Philadelphia CollageWorks
 4”x4”; paper and oil pastels on a wooden panel. Courtesy of the artist. Philadelphia CollageWorksPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, USA HISTORYA longtime subscriber of Kolaj Magazine, Annie Stone started Philadelphia CollageWorks after being inspired by an article about a collage group that met regularly in New Orleans. In 2019 Stone organized the first Philadelphia World Collage Day in collaboration with InLiquid and used it as an opportunity to take names of those interested in being part of a collage group. Afterward, she reached out to several other art organizations in Philadelphia. She asked them to put out the word to their collage artists’ members so they could be invited to gather for the group’s first meeting in her apartment. Many artists at that first meeting are still members and have helped build a strong and vibrant collective of people of all ages, experience, and training. MISSIONPhiladelphia CollageWorks (PCW) is a members’ collective for creating, studying, and appreciating collage, assemblage, and mixed media. PCW’s purpose is to nurture a supportive environment where artists of all levels are free to create, explore, and experiment. PCW is committed to promoting collage as a respected creative expression through engaging in individual and collective exhibitions and community outreach.  8”x8”x0.75”; mixed media collage. Courtesy of the artist. ASSOCIATIONSeveral PCW members belong to various other organizations including InLiquid, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Artessa Alliance, Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Tri-State Artists Equity, and Art Sisters among others. JOINTo become involved, anyone who collages that is relatively local to Philadelphia can join the group by contacting Stone. Members post on Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #philadelphiacollageworks.  12”x12”; salvaged fabric and cotton thread. Courtesy of the artist. KEY ACTIVITIESPhiladelphia CollageWorks meets monthly, either online or in person, depending on circumstances. Attendance ranges from 10 to 17 members, where they work on collage, discuss techniques, share experience, knowledge, and ideas about collage, visit members’ studios, and have discussions on various topics regarding how they can grow and move forward as collage artists personally and as a group. The group also works on projects that have been exhibited, with specific themes, such as “Block Party” where members collaborated with one another in teams of 3 to 4 members, working on square cradle boards and creating each team’s definition of a block party as well as their single-color small collages that eventually took the form for their “Rainbow Show” representing the LGBTQ flag of Philadelphia that included over 500 collages. PCW is currently working on submitting proposals to showcase a 2-year project called the “Voices of Diversity: Connecting Through Collage” which consists of 440 5” square collages made at 18 events that were held at 14 organizations and venues to represent the diversity of the Philadelphia community that will be hung together for display. CONTACT 8”x8”; mixed media on wooden panel. Courtesy of the artist. |