Over the summer I did a somewhat daily collage practice to help me loosen up a bit, create without overthinking. The only parameter I had was that I kept the size to 8×6 inches. I made 50 collages. One of the collages I made towards the end was one where I used some of my rust ecoprint papers I made in Washington with Kathie last year.
I really liked how it turned out and wanted to try to replicate it at a larger size. I had a 20×16 panel laying around, so I got to work on it. It quickly veered off into a different direction with the alternating stripe columns. Whenever I try to go bigger with a smaller inspiration piece, I never am able to replicate it. It always morphs into something else. Which is a good thing, I think.
When I was trying to think of a title I read several articles about the rusting process. I wonder how long it would take for all the rusted metal on Earth right now to turn into powder and break back down to mineral earth. hmmm.
My most recent creations this past month have really shown how I keep being drawn to bringing rusted papers and salvaged metal into my work. I wonder what’s that all about. Is it just aesthetic or is there something deeper, that I quite haven’t figured out yet?
rust: elemental, mineral, earthy, decay, worn out, heavy, passage of time, metaphor for aging, exposure, impermanence………
i can see how some of the words above can apply to our current times. There is a sense of heaviness, exposure. Reminders of how things that we think are stable, are not. Or maybe it’s more positive- a reminder that nothing lasts forever, and that can actually be a good thing. We all return to the earth, even the most durable of materials. And that these natural processes support life and death and renewal. The earth takes care of itself. There is a cycle to all things.