Collages On Color Kaleidoscopes

The Collages On Color Kaleidoscopes combine feminine images cut from magazines and advertisements and pairs with cutouts of artworks and floral motifs along with found objects and sewing notions.  These nostalgia-femme works, saturated in color are descendants of the earliest forms of magazine layouts and scrapbooking motifs.  From the ‘commonplace books’ of the 15th century, ‘friendship albums’ of the 16th century, to the yearbooks and friendship books created by 18th and 19th century school girls, which replaced journaling as a way to document their experiences paired with the ephemera and memorabilia from their lives, such as visiting cards, ticket stubs, plants and even trinkets. 

The imagery used here attempts to dissect the cult of domesticity, borrowing items such as a blatantly sexist advertisement, a particularly jarring encyclopedia entry, or a snippet of vintage pornography, which all color our perceived depiction of a woman.  Paired with items from my lineage, such as embroidery thread from my Grandmother or recipes from my Great-Grandmother, these works seek to confront the traditional fixed image of femininity with humor and grace.  

see my process