Collages

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I have long been a collector of paper, and it helped inspire my collage practice.  In this digital age, paper has taken on a new meaning for me.  It has always been appealing because of its color, texture, image and function.   As I watch the decline of its usefulness, I recognize its historical and sometimes sentimental significance.  Often my collages represent a preservation of memories.  My work sometimes includes relics of the past such as remnants of piano player paper, handwritten ledgers and cursive script.  In the process of layering this ephemera, my arrangement of mixed paper creates order out of chaos.

I have an appreciation for all kinds of paper. Some is found material, while other has been created or altered through painting, staining or mark making. In the process of making a collage, I sort the paper based on color, texture or image. The pieces are often torn or cut, and as I layer them, corresponding or contrasting colors develop  relationships with each other. Sometimes the pieces are chosen with care, carefully placed depending on composition or color; at other times, they are randomly situated. I search for  patterns while discarding or covering some layers and protecting others.