FROM KOLAJ #19
International Collage Exchange
Dale Copeland, a collage and assemblage artist in Puniho, New Zealand, has been a lot of things in her life: A math and physics teacher, a mother, a web page writer, a martial artist. For nearly two decades, she has been the force behind an International Collage Exchange. Originally called “Bakers Dozen”, Cecil Touchon started the exchange in 1999 when he was living in Mexico. Because his mail was so unreliable, Copeland offered to take over running it. “The number of artists taking part grew from about twenty up to a maximum of 188, usually about 100,” said Copeland. “It’s a lot of work keeping track of thirteen collages from each of that many artists, making fair exchanges, keeping a meticulous database of where each one goes.” But she does.
This article originally appeared in Kolaj #19. For more news from the world of collage, Subscribe or Get a Copy of the print magazine.
Here’s how it works: Artists each make thirteen collages no bigger than an A4 sheet of paper and ship them to Taranaki, New Zealand before 20 August 2017. One of the collages will be exhibited and for sale at the Percy Thomson Gallery in Stratford, New Zealand (and online). Another collage is included in a month-long exhibition in September and then donated to an art institution. Past institutions have included The Verbeke Foundation in Belgium, University of Wisconsin in the United States, and the Museum of South Taranaki in New Zealand, among others. The remaining collages are included in the exchange. Each participating artist gets a dozen collages (or eleven and the proceeds of the sales if their collage sells). Details about participation can be found at outofsight.co.nz.
This article originally appeared in Kolaj #19. For more news from the world of collage, Subscribe or Get a Copy of the print magazine.
Image (top): Almost There by Kathlyn Moss, Naalehu, Hawaii, USA (2016)
Image (centre): The Grand Cuckoo Na Na by Carl Fairweather, Hawera, New Zealand