{"id":8017,"date":"2019-04-02T11:01:31","date_gmt":"2019-04-02T15:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/?p=8017"},"modified":"2019-04-02T11:01:31","modified_gmt":"2019-04-02T15:01:31","slug":"unnoticed-urban-elements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/articles\/unnoticed-urban-elements\/","title":{"rendered":"Unnoticed Urban Elements"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

FROM KOLAJ 25<\/p>\n

The Terrain of Chuck Scalin<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a distinct urban vibe to Chuck Scalin\u2019s abstract collages made largely from found \u201ctrash\u201d elements, yet they provide a calm antidote to the chaos of our world. Juxtaposed fields of subdued textures and muted colours dominate the works. However, today\u2019s discomfort can be found creeping in. In a recent series of mixed media collages, Scalin, a Richmond, Virginia artist, has minimized the basic content to a few areas of found or drawn surfaces and mostly neutral hues. Geometric shapes dominate, divided in half or thirds, with light texture contrasting with the darkest black or a muted grey or tan. Red, orange or green may sneak in. Still, societal disorder is revealed in the intensely busy mark-making, scribbles of graphite atop the plainness. Almost handwriting. Graffiti devoid of tags or literal content. Purposeful dirtying. Recognizable elements are sometimes attached: two small crossed metal plates with screw-holes at either end, or a corroded metal washer. Rusty textures provide a patina of decay on these discarded pieces found in the back alleys of his favourite cities: Richmond, Paris, New York and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Eschewing recognizable people, places and things, Scalin\u2019s collages evoke the mood and energy of the city, the elegant solidity and stability of street and wall textural fragments made current and made old by dirt, scars, marks, and unintended swaths of colour. Who notices these things?<\/p>\n

Diana Thompson Vincelli’s profile appears in Kolaj<\/em> 25<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article appeared in <\/em>Kolaj #25. To see the entire issue, SUBSCRIBE<\/a> to <\/em>Kolaj Magazine or Get a Copy of the Issue<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Societal disorder is revealed in the intensely busy mark-making, scribbles of graphite atop the plainness. Almost handwriting. Graffiti devoid of tags or literal content. Purposeful dirtying. Recognizable elements are sometimes attached: two small crossed metal plates with screw-holes at either end, or a corroded metal washer.<\/em><\/h2>\n

\"\"
\nThis article appeared in <\/em>Kolaj #25. To see the entire issue, SUBSCRIBE<\/a> to <\/em>Kolaj Magazine or Get a Copy of the Issue<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Chuck Scalin holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He is professor emeritus and former assistant chair of the Communication Arts & Design Department of Virginia Commonwealth University. He currently teaches courses in collage and assemblage at the Studio School of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. His photography, glass and collage works are included and also received recognition in over 250 exhibitions, including 25 solo shows in the US and abroad and have been purchased for public and private collections. He was the recipient of seven two-month residencies at the Cit\u00e9 International des Arts in Paris, France. He is also the creator of the limited edition, collaborative book art piece, Body of Evidence: 14 unsolved mysteries<\/em>, which was based on a series of assemblages created for a 2012 solo exhibition. Scalin lives and works in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Find out more at chuckscalin.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Images (top to bottom):<\/strong>
\nfrom “Body of Evidence” by Chuck Scalin
\nCourtesy of the artist<\/p>\n

from “Body of Evidence” by Chuck Scalin
\nCourtesy of the artist<\/p>\n

Tome No. 1<\/em> (1895) by Chuck Scalin
\n(17″x21″; vintage marbled end paper and found metal fragments; 2017)
\nCourtesy of the artist<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FROM KOLAJ 25 The Terrain of Chuck Scalin There\u2019s a distinct urban vibe to Chuck Scalin\u2019s abstract collages made largely from found \u201ctrash\u201d elements, yet they provide a calm antidote to the chaos of our world. Juxtaposed fields of subdued…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,58],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/body-of-evidence-1.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2QTD7-25j","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14279,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/chuck-scalin-vintage-new\/","url_meta":{"origin":8017,"position":0},"title":"Chuck Scalin: Vintage & New","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"19 August 2023","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Random X by Chuck Scalinmixed-media assemblage with kiln-fired clay,\u00a0graphite, rusted\u00a0metal, wood and scrap grid screen. Courtesy of the artist. COLLAGE ON VIEW Chuck Scalin: Vintage & New Artworks at the Boyd Realty Group in Richmond, Virginia, USA25 August-16 September 2023 Chuck Scalin presents more than 50 collage and assemblage works\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\/chuck-scalin-tome.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-tome.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-tome.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-tome.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11794,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/magistro-quarterman-scalin\/","url_meta":{"origin":8017,"position":1},"title":"Magistro-Quarterman-Scalin","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"14 November 2021","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Broken Grid Composition by Chuck Scalin18\"x15\" (framed); photographic texture details, found paper and graphite; 2020. Courtesy of the artist. COLLAGE ON VIEW Magistro-Quarterman-Scalin at Gallery 17 in Richmond, Virginia, USA5 November-5 December 2021 Gallery 17 presents a group show by Chuck Scalin (collage and assemblage), Charles Magistro (painting), and Dale\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\/chuck-scalin-broken-grid-composition-web.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-broken-grid-composition-web.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-broken-grid-composition-web.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-broken-grid-composition-web.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11288,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/glean-collect\/","url_meta":{"origin":8017,"position":2},"title":"Glean & Collect","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"9 July 2021","format":"gallery","excerpt":"8 Elements by Chuck Scalin26\"x22\"; abstract collage with various textures, mark making and photographic fragments; 2021. Courtesy of the artist.\u00a0 COLLAGE ON VIEW Works spanning 5 decades, 1971-2021, by Chuck Scalin at The Highpoint in Richmond, Virginia, USA10 July-27 August 2021 Chuck Scalin says about himself and about his work,\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\/chuck-scalin-8-elements.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-8-elements.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-8-elements.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-8-elements.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9178,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/unexposed\/","url_meta":{"origin":8017,"position":3},"title":"Unexposed","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"2 January 2020","format":"gallery","excerpt":"GPNA #1 by Chuck Scalin10\"x10\"; vintage glass plate negative assemblages; 2017Courtesy of the artist. COLLAGE ON VIEW Unexposed at The Highpoint in Richmond, Virginia, USA6 December 2019-7 February 2020 When Chuck Scalin\u00a0began\u00a0to plan a new body of work for an upcoming\u00a0exhibition, his mind turned to a box of glass\u00a0plate negatives\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\/chuck-scalin-gpna1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-gpna1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-gpna1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/chuck-scalin-gpna1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8939,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/national-collage-societys-35th-annual-juried-exhibition\/","url_meta":{"origin":8017,"position":4},"title":"National Collage Society’s 35th Annual Juried Exhibition","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"24 November 2019","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Love Scales the Wall by Julia Nelson-Gal38\"x26\"; vintage magazines, acrylic paint, wooden panel; 2018Courtesy of the artist. National Collage Society's 35th Annual Juried Exhibition at Cummings Art Gallery, Mercyhurst University, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA4 November-7 December 2019 Each year, a three-person jury selects collage and assemblage (collage in the third dimension)\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\/julia-nelson-gal-love-scales-the-wall.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/julia-nelson-gal-love-scales-the-wall.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/julia-nelson-gal-love-scales-the-wall.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/julia-nelson-gal-love-scales-the-wall.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7933,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/issues\/kolaj-25\/","url_meta":{"origin":8017,"position":5},"title":"Kolaj #25","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"1 March 2019","format":"gallery","excerpt":"In this Issue Kolaj Magazine exists to show how the world of collage is rich, layered, and thick with complexity. By remixing history and culture, collage artists forge new thinking. To understand collage is to reshape one's thinking of art history and redefine the canon of visual culture that informs\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\/kolaj-25-cover.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/kolaj-25-cover.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/kolaj-25-cover.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/kolaj-25-cover.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8017"}],"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=8017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}