These photos of Rob Ford voodoo dolls at the anti-privatization rally last Saturday caught the eye of many of our readers, so we decided to track down the person who made them. It turns out the crafty culprit is Cleo Halfpenny, a 20-year-old Toronto artisan. Just in case you’re wondering, despite our cover two weeks ago NOW Magazine had nothing to do with their production. You’ll note that all the dolls have their clothes on.
Who are you, what do you do?
I’m not really in school or working, I’m trying to work on my own independent art things. I paint as well.
Where did you get the idea for these dolls?
The Rob Ford dolls were actually my boyfriend’s idea. He told me about it a month ago, and I when found out about the rally on Saturday I started working on them.
Have you sold any voodoo dolls yet?
I sold 16 at the rally, for $20 each.
What are people supposed to do with them?
Well I had this idea that I was going to put catnip in them. But at the rally I sold them with little mapping pins. With every purchase you got ten pins, if you ever got really angry you can just poke him with pins.
Do you really want Rob Ford to experience pain?
It’s all in good fun, but I’m not a big fan of him that’s for sure.
What would you say to someone who said this is mean spirited?
I would just say that it’s better that anyone who particularly feels a lot of hate towards him would get it out in the form of a doll, as opposed to doing anything worse.
How does some one get a hold of one of these dolls?
I usually set up in Kensington Market or on Queen Street. You can also send me an email at cleohalfpenny@gmail.com.
