Dr. John J. Vollmerhausen

A portrait series of the six different oncologists Joyce had, each designed to resemble a 1970’s baseball card. Beginning with Joyce’s Stage I diagnosis in 1995 and continuing to the end of her treatment in 2020, the number of cards highlights the uniqueness of Joyce’s journey (not a lot of folks can say that they’ve had six oncologists). Each card showcases her doctor’s differing approaches to care, and reveals the elevated status that each had in Joyce’s imagination – a kind of celebrity, famous or infamous.

Dr. John J. Vollmerhausen

Her first doctor, Vollmerhausen (or “Dr. V”), made such a little impression on Joyce that she couldn’t remember what he looked like, recalling only his constant descriptions of his African safari trip, his negative opinion of chemotherapy (“If I had cancer, I would never do chemo”), and his own untimely demise from cancer. As such, Dr. V’s face is featureless and he wears a giraffe-skin coat. He is depicted not in a doctor’s office but on his beloved savannah, unaware of the danger creeping towards him through the brush.

Cody Blocker has known the Mallonees since his adolescence. He and Alex have worked together on everything from film posters to hybrid film screening/art shows, even a rap music video for their sixth grade math class about the powers of fractions. Cody has also done work for several of Joyce’s clients. When he’s not busy working with the Mallonees, Cody is an award-winning illustrator and digital painter whose work frequently graces the customized posters for the historic Fillmore in San Francisco. Both of Cody’s grandfathers passed away after long battles with cancer, and in 2017 Cody’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a prolonged chemotherapy treatment and two mastectomies, she is now cancer-free. Cody is extremely grateful for the oncologists and surgeons who helped save his mother’s life.

Website: codyblocker.com
Instagram: @codyblockerstudio