“Creativity is paradoxical. To create, a person must have knowledge but forget the knowledge, must see unexpected connections in things but not have a mental disorder, must work hard but spend time doing nothing as information incubates, must create many ideas yet most of them are useless, must look at the same thing as everyone else, yet see something different, must desire success but embrace failure, must be persistent but not stubborn, and must listen to experts but know how to disregard them."
― Michael Michalko
The latest collage news and inspiration!
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NEWS
In-person open studio collage experience with Julia Volonts from Art Therapy Lab who you might know from her bi-monthly CUT IT OUT collage as therapy workshops here on PCC. She’s in Europe for the summer and will be in Berlin in August. All info below…
Over the past few years, I’ve grown a deep appreciation for collage art. I’ve always enjoyed art whether it be through writing, film or photography. But I found the idea of taking parts of photos and words and other objects to create one larger piece fascinating - North Carolina collage artist sees his craft as self-care - via reckon
From intricate, laser-cut tendrils to vibrantly patterned collages, a new exhibition at The Torggler in Newport News, Virginia, explores the vast potential of a conventionally utilitarian material. Possibilities of Paper brings together thirteen artists from around the U.S. and Canada who have developed practices centered around experimentation and precision, employing a diverse range of techniques and styles that transform an everyday medium into elaborate works of art - Against the Ream: An Expansive Exhibition Invites Thirteen Artists to Explore the Vast ‘Possibilities of Paper’ - via Colossal
The British visual artist talks to us about creating large-scale collages to accompany an immersive exhibition in Brooklyn, which pays tribute to hip hop icon Jay-Z - Jazz Grant creates colossal mural for a colossus of rap - via Creative Review
Some people want to restrict access to historical records. The website was really important so that people anywhere could get a hold of this poem. They didn’t have to buy the book. You’d also have a very different experience; the digital version gives you sound, movement, and a different sense of coloration, while the physical book focuses on the material fragments. The collages in the book speak to the material record that is in tatters around Chinese history, and pretty much any of the railroad workers’ histories - Paisley Rekdal by Kenneth Tam - via Bomb magazine
I don’t start as a collage maker, but as a Buddhist scholar and practitioner. When I create these works, I tend to read them through the matrix of ideas I already inhabit—those of Buddhist philosophy. But the start of this process had absolutely nothing to do with Buddhism. I was on a train from London to Devon in 1995, and I put the stuff in my pockets and bag out on the table. And suddenly I thought: this rubbish could become not rubbish, not stuff that I would otherwise throw away, disregard, reject. That was the primary trigger for beginning the process of organizing found material and making these collages - On Collages and Color - via Tricycle
PCC: A selection of challenge submissions from last week is up on our website and can be seen here, the image prompt for next week is available to download here
FROM THE ARTIST DIRECTORY - OLD & NEW
LEANNE LONGWILL
I create both analog and digital collages. I also create mixed media pieces and story boxes. My process may begin with a topic I have researched extensively, or it may just happen intuitively with materials that I have on hand. I often use papers I have printed, vintage magazines, ephemera, maps, botanical elements, watercolor, and photographs. My subjects are often abstract landscapes or female images. The female images inspire me to create backstories for them that are often in juxtaposition of the images themselves.
More here
DARIA SOROKINA
In my collage artworks I try to capture people’s emotions, their movements, their physical location in space and position in time.
Some of the elements used in the collages can be seen more often than others. I try to illustrate volumetric effects using the system of perspective, architectural elements as arches, that embody and symbolize many things: strength and support, lightness and openness within density, signify a period of transition – a passage from where one moves to another place; Stairs associate with journey, progress, and growth, and not just in terms of the physical act, but also in terms of the emotional and spiritual connotations. The pictures of hands represent the “tool of tools.” In general, it’s power and protection. However, it can just as easily mean generosity, hospitality and stability. I also prone to use pictures of flowers that symbolize beauty, love, anticipation and hope.
To me collage is not just about combining different pictures all together, it’s very similar to meditation. In this process you let your inner world become visible to others. That’s a very intimate approach and it is also, in my opinion, a reflection of pure magic.
More here
LES JONES
The thing I love the most about collage is that each piece is a journey where the destination is unknown until it is finally arrived at. My role is to follow the path and make decisions at each turning or crossroads. Often, the placing of one element, colour or brushstroke will dictate the direction of the piece and its ultimate meaning. Randomness and chance play a large part in the creative process as does my mood on the day. Some pics are calmer and more ordered, others are more abstract and are driven by emotion and feeling.
I’m always surprised and intrigued by what emerges. My goal is to create images that can be viewed on different levels, where the interpretation is left to the viewer. I also strive to produce images that are able to withstand multiple viewings - revealing elements, patterns and textures over time.
More here
MIREN STEEL
I am on my way to move from an almost-Diogenes tendency to a minimalist approach to life. Collage is the key to such a path. It helps me to declut, filter and bring to a new life what is left over from my Chaos, creating my new Cosmos.
In my collages there is no “premeditation”, they just happen. I find it funny to analyze my own subconscious and see that I’m always prone to social criticism, even if apparently it’s not meant to be like that, at first.
More here
If you have any news about exhibitions, publications or events you want so share with the community, please send an email with all relevant information and at least one link to a website or venue to: hello@pariscollagecollective.com
Hi! can you please help me find the photo that was the challenge, of a woman's face from the side. She looked almost like Greta Garbo. I have been searching for two hours and can't seem to locate it. Please send to inayalof@gmail.com. I need to know the week so I can see the submissions. Thanks so much. ina