Collage

I can't remember the first time I made collages, though it was probably sometime in my childhood. Later on it became the way to make a 'zine. Before Photoshop it was photocopy, cut and paste. My friend Frank used to have "collage parties" during which guests would listen to cool music, drink and eat and make collages on poster board by cutting up images from a huge pile of unusual magazines. It was great fun and gave everybody something to do, thus avoiding the dreaded "party scene" where people stand around and feel awkward and don't know what to say to each other or have to get drunk in order to have fun. Now Frank owns Ubu Gallery, which will exhibit a number of collages by local artists, myself included. To the left is "Mnemosyne," the collage that will be included in the show.

Here is another collage:



















Collages are democratic. You don't have to be a great "artist" to make collages. If you can handle scissors and a Glue Stick (if you're really into collage you'll use something like Yes Glue, which doesn't wrinkle the paper, no matter how thin, when applied so that it completely covers the back of the image).

Of course, it's my theory that anyone and everyone can draw or paint. We're all artists. It is only fear (and negative experiences) that holds us back and makes us believe we can't "draw." (Or sing or dance.) Some of the greatest drawings I've seen in classes were the ones by the people who had the most "primitive" styles, sometimes having done no artwork since third or fourth grade in school. Why is that? Because their images were raw and heartfelt; direct; uncluttered by the conventional ways of being taught to "see."

Here's an old collage: