Community and collage
The power of creating with others—on World Collage Day, and every day.
If you’d asked me whether I’m an artist three years ago, my answer would probably have been no. Creating has always been a big part of my life, but I looked at it as a hobby, or perhaps just a way of being. (Many in my family have made their living as artists, and so picking up a paintbrush or working on a project is in many ways as natural to me as breathing.)
So what’s changed? Community—a real coterie of collagists that have helped me see my art, and myself, in new ways.
World Collage Day, which was this past Saturday, really brought home the powerful role of community in my art practice. My family and I spent time at several events, and it filled me with joy to reflect on the network of friends and collaborators I’ve begun to build.
First we hit an artist’s reception for the Not Just collage show in Eugene; I met some folks planning community efforts and suggested a few people they could talk to about setting up a collage collective, then snuck some snapshots of work I admired. I texted the photos to a few fellow artists who I knew couldn’t attend, and it was lovely to do for others what so many have done for me: shown me my work in the world, when circumstance prevented me from seeing it myself. What an incredible privilege—not only to see the show, but to share it among friends. And getting other dispatches in kind over the next few days, from the Paper + Post mail art show in Boise and the Coupee Cahier 01 show in Ghent, Belgium, among others, choked me up a bit; we’re all in this together!
Next up was the PNW Collage Collective meetup in Sellwood. True to form, I did a bit more talking than cutting and pasting, but every second was a delight, and the time flew by. At a certain point, overwhelmed by the buzz, I sat outside shooting the breeze and couldn’t help but grin at my luck. Brilliant artists with stories for days. World-class makers I can carpool with. The kindness of a collaborator who not only comes up with the best creative challenges but also offers to shuttle work from one state to another to save me a bit on shipping it home from the gallery it was in.
And then, to cap things off, my family and I headed down the road to the unveiling of work from Exquisite Community, a project helmed by MJ Connors Davison that I was delighted to take part in for a second year. Davison convened 40+ collage artists, sorted into groups of four, to create collaborative creatures in the tradition of the surrealists’ exquisite corpses. To see the serendipitous ways our art calls and responds—often without awareness or conscious action—was truly special.
Social media can be a great resource for finding your people; if not for Instagram’s algorithm, I might have continued toiling ceaselessly in isolation. Follow hashtags related to your interests, or search for artists you admire and let them know how you feel! You can also check out Kolaj’s directory of collage communities for more ideas, with suggestions for groups you can plug into based on geography, interest, etc.
When you’re in the studio, it’s easy to lose sight of the world. I get into my flow and time falls away. But there’s life outside paper and paste, and it is this community that has helped me recognize myself as an artist at all. Perhaps you’re intimidated, or think your work doesn’t measure up. (I’m almost pathologically shy, and I’ll admit that at the first event I attended I mostly lurked and may not have actually spoken to anyone—if I can put myself out there, so can you!) I’m rarely categorical, but let me say: take a chance and try anyway. You’ll learn, you’ll improve, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cut, and you’ll paste. And if you’re lucky enough, you’ll look back after a few years and marvel at what can come from taking a chance, reaching out.
How did you find your artistic community? Or are you still searching? I’d love to hear from you—or about cool local projects you’ve gotten involved in. Drop a line or add a comment!
Where to find my work
NOT JUST: I’m pleased to have 2 pieces in a collage-focused show, Not Just, at Maude Kerns Art Center in Eugene, Oregon. In addition to local and regional artists, the show invited several international collage makers to contribute. We popped down for the opening, and it’s full of stunning work! Check it out if you can.
COLLAGE ARTISTS OF AMERICA: The CAA spring show, “Pushing Boundaries,” is still up at the Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center in Burbank, California. Don’t miss it!
Branching out
I haven’t done any formal marketing of my work before this year; all my sales have been through galleries or private collectors. But that’s changing. I’ve set up an Etsy shop front and listed a few things (starting at just $10 for fine art giclee prints!), and I’m planning to continue exploring more avenues for sharing my work with the world. In coming weeks, I’ll be adding original analog collage, and potentially some ephemera and trinkets, baubles, and gewgaws. Bookmark PastedTogetherArt—keep it in mind for gifts or an anytime treat! And if you’ve sold for years and have any tips or thoughts about platforms, approaches, and what have you, I’m all ears.
Torea What a blast! Almost Pathologically shy is a dead ringer for me— I’m neurodivergent & my art & artistic identity found me the moment I realised it a couple of years back. I also would have toiled in absolute anonymity & isolation if it weren’t for social media—as much as it sucks in other ways! Much like you I’m grateful to start building a community of creatives around myself 🔆
It is the first step that is difficult, once you are out there, ready to mingle ,many doors open!!
Wishing you good luck ! And what is better than doing what you love with people with same passion!