronald Reuel Tolkien and in celebration of Internation Hobbit Appreciation Day, their tableau of a book cover illustration by the 20th century Swedish-Finnish author, novelist, painter, and illustrator Tove Marika Jansson, entitled “Bilbo en Hobbits Äventyr (The Hobbit)(1962),” starring The Purple Hippo as Bilbo Bungosson Mighty Warrior; and introducing The Glass Chinese Dragon as Smaug the Great

Wicked!

Doofus and the Duck present, in commemoration of both the 160th anniversary of US President Abraham Lincoln delivering the “Gettysburg Address” and the 203rd anniversary of a sperm whale attacking and sinking the US whaling ship Essex, their tableau of a work by 20th century African-American painter, illustrator, and educator Aaron Douglas, part of a commission by the Works Progress Administration for a mural of four panel for the walls of the 135th Street Branch of the New York Public Library whose overall subject was “Aspects of the Negro Life,” entitled “Song of the Towers (1934),” featuring the Little Cheetah as Escape of Former Slaves; the Little Sheep as The Economic Hardships of African-Americans; and the Little Penguin as Lady Liberty

A lovely and delightful interpretation of this important and moving mural, with excellent work by Doofus and fine supporting work by the little Company members. We look forward to seeing more from this important, though largely now forgotten, giant of the Harlem Renaissance. Excellent!

Doofus and the Duck present, in celebration of the 266th anniversary of the birth of English poet, painter, and printmaker, and seminal Romantic, William Blake and the 104th anniversary of Lady Astor, the American-born British politician, being elected and becoming the first woman to sit in the House of Commons, their tableau of a work by 20th century English surrealist Marion Elizabeth Adnams, entitled “L’infante égarée (1944).”

Magnificent work by Doofus in this wonderful depiction of a work by a somewhat forgotten, though impressive, artist. Fantastic!

December 2023

Doofus and the Duck present, in preparation for the on-rushing Yule-tide Season and in commemoration of the 370th anniversary of the proclaiming of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, their tableau of a recent work by American artist and photographer Ed Wheeler, inspired by the masterpiece by Italian Renaissance painter Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi (Botticelli), entitled “The Birth of Santa (2023?),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as That Jolly Fellow, Saint Nick, known by all as Santa Claus (or the Fellow from the Coca-Cola 1931 ad campaign); featuring The Purple Hippo and the Little Sheep as Happy Little Elves; and introducing the Tiny Reindeer as Rudolph the Happy Reindeer

Well! That really is something! Jolly!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of the Christmas 2023 Celebration Series and in honour of the 180th anniversary of the first publication of English author Charles John Huffman Dicken’s seminal novella “A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas,” their tableau of a fictional work by Dutch 20th century painter and theoretician, Piet Mondrian (influnced by Ed Wheeler), entitle “after Tableau No. IV - Lozenge Composition (1924/1925),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Chief Christmas Elf; and featuring the Purple Hippo, the Little Sheep, and the Little Penguin as The Minions

More Christmas wonder from the Company. One can only wonder at the merch opportunities! Bravo!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their Christmas 2023 Celebration Series and in honour of the Winter Solstice and its associated festivals, their tableau, once more in the style of US satirist Ed Wheeler, of an allegorical work by Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer, entitled “The Art of Christmas (c.1666),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Great and Mighty Artist Himself; and featuring China Baby as The Allegory

We continue to laugh! Well done!

Doofus and the Duck present, as a continuation of their Christmas 2023 Celebration Series and in recognition of the 178th anniversary of the United States annexing the Republic of Texas and admitting it as the 28th state, their tableau of an Yuletide homage to the iconic photo by Charles Clyde Ebbets taken during the construction of the Rockefeller Center, entitled “Christmas Lunch atop a Skyscraper (1932),” featuring The Little People as the Happy Lunching Christmas Serfs

Again, excellent work! Bon bon, indeed!