Covid Collage Project

Exhibit Label: When I came up with this concept, I was extremely concerned about my friends and neighbours who had lost their jobs and were struggling to pay bills and buy groceries. I wanted to give back in some way and help those in need through my artwork - so I endeavored to create a social art project where people could "buy" my collages through making donations to their local food banks. I created a schedule where I would make a collage and then post to my Instagram, encouraging people to trade a collage for food. This worked well - I "sold" many of the collages and raised over 3000 dollars for local food banks. People could donate any amount they wanted. Most people donated between 50 and 100 dollars per collage. These collages express my feelings towards the pandemic using magazines, glitter paper, leftover wrapping paper, and gift bags. I also employed some art tape and fluorescent craft papers in the process. The creative process involved me playing and experimenting. I would finish a collage and put it on the wall, then step back and see what worked aesthetically. Then, I would push those approaches in the ensuing collages. This allowed the work to develop "in process" on my office wall. Through this approach, a 'style' and 'visual vocabulary' began to emerge. --Label design by exhibit curator Nancy DeJoy. Labels written by Ben Lash and his team in consultation with artist statements.