I've been creating a series of collages on canvas created from my linoleum block and woodblock prints, gouache, spray paint, and history notes from my great aunt Fannie. The notes detail how Americans tell world history- through wars, the creation and crossing of borders between communities, of rulers and wanna be kings. There are also moments great and small where people push together against the odds, to change the world at important and critical moments. The prints I used in the collages feature cats collaborating in the midst of fragments of words and flowers. There is a block print of a king cake (galette des roi) in the upper left corner, which sprouts a colorful flower from a broken tree branch. The word fragments include cut up phrases of my other prints including "find your morel center," "considering other people is what is most important in life," and "give love." I want people to see their own narrative in these pieces, and find hidden metaphors and references, so I won't describe it completely. As I was creating this, I was thinking about the balance between creation and destruction, about building from ruins, and how to center community when things feel like they are falling apart. This is an offset print of a linoleum block print collage titled "Pour l'amour de la galette du roi." Translated from French, it means, "For the love of king cake."
Image description: There is a large purple and pink striped cat resting on it's side. Three smaller cats in red and purple stripes are wearing masks and climbing on and around the larger cat. There is a brightly colored spray painted sky in the background. Next to the cats is a white striped disk representing a king cake. From it sprouts a broken branch with a bright orange flower. There are cut up phrases on the ground around the cats.
Detail of image:
