Like so many my world has grown small this past year. The serendipity, opportunity, and visual variety that have made photography a delight for me for many years have been edited out of my daily existence. I don’t go many places, I haven’t wished to linger when I do, and there’s a certain ease at being on a wander in the world that seems a necessary condition for my favorite kinds of photography which has become entirely alien. It’s hard for me to imagine practicing that particular brand of aimlessness in the world at large right now, so it’s little wonder that my cameras sit.
My desire to wander hasn’t subsided though, and my need for visual variety grows with each passing month of endless sameness. On a lucky chance I saw a friend’s instagram post announcing her excitement at the impending start of a 100 day project in mid- January and decided spur of the moment to join with collage, a medium I’ve done a very little of in the past.
I had a tall stack of pre-cut book boards from some long-abandoned, now forgotten project, a carton of ephemera from my parents’ attic clean-out that I’d deemed both too precious to immediately toss, yet not really worthy of saving in my house where storage space comes at a much higher premium than theirs. So I decided rather quickly and somewhat arbitrarily that these would serve as unifying elements. I made no commitment to share the work, or really do anything other than answer a calling to make something more lasting than a meal, without any necessary purpose and exclusively for myself.
I’ve been both surprised and delighted to find that this project scratches my creative itches: for image making, for wandering (mentally if not physically) and for visual serendipity in a way that is safe yet still affords a kind of escape from my day-to-day routine, much like a photowalk did . . . and I’m sure will again someday.
It will be interesting to me to see if I carry on with these collages when a real life wander is a possibility. But even if I don’t, I believe all of our image-making somehow informs all of our future image-making, in the same way that every book one reads joins the conversation with those that follow.
How have you been tending to your creative impulses? Have you been stoking your the fires with something new or have you managed to carry on photographing through pandemic? I would love to know what is working for you.
Be well,
Debbie
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Hi Debbie! I love these collages! I always admire anyone who can start with a blank piece of paper and create art, one piece or one step, at a time. There is some element of intuition and free-thinking in this type of work that really appeals to me, though it doesn’t come naturally to me. You’ve hit upon a strategy for an artful life that works for me, too. I find it helpful to bounce between creative projects. And I use the word “creative” very broadly. I haven’t picked up my camera this week, but I’ve been deeply immersed in two other projects. Planting my garden in a new raised bed. And working my way through a series of exercises to help improve my mobility and function. Both of these activities feel organic and healing – just as your collage making has been for you. Thank you so much for sharing something a little different!
I think that they are simply wonderful and I’m curious to see which one is your favorite and why. Also, have you thought of creating collages with your own images?
These make me so happy!