ThroughLines Exhibition Opening / Views

I'm loving having this series of collages on the walls at Spark Gallery... I always gain perspective on my work by standing back and studying it.

My artist statement for the ThroughLines collages:Recurring issues can confront and confound us, occupying our thoughts. Technology distracts us with incoming stimulation. Daydreams intrude...These collages are visual riffs on all that we carry within: explorations of the processes in our minds as we address issues of bandwidth, multitasking and overwhelm—alongside goals of simplicity, mindfulness and purpose.Each collage represents a moment in time, full of multi-layered and competing thoughts, hopes, fears, dreams, and memories—all moving forward and influencing each other—glimpses of the landscape of my mind.The collages are made from ripped strips of contemporary repurposed paper using a wet working technique.

ThroughLines exhibition on a quiet evening.

For those who were unable to be at the opening of my show at Spark Gallery, click below for a quick tour of my show as installed.[embed]https://youtu.be/rcNdlxrYNq8[/embed]To see each collage in detail, view the ThroughLines: Virtual Exhibition on my website. Pour yourself a glass of wine (or beverage of choice) and see the whole show at your leisure!If you have questions or are interested in adding one of the collages to your collection, please get in touch. Cheers!

ThroughLines show prep

ThroughLines collages drying in the studio after varnish application.

Sideview: ThroughLines collages lined up and ready to box for transport to gallery.

I've been working steadily on collages for my ThroughLines show... recent weeks have included looking hard at them and making any last minute adjustments to the artwork. Then I varnish each one with a UV-resistant matte finish, adding hanging hooks/wires and title/care/inventory labels.All of the work has been sent out to be digitally captured so that I have high-resolution, color-corrected files that could be used to print the images as enlargements, should there be interest in using the work that way.It's amazing how much time goes into the unseen aspects of making art, not to mention marketing.Hanging begins on Monday. It seems odd to be able to get all the work for a whole show into just a few boxes, but all the work is small this time, just 10 x 10 x .75." Having never hung a whole show of such small work in such a large space, I'm really excited to see how it will look on the walls! As always before a show, I have a little trepidation, too -- but hopefully they will be like little jewels, drawing people in to look at them more carefully. I haven't been able to see the collages all together, with adequate white space between them, so I'll certainly enjoy studying the work from a distance once it's hung.Here's hoping some of you can drop into Spark Gallery in Denver to see the work. The show begins September 20 and runs through October 14. The opening reception is Friday, September 21 from 6-9pm. You're invited! And if you can't make it, I'll be updating my website prior to the show opening so that you'll be able to view the finished series there.

Keeping things glued together...

The latest issue of my studio newsletter went out this week. You can read it here or, to receive it directly every other month via email, please subscribe by leaving your email in box at left.

The envelope(s), please

Handwriting contributed by my Dad... nice counterpoint to the commercial mail!

The wall of envelopes in context at Spark Gallery.

As part of the "Overlooked Archives" exhibition, I incorporated a wall of envelopes as a background for my artist statement (a short explanation of the work). I wanted something textural as a counterpoint to the collages, all under glass this time.

The envelopes also served as a visual reference for where some of the collage elements originated. I love the patterns in security envelopes and wanted viewers to stop and consider them. I even included an envelope addressed to me by my Dad, in his amazing backhanded script, as an unspoken nod to him. One realization I had while working with all this mail is that very little of it is personal, most of it is commercial — so I loved it when something with actual handwriting arrived! Thanks, Dad :)

Here is the actual text from my statement about the show...

Overlooked Artifacts

An exhibition of collages made from each day’s mail during a three month period.

We are subject to such an assault of visual input that it’s no wonder the printed materials in our lives, many of them unrequested, become a blur.

Delivered... I’ve attempted to transform the remnants of discarded and unanticipated  mailed imagery into elegant little jewels. This series of 75 collages is intended to capture the incremental passage of time and encourage a fresh look at the incoming paper stream.

Dissected… Exploring the inherent beauty of salvaged color and form that’s been liberated, literally ripped, from its original context has been both a joy and a challenge. Some days the postal pickings were slim, other days potential ingredients were abundant, and on a few sad days (and Sundays), there was nothing in the mailbox. No mail, no collage.

Reimagining form… On March 1st the only item in the mailbox addressed to me was a postcard from Bed Bath & Beyond—perhaps you’ll recognize it!

Enjoy,

Janice McDonald