CALL TO ARTISTS
Collage the Planet: Trash as Material
A five-day, in-person collage artist residency in New Orleans
Virtual Sessions:
Saturday, 11 October 2025, 11AM-1PM EDT
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 7-9PM EDT
In Person:
10AM on Monday, 20 October to 3PM on Friday, 24 October 2025
Early Deadline to Apply: Sunday, 31 August 2025
Final Deadline to Apply: Sunday, 14 September 2025
You can call it refuse or detritus or reclaimed materials or recycling or you can call it what it is, Trash. In collage, materials are never neutral. From how they are sourced to how they are used, the material a collage is made of shapes the story and experience of the artwork. During the “Collage the Planet: Trash as Material Artist Residency,” artists will develop a practice of using trash as materials and make artwork for an exhibition at Kolaj Institute Gallery in New Orleans.
PROSPECTUS
The premise of the “Collage the Planet: Trash as Material Artist Residency” is that science has the capacity to tell us how to care for the planet, but those solutions are meaningless if humanity doesn’t care enough to evolve and change. Art is a unique technology that can distill complexity into simple human gestures that, when experienced, facilitate a deeper understanding of our world. In short, art can be a tool for caring. What role can artists play in sorting through the complex social, political, and economic dynamics that shape our discourse around the environment and leave us feeling confused and powerless? How do we sort through such complexity and develop an understanding for ourselves of what an ethical and healthy relationship with the natural world could be? What is the relationship between our individual choices and the systemic change needed to bring humanity’s relationship with the natural world into harmony? How do we move beyond rhetoric, cliche, and performative actions and towards meaningful change?
In this five-day, in-person residency, collage artists will create work that explores environmentalism in art and make artwork that contributes to a broader dialogue on sustainability and ecological consciousness. Residents will reflect on the balance between human activity and the environment and explore strategies to draw attention to issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the impact of industrialization on our planet. This residency is particularly important to New Orleans, a city deeply connected to its natural surroundings and witness to ecological challenges and natural disasters that have left indelible marks on its landscape and community
GUEST SPEAKERS
Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom artist and Kolaj Institute Artist in Residence Jodie House will present her project, “Discarded & Caught”, inspired by plastic bags and other litter caught in roadside bramble in the English countryside. The series invites the viewer “into the complicated relationship humans have with the world they use.” House gathers litter and then works the refuse into an artwork and then places that artwork back into the landscape. The photographs of the locative collage are the final realization of the artwork. Artists in the Residency will be invited to take part in the project.
Jill Stoll‘s Consumer Cloth Project asks, “How can we reconcile our addiction to consumerism and be safekeepers of our planet at the same time?” Stoll collects cardboard waste from “bodegas and restaurant dumpsters”, trolls “the neighborhood on garbage days”, and processes this material into strips which she weaves into artworks on an improvised loom of push pins, binder clips, and glue. During the residency, Stoll will speak about her project and her practice.
Artists will visit Erin Genrich, Environmental Education Coordinator at The Green Project. Since 1994, the organization has promoted “a culture of creative reuse by diverting usable materials from landfills and cultivating a respect for their value.” They operate a salvage store and paint recycling program in the Bywater. They wrote, “By selling used and teaching about reuse, we are able to provide affordable materials to the community, host low-cost and free workshops, keep usable goods out of the landfill and nearby waterways, preserve historic architectural pieces and educate residents about environmental issues.” Genrich will lead a tour of their site and speak about the work of The Green Project. Together, artists will explore ideas about how to use the materials on hand.
Ric Kasini Kadour will present an international, historic survey of artists that used trash in their work, from German Dadaist Kurt Schwitters to Brazilian artist Vik Muniz to Ghanaian artist Serge Attukwei Clottey, and speak about how materials are never neutral in collage. Kadour will also present an overview of Kolaj Institute’s Politics in Collage project and share examples of how other artists have made work that spoke to environmental concerns. As the project curator, Kadour will guide artists through a process of building context for their artwork that supports its diffusion and ultimately its engagement with viewers.
OUTCOME
The goal of this residency is to support collage artists as they adapt their artist practice to speak to the complexities of environmental issues and contribute to a broader dialogue on sustainability and ecological consciousness.” During the residency, artists will consider how elements of their practice (research & play, process, making, finishing, diffusion, and impact & engagement) can be adapted.
At the end of the residency, artists will be invited to submit artwork to the exhibition “Collage the Planet: Trash as Material”, 25 October to 29 November 2025, at Kolaj Institute Gallery in New Orleans.
The exhibition and artist residency, “Collage the Planet: Trash as Material” is part of Kolaj Institute’s project, Politics in Collage, a series of residencies, publications, discussions, and exhibitions examining complex socio-political issues that contemporary society is contending with, in order to spark meaningful dialogue and inspire deeper engagement.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
The Collage the Planet: Trash as Material Artist Residency is in-person and centered on collage artists who want to develop their artist practice. Residencies are intended for self-motivated artists, regardless of the stage in their career, who have a practice of (or want to develop a practice of) making artwork that speaks to environmental issues in their communities.
COST
The cost of the residency is $750 USD. Kolaj Institute has a limited number of grants of up to $250 available to offset the cost of the workshop for those in demonstrated need. These grants are possible through the generous support of our donors. Travel to and from New Orleans, accommodations in New Orleans, and all meals are the responsibility of the artist. Grant requests made to specifically offset these costs will not be considered.
RESIDENCY LOGISTICS
Collage the Planet: Trash as Material Artist Residency will have two Virtual Sessions (Saturday, 11 October 2025, 11AM-1PM EDT & Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 7-9PM EDT).
In-person activities take place at Kolaj Institute, 2374 Saint Claude Avenue, Suite 230, starting at 10AM, Monday, 20 October to Noon, Friday, 24 October.
Residents and faculty will come together as a group for approximately two hours each day for presentations and discussion.
Participating artists will have 24-hour access to the space from 10AM, Monday, 20 October to Noon, Friday, 24 October.
Kolaj Institute stocks general collage-making materials such as cutting mats, scissors, a variety of glues, substrates, and books and magazines. If an artist wishes to use specific materials they may be shipped in advance to the Kolaj Institute Studio & Gallery.
EXPECTATIONS & COMMITMENT
Artists are expected to attend all scheduled sessions, engage with guest speakers, complete readings, and use the time during the residency to make artwork.
Artists are expected to arrive at Kolaj Institute in New Orleans at 10AM on Monday, 20 October 2025 and remain until 3PM on Friday, 24 October 2025. Artists are also expected to participate in the two virtual sessions on Saturday, 11 October 2025 (11AM-1PM EDT) and Wednesday, 15 October 2025 (7-9PM EDT).
By participating in the residency, artists grant Kolaj Institute and Kolaj Magazine permission to publish images of the work created during the residency. Documentation may include photographs, videos, and scans of artwork. Artists may choose to withhold consent to being photographed or filmed or having their artwork documented.
Any original work made during the residency remains the property of the individual artists with all rights retained. The submission of artwork does not guarantee exhibition or publication.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The submission process asks applicants for:
• Contact information
• Artist Bio (50-250 words)
• Statement of Artist Practice (50-300 words)
• 5-7 images of artwork
• Statement of expectations
• Asks questions about your work and needs
Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis until space is filled. Artists are encouraged to apply well before the deadline. Also, please note that responses may not be sent out until two weeks after the deadline.
SUBMIT
Submit your application HERE.
QUESTIONS
If you have questions, send an email.
ABOUT THE FACULTY
Serving New Orleans since 1994, The Green Project‘s mission is to promote a culture of creative reuse by diverting usable materials from landfills and cultivating a respect for their value. They do this through their Salvage Store, a paint recycling program, and environmental education. By selling used items and teaching about reuse, The Green Project is able to provide affordable materials to the community, host low-cost and free workshops, keep usable goods out of the landfill and nearby waterways, preserve historic architectural pieces and educate residents about environmental issues. www.thegreenproject.org
Jodie House lives and works in Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom. She holds a degree in video production. She has been working in the community as an artist with vulnerable young people and families for over 20 years. She is an active member of and contributor to Women in Street Photography and the online collage community. She is also the curator of the long-term youth documentary photography project, MySpaceMyPlace. Learn more in the Kolaj Magazine Artist Directory.
Jill Stoll never met a medium she doesn’t like. She believes in the hand that draws, sketches, paints, collages, weaves, sews, knits, carves, prints, and releases the shutter of a (film) camera. An artist whose work transcends boundaries, she invites you to join her where each medium becomes a unique language, and every piece tells a story of ingenuity, curiosity, and a deep connection to the physical world. Jill’s making is profoundly rooted in resourcefulness, as she seeks inspiration from the overlooked abundance of materials, such as cardboard, plastic bottles, and the intriguing cat’s claw (uncaria tomentosa). Step into her studio in Arabi, Louisiana, and you’ll find yourself immersed in an environment that transcends traditional art appreciation. Her creations resonate with a multisensory experience, engaging all five senses. As a high school student under the mentorship of Lina Dean at Interlochen Arts Academy, Jill’s imagination was sparked by the intricate craft of weaving. Dean’s teachings not only imparted technical skills but also instilled a profound perspective that continues to shape Jill’s artistic worldview. Currently serving as a Professor of Practice in Design at Tulane University School of Architecture, Jill is on a continuous exploration of the systems of pattern and structure that parallels weaving drafts and pixels. Her commitment to the fusion of art and design is not just a profession but a lifelong dedication to unraveling the complexities of creative thinking. www.jillstoll.com
Ric Kasini Kadour, a 2021 Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Curatorial Fellow, is a writer, artist, publisher, and cultural worker. Working with the Vermont Arts Council, Kadour curated four exhibits: “Connection: The Art of Coming Together” (2017) and Vermont Artists to Watch 2018, 2019 and 2020. In 2017, he curated “The Art of Winter” at S.P.A.C.E. Gallery in Burlington, Vermont. In 2018, Kadour curated “Revolutionary Paths: Critical Issues in Collage” at Antenna Gallery in New Orleans, which bought together collage artists whose work represents the potential for deeper inquiry and further curatorial exploration of the medium; followed in 2019 by “Cultural Deconstructions: Critical Issues in Collage” at LeMieux Galleries in New Orleans, which furthered the conversation; and “Amuse Bouche”, also at LeMieux Galleries in 2023. Since 2018, he has produced Kolaj Fest New Orleans, a multi-day festival & symposium about contemporary collage and its role in art, culture, and society. As Curator of Contemporary Art at Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh, Vermont in 2019 and 2020, he curated three exhibitions, “Rokeby Through the Lens” (May 19-June 16, 2019), “Structures” (August 24-October 27, 2019), and “Mending Fences: New Works by Carol MacDonald” (July 12-October 25, 2020). He also curated “Contemporary American Regionalism: Vermont Perspectives” (August 17-October 20, 2019); “Where the Sun Casts No Shadow: Postcards from the Creative Crossroads of Quito, Ecuador” (November 1-30, 2019); and “Many Americas” (August 20-November 27, 2022) in the Wilson Museum & Galleries at the Southern Vermont Arts Center. “The Money $how”, co-curated with Frank Juarez, was presented at the AIR Space Gallery at Saint Kate-The Arts Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (April 10-September 12, 2021). For Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival in Birr, County Offaly, Ireland (August 13-20, 2021), he curated “Empty Columns Are a Place to Dream”, which traveled to the Knoxville Museum of Art in January-February 2022. At 516 ARTS in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Kadour co-curated with Alicia Inez Guzmàn two exhibitions: “Many Worlds Are Born” (February 19-May 14, 2022) and “Technologies of the Spirit” (June 11-September 3, 2022). In 2023 at the Knoxville Museum of Art, Kadour curated “Where the Sun Casts No Shadow: Postcards from the Creative Crossroads of Quito, Ecuador” (January 9-February 16, 2023) and “Mystical Landscape: Secrets of the Vale” (March 17-May 28, 2023). In September 2023, he curated “Word of Mouth: Folklore, Community and Collage” at A’ the Airts in Sanquhar, Scotland. At Kolaj Institute Gallery, he curated “Grand Opening Exhibition” (March 9-April 14, 2024), “Collage the Planet: Environmentalism in Art” (April 19-May 26, 2024), “Magic in the Modern World” (June 1-August 11, 2024), “Advanced Wound Healing Techniques: Collage by Robbie Morgan” (August 16-October 6, 2024), “Temporal Geolocation: How Place & History Inform Identity in Collage” (October 11-November 24, 2024), “Camera & Collage” (November 29, 2024- January 25, 2025), “Joy and Grief: An Exhibition of Collage” (April 12-May 31, 2025), and “Collage As Art Movement” (June 14-August 31, 2025).
His first short film, The Covenant of Schwitters’ Army, debuted at Collage on Screen during Kolaj Fest New Orleans 2023. His second, Joy Is Paper, debuted at Collage on Screen during Kolaj Fest New Orleans 2024. Kadour is the editor and publisher of Kolaj Magazine. He has written for a number of galleries and his writing has appeared in Hyperallergic, OEI, Vermont Magazine, Seven Days, Seattle Weekly, Art New England (where he was the former Vermont editor) and many others. Kadour maintains an active art practice and his photography, collage, and sculpture have been exhibited in and are part of private collections in Australia, Europe and North America. In January-February 2020, he was artist-in-residence at MERZ Gallery in Sanquhar, Scotland. He holds a BA in Comparative Religion from the University of Vermont. Kadour splits his time between Montreal and New Orleans. www.rickasinikadour.com