Collage art is the best
I collage because I can’t draw and painting takes too long. Plus I think collaging runs in my blood. My mom’s mom, Alice Eichelberger, was a fine artist and art school teacher in DC in the 50’s and 60’s. I remember going to visit and seeing lots of cut up paper in frames. I admired her very simple, bold style. I will have to get some pics to share with you of her mad decorating skills and her art. She was a DAME and an artist in everything she did. I remember her being very opinionated. She loved butter fanatically. I clearly remember her telling me to put more butter on my bread, which I happily obliged. I feel her blood running in my veins.
my beautiful grandma Alice
So anyway, collage. I don’t really remember doing any of it myself till college maybe, but I don’t really remember it if I did. I do however remember being introduced to some of the greatest artists of all time and my favorites were always the collage artists. Like this guy – Tom Wesselmann. I love his work so much, like superlative squared much. Tom liked to use a lot of name brands and food in his work, but I feel like it’s a million times more compelling than Warhol’s soup cans, you know? Anyway, I adore this stuff:
I mean there is appropriated Mondrian and a faucet in there! how cool is this guy! //image credit : wikipedia
Cigarettes, ham n cheese sub and a glass of milk. how much more American can you get. //image credit : Whitney Museum
Love the pear and roses.. and cigarettes.. ( again!) // image credit: NY Times
Another huge early influence on my budding artist psyche was the monumentally talented Robert Rauschenburg. I remember all of us fibers dept girls (SCAD circa 2000) were crazyyyy for him. He was a master of collage , and not just 2 dimensional. His work got really real, really fast. He was the master and originator of RANDOM. God I love him so much. Check it:
So my exposure to these guys was very impactful but I don’t think I really started collaging until I got out of college and was living in a tiny room in Brooklyn. One of the collage experiences that really stands out in my mind from those days is my New York Times Sunday Edition bag series. I would take the sunday paper, cut up the choicest headlines and images, collage them together and then sew the collages into a bag! I was obsessed with making bags, so everything I did involved bags, even when the bags were never meant to be worn. I did this every sunday for months. I still have these in a closet somewhere. They ARE INSANE. I was insane back then so it makes sense. I wish I had some pics handy for you but I don’t.. maybe in a follow up post..
Making all kinds of bags out of laminated paper is what lead me to create the wallets which eventually became a business I still run to this day. The mind reels… 😉
Collage, college, and grandma: I like how your minds eye and way of bringing it all together
thanks so much !!!
Hello Jamila. It’s me, your ole’ cheatin’ boyfriend(I’m forever sorry about that, I am). Twenty years later I curiously google your name and find these beautiful collages, but what about these spherical artworks of yours?
john anglin! great to hear from you on this blog of all places. hows life? which spherical art works do you refer to? my mandalas? thanks for reminding me.. i am going to do a post on those soon. wishing you the best old friend !
Key West; New York; Los Angeles; Hollywood!!!…dang girl!!!
How appropriate that you are named Starwater :-)!!
I wish you the very best as well!
P.S. I’m going to Russia this summer and I Intend to place an order with you for a passport holder, luggage tags, novelty fun (lol), and more! One more thing–>(I must know the title of the song at the end of your video , please, what is it?)
До тех пор, старый друг!
…this video on vimeo: http://vimeo.com/9974187 : Behind The Scenes with Jamila
how cool ! email me your order directly and i will make sure you get an extra gift ! and yeah i’m super grateful for my parents creative naming skills :)))))))
omg that video still makes me laugh . the music is Rod Stewart’s “Hot Legs” – the intro before he starts the vocals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY2WIFGQttE
sooo fantastic
‘not sure about Rod’s choice of shoes in this video (just kidding). I suppose celebrities could get away with that kind of thing in the ’80’s!
When are you going to do a post on your mandalas? I am looking forward reading it!