More Collage Experiments and other Musings

Listening: NPR Tiny Desk Concerts

During the morning show on CBC, one of the hosts mentioned that she had recently listened to a concert on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. I wasn’t familiar with the platform, so I decided to check it out. Tiny Desk Concerts are “intimate concerts, recorded live at NPR music headquarters.” What a great discovery! There are some lovely live performances on this site. The concerts are intimate, creative, and have a unique, relaxed vibe. It reminded me a little of Live from Daryl's House (also worth checking out), a show featuring singer-songwriter Daryl Hall performing with his band and an array of guest artists at his house in New York. Like Tiny Desk, it’s an informal, creative setting focused on having fun and making great music.

A good place to start is Ryan Leslie’s Tiny Desk Concert, although they’re all worth a listen if you can find the time. You can check out his performance here: Ryan Leslie Tiny Desk Concert.

Inspiration: Kim-Lee Kho

Lately, I’ve become more interested in multidisciplinary, multimedia, and collage artists. One artist I recently discovered is Kim-Lee Kho, a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. As she states in her artist's statement, her work explores “personal experience as a gateway to broader human concerns and experiences.” Her unique approach is just one of the many artists that have inspired me recently. You can explore her work here: Kim-Lee Kho.

Some accordion books with collage covers which I started during the workshop and completed in my studio. I like to incorporate quotes and poetry which I've done with some of the accordions and pamphlet journals below.

A details of two accordion structure showing the text inserts. The accordion in the left photo has a painted inside cover and the photo on the right has a collaged inside cover.

Another Coptic binding, detail of front cover and binding (left photo) and a collage detail on the inside cover (right photo). The spine of each signature has a decorative flap which folds around the signature, painted on both sides.

A Coptic binding, detail of front cover and binding (left photo) and a collage detail on the inside cover (right photo). The spine of each signature has a decorative flap which folds around the signature, painted on both sides.

Some single signature journals with a pamphlet stitch. The covers include collage and paint techniques.

Learning: My Experience at Toronto School of Art

In August, I attended a four-day course at the Toronto School of Art (TSA). Though I’ve known about TSA for many years, this was my first opportunity to take a workshop at the school. The course, led by artist and instructor Donnely Smallwood, provided a nice dive into collage techniques.

It took me a little time to loosen up, but by the second day, I found myself in a flow, experimenting without worrying about the outcome. We explored a variety of collage techniques, using an array of materials, and I had the chance to play with incorporating text and image transfers using packing tape, which was a lot of fun. Donnely created a welcoming environment that encouraged experimentation, and set aside time for the class to view and discuss each other’s work, which provided further inspiration. A fellow participant, an architect from Prince Edward County, was working on beautiful organic collage landscapes inspired by the meadows around her home.

Although the course was focused on collage journaling, I also made several collage book structures. It was refreshing to be back in an in-person setting, with lots of creative energy from the other workshop participants adding to the experience. TSA has been in its current location since 2018, and it’s a lovely space: a renovated loft with high ceilings, large windows, and plenty of natural light—a perfect environment for creativity.

Since the course, I’ve continued to explore the techniques I learned and have completed several new book structures with collage covers (you’ll see some of these in the photos below).