I was always very curious about who this woman is in the American flag box. I took this photo a long time ago at the Mudd Club and found it. I did not know who she was. It was a mystery. I finally created this website and send it out in the cyber-world. A month passed and I got an email from the mystery woman in the box introducing herself as Jan Long Collins. This is what I found out about her: Jan moved to New York in the 70’s to work as a model. She is in the Amy Arbus' book ON THE STREET. Jan was Amy's muse when she was at the Museum School in Boston. Jan is also in the documentary that John Spellos made about Amy Arbus. Jan modeled in New York throughout the 70‘s and 80‘s and continued to model for painters and photographers. You could spot Jan in a few museums and a lot of art galleries over the years. She married Peter Collins who was in the great New York band the Invaders.
They eventually moved to Boston. They had twin boys Mike and Josh. They're 27 now. She presently is doing some production design work in independent films and props for the Nora Theater. Jan recently wrote me this: “My boys are in some respects a chip off the old block and did whatever I did right along with me. Recently a french artist saw a photo of them in their cowboy and Indian costumes I made them when they were two and used the photo as the basis for a series of screen prints, that made up a show he had in Paris and Belgium....it's funny how these things work out, without ever trying! Mostly I'm Nanny Janny the rock and roll nanny, I take care of the children of local artists and musicians” Look at her myspace page for more information: www.myspace.com/janlong