Speaking of Collage Art
A collage works in the same way a dream does. It’s a visual snapshot of various symbolic images that can bypass the brain’s process time and convey a lot of information at once. ~ Colleen Redman
1. The above and the following are a few selected photos of my Asheville Potter son’s collage journal. Josh has had to work with others to design specially made books to accommodate his collaged journal pages. The books expand as he adds to them.
2. I’ve been drawn to collage art for as long as I can remember. I had been doing rudimentary collages for many years, while putting together photo albums and baby books for my sons, but I wasn’t really inspired and didn’t recognize the potential of collage as a creative way to record one’s life until I saw Josh’s journals.
3. My first attempt at collage journaling myself was done as I approached the age of 50. It was a chronicle of my life thus far in colorful bits and pieces. Some photos of that are HERE.
4. Neither Josh nor I tend to buy special items for collage. We prefer to use found items and recycled scraps of our lives. The story of how Josh first became a collage journal artist is HERE.
5. One can work through personal issues by creating art, collage included. Some of Josh’s pages are too personal to post here. Some are almost too personal for me to look at, but I love reviewing his latest work and so far he still lets me. But doesn’t all art come with the risk of having the personal exposed? Doesn’t all art reflect what is deeply inside the artist who made it? (The above is an early collage, one I have always loved.)
6. Josh is a hard worker and an inspired artist. I think he has over a dozen collage journals. He usually weaves the creative work of making them into all parts of his life. But lately building the Community Temple wood-fired kiln, making pots, and having two firings back-to-back has been his full time art. You can see that art HERE..
More collage posts HERE.
~ Colleen Redman
October 6th, 2007 8:05 pm
I have to say that I approach collage art in a whole new way now than I did when I was in primary school many months ago: I hated it then! But now that I have two small children, who can explore being artistic with fewer emotional suitcases attached, I am enjoying sharing it with them!
Michele sent me this time,
N.
October 6th, 2007 9:59 pm
Josh is an artist in all areas of his life, I think, and so are you, Colleen. I love both your journal pages.
October 6th, 2007 11:32 pm
I have a dear friend who makes collage journals and she loves making them. It’s a wonderful art form and journal format. I may have to try it!
October 7th, 2007 8:17 am
I love these collage journals–both your and Josh’s. I can imagine how much these will mean to future generations of your family!
October 7th, 2007 8:44 am
Collage journaling is just so fascinating and time consuming. I was linked at one time to a girl who does it full time, and alas I lost the link- this is why I am too disjointed to be a collaging journalist !!
October 7th, 2007 9:10 am
I’ve been doing this for years…I didn’t even know it had a name! Art was considered “wasted time” when I was growing up, so anything creative was done in secret. Yours and Josh’s collage journals are just stunning Colleen!
October 7th, 2007 12:54 pm
Oh wow, Colleen, those are stunning! I’d completely forgotten about collage art when I finally, after many years went back to playing with form, texture and colour – you’ve given me a wonderful reminder, I think I might play with collage again. Thank you!
October 7th, 2007 12:57 pm
these are beautiful pieces. I love the ones in the post bleow this too but these are really gorgeous.
All the best from Atlanta
October 7th, 2007 12:58 pm
these are beautiful pieces. I love the ones in the post bleow this too but these are really gorgeous.
All the best from Atlanta
October 7th, 2007 1:33 pm
wow! josh’s collages are very impressive… a far cry from the ones my sister and i did in high school (the last time i have done one).
this might just inspire me to start trying it again….
October 7th, 2007 1:56 pm
Amazing.
My father-in-law wanted me to read a short story of his. I skimmed it, all too aware that he was showing me far more of his inner life than he intended, which I suspected – and resisted reading, for a long time. Which is why I do not make a point of my friends reading my blog. We no doubt do not see your son as clearly in the collages as you do, unaware as we are of the references and context. Still, good of you to protect his privacy, while still sharing his artistry.
October 7th, 2007 2:22 pm
I love these. I do collages all the time but like my writing never really think to post them online. The “Seathrough” collage has to be my favourite of the ones posted here. Probably because I have such a deep attachment to water. Thank you for sharing. XINE
October 8th, 2007 6:57 am
I first looked at the title of this post and wondered why you were posting about college art…
Let me echo the previous comments, these collages are amazing, even tho we cannot know the depth or meaning of the collages as you do. You have to be proud of your son for being so creative, and for being able to express himself so profoundly. But it is obvious that he is definitely a chip off the old block…. not that you’re old, gee that didn’t come out right!
Thanks for sharing these great collages!
October 8th, 2007 3:24 pm
Cool stuff! At first my tired CFS brain saw this as College Art and I wondered if you had taken art at college!
March 8th, 2010 5:22 am
[…] Post notes: More of Josh collages are posted HERE. […]
March 6th, 2012 3:37 pm
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