{"id":10288,"date":"2020-11-03T02:40:04","date_gmt":"2020-11-03T07:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/?p=10288"},"modified":"2020-11-01T12:50:58","modified_gmt":"2020-11-01T17:50:58","slug":"a-splice-of-narrative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/articles\/a-splice-of-narrative\/","title":{"rendered":"A Splice of Narrative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
A Little Golden Book of Empires<\/em> by Brian Barker
8″x6″; found images and vintage book cover; 2017. Courtesy of the artist.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

FROM KOLAJ 30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian Barker’s Artist Portfolio
Denver, Colorado, USA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well-established as a poet and English professor, a period of creative restlessness led Brian Barker to collage. \u201cI\u2019m not a fast writer, and the images and scraps of language that float up as the source of my poetry take their sweet time to appear. So, I started feeling a deep yearning for some other type of creative outlet that I could work at more steadily,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI knew a lot of other poets who made collage on the side. So, I started looking around and thinking about what kind of collage I might make. It quickly turned into an obsession!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A portfolio of Barker\u2019s work appears in Kolaj 30. To see the complete Artist Portfolio, SUBSCRIBE to Kolaj Magazine<\/a> or Get a Copy of the Issue<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Loner<\/em> by Brian Barker
6\u2033x6\u2033; found images, antique paper, acrylic paint; 2019. Courtesy of the artist.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I cut images, freeing them from their original context, and then move them around until something interesting catches my eye. What results might just be a wonderful chimera. Sometimes a splice of narrative might be suggested, or some strong symbolism or metaphor. If the latter is the case, then I try to follow the thread presented to me. \u201cLet the image lead the way\u201d is a good mantra for both the poet and the collagist.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A portfolio of Barker\u2019s work appears in Kolaj 30. To see the complete Artist Portfolio, SUBSCRIBE to Kolaj Magazine<\/a> or Get a Copy of the Issue<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian Barker is a poet and collage artist from Denver, Colorado. His collages were selected for the National Collage Society\u2019s 35th annual juried show and have appeared on the cover of <\/em>Denver Quarterly. He is the author of three books of poetry, <\/em>Vanishing Acts (SIU Press, 2019), <\/em>The Black Ocean (SIU Press, 2011), and <\/em>The Animal Gospels (Tupelo Press, 2006). His poems have appeared in such journals as <\/em>Poetry, <\/em>The Gettysburg Review, <\/em>American Poetry Review, <\/em>TriQuarterly, <\/em>The Washington Post, <\/em>Indiana Review, <\/em>The Cincinnati Review, <\/em>Blackbird, and <\/em>Pleiades. He teaches at the University of Colorado Denver, where he is a poetry editor of <\/em>Copper Nickel. Learn more in the Kolaj Magazine Artist Directory and at www.imaginarymaladies.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FROM KOLAJ 30 Brian Barker’s Artist PortfolioDenver, Colorado, USA Well-established as a poet and English professor, a period of creative restlessness led Brian Barker to collage. \u201cI\u2019m not a fast writer, and the images and scraps of language that float…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":10289,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-collage-artists","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/brian-barker-a-little-golden-book-of-empires.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2QTD7-2FW","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12181,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/propagated-palms\/","url_meta":{"origin":10288,"position":0},"title":"Propagated Palms","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"12 February 2022","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Boy in Wasteland by Helen O'Dea and Brian Palm. Courtesy of the artists. COLLAGE ON VIEW Propagated Palms at The Ireland Institute in Dublin, Ireland8 December 2021-28 February 2022 The artists featured in \"Propagated Palms\" worked in Brian Palm\u2019s studio in The Ireland Institute, where Palm is Artist in Residence.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/helen-odea-bp-boy-in-wasteland-web.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/helen-odea-bp-boy-in-wasteland-web.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/helen-odea-bp-boy-in-wasteland-web.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/helen-odea-bp-boy-in-wasteland-web.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12371,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/this-womans-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":10288,"position":1},"title":"This Woman’s Work","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"23 March 2022","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Fleshplanet by Ana Vizcarra Rankin20\"x20\"; collage. Courtesy of the artist. COLLAGE ON VIEW This Woman's Work at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Alumni Gallery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA13 January-10 April 2022 \"This Woman\u2019s Work\" is an exploration of the representation and materiality of the feminine in our culture\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/ana-vizcarra-rankin-fleshplanet.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/ana-vizcarra-rankin-fleshplanet.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/ana-vizcarra-rankin-fleshplanet.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/ana-vizcarra-rankin-fleshplanet.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18461,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/transcendence\/","url_meta":{"origin":10288,"position":2},"title":"Transcendence","author":"Seth Ter Haar","date":"30 May 2026","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Kids in the Street by Brian Palm16\"x12\"; photo-collage and watercolor; 2025. Courtesy of the artist. COLLAGE ON VIEW Brian Palm: Transcendence at Duke Street Gallery in Dublin, Ireland5 May-13 June 2026 For the past year, Brian Palm has been working with photo collage combined with vibrant watercolor washes, rather than\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brian-Palm-kids-in-the-street-web.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brian-Palm-kids-in-the-street-web.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brian-Palm-kids-in-the-street-web.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brian-Palm-kids-in-the-street-web.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11727,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/issues\/kolaj-34\/","url_meta":{"origin":10288,"position":3},"title":"Kolaj #34","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"29 October 2021","format":"gallery","excerpt":"SUBSCRIBE OR ORDER A COPY INSIDE THE ISSUE \"Artists working with collage are in the business of taking risks and stirring trouble, as it\u2019s a form conducive to critique\" writes Natasha Chuk who reports about how Brooklyn, New York artist Heather Olker uses collage to critique fashion advertising Cherie Rahkola\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/K34-Cover.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/K34-Cover.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/K34-Cover.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/K34-Cover.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9318,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/elemental-singularities\/","url_meta":{"origin":10288,"position":4},"title":"Elemental Singularities","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"5 February 2020","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Les Ritual des Hommes by Richard Poulin 12\"x12\"; birch plywood, chipboard, printed ephemera, photographs; 2019Courtesy of the artist. COLLAGE ON VIEW Elemental Singularities at Brian Marki Fine Art Gallery in Palm Springs, California, USAJanuary 25-February 25 2020 An exhibition of mixed media collage constructions by Richard Poulin. An American designer,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/richard-poulin-les-rituel-des-hommes.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/richard-poulin-les-rituel-des-hommes.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/richard-poulin-les-rituel-des-hommes.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/richard-poulin-les-rituel-des-hommes.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7749,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/of-method-and-material\/","url_meta":{"origin":10288,"position":5},"title":"Of Method and Material","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"27 December 2018","format":"gallery","excerpt":"COLLAGE ON VIEW Of Method and Material at SLATE Contemporary in Oakland, California, USA 4 January-23 February 2019 \"Of Method and Material\" features work by mixed-media artists Kerith Lisi, Brian Singer, and Hadley Williams. The exhibition focuses on the unique materials and art practices utilized by the artists to create\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/kerith-lisi-recollections.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/kerith-lisi-recollections.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/kerith-lisi-recollections.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/kerith-lisi-recollections.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10288"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10288\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}