Collage Communities
The friendly, informative, and innovative spaces of collage and more!
My collage table is currently folded against the wall to accommodate looming art show deadlines. However, I still wanted to take a moment to share a couple of places and ways I’ve recently found to focus on the benefits of community engagement - hopefully encouraging you to share or look for opportunities near you!
Art Shows
The more I look around for art opportunities, the more I fall in love with all the creative ways various galleries and groups support artists and share art. One such place is Brassworks Gallery in Portland, Oregon. They are hosting their second annual Postcard Show (opening in their gallery on December 14), and I was excited to use the opportunity to share a few vintage collage pieces and try a few new techniques.
While they accepted all types of media, it was a fun challenge to create these collages and then creatively attach them to the postcards provided by the gallery.
I spied their artist call on Instagram in the summer (kudos to their planning team!) and reached out to find out how to enter, to which they promptly responded with a link for entry:
Thank you for inquiring about the Brassworks Gallery 2nd Annual International Postcard Show!! Here are the details. Show Opens 12/14/24 - We supply the postcards - you supply the art on the postcards...
(As a serial double exclamation point person, I especially appreciated their response's enthusiasm.)
Their sign-up process was simple and easy, and I received their well-suited and nicely designed postcards in the mail with plenty of time to create little works of art before the show.
I highly recommend checking out this year’s show (either in person or online)! If you’re interested in entering a piece (or five) next year, sign up for their newsletter on their website or follow them online (e.g., Instagram).
Organizations
I was recently looking for ways to be more community-oriented in my art practice and decided to find a collage group (or two) to join.
The nice thing about artist communities and guilds of any type is they usually have monthly programs to inspire and/or educate, art opportunities for sharing and selling your work, and meet-ups to make or share work in a supportive environment.
Local Arts Organizations
I feel lucky to have several organizations supporting different arts and crafts practices in my area. I’ve joined and/or interacted with or presented with several of them on and off over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed engaging with their friendly and encouraging memberships.
Corvallis Art Guild (past member and occasional speaker)
Contemporary Fiber Arts Guild (attended a few meetings in 2024 and look forward to joining in 2025 when memberships are renewed)
Willamette Valley PhotoArts Guild (hosted their membership at my former gallery, Studio262)
Willamette Ceramics Guild (hosted their membership at my former gallery, Studio262)
Vistas and Vineyards (en plein air group) (current member)
More Corvallis, Oregon area organizations can be found on the Artist Resources page of TheArtCenter.net
Regional Collage Organizations
When I specifically looked for collage organizations, however, I had to extend my search beyond Corvallis. I recently found and joined the Northwest Collage Society (NWCS), a “non-profit social club” that aims to “foster appreciation and interest in the fine art medium of collage.”
Northwest Collage Society (NWCS)
From their website:
A collage (from the French word coller, to glue) is a work of formal art made by adhering different pieces of paper, photographs, plants, fabric and other ephemera onto a supporting surface, thus creating a new whole. Though collage was a popular activity in the 18th and 19th centuries, the term collage was coined by both Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso in the beginning of the 20th century when collage became a distinctive form of modern art.
NWCS Meetings and Membership Benefits
The Northwest Collage Society presents five programs a year. Two programs are online via Zoom and three are in-person programs at the Shoreline Conference Center, just north of Seattle, WA. Most of our programs are recorded and can be viewed later by our members. The organization draws most of its members from the Pacific Northwest, though we welcome members worldwide. Members come from diverse backgrounds, all sharing an avid interest in creating.
The NWCS provides a forum for the exchange of ideas among members through bi-monthly meetings, which include presentations by local and international artists, workshops, retreats, member activities, like mail art exchanges, monthly local and virtual meet-ups, opportunities to enter collage exhibitions, online newsletter in recognition of members’ accomplishments and regional opportunities.The Northwest Collage Society arranges two or more juried exhibitions a year for its members. Juried exhibitions are held primarily in the greater Seattle area as well as throughout the state of Washington. The Northwest Collage Society has exhibited at Cascadia Art Museum in Edmonds, Columbia City Gallery in Seattle, Bellevue Arts Museum Community Education Gallery, Phinney Center Gallery in Seattle, ArtsNow in Edmonds, Cancer Lifeline in Seattle, Parklane Gallery in Kirkland, Rob Schouten Gallery on Whidbey Island, Seattle City Hall, Kenmore City Hall, Mercer Island Community & Event Center, The Lodge at St. Edward Park in Kenmore, Fogue Studios & Gallery in Seattle, Washington State Convention Center and many more locations.
I’m looking forward to being a member of this organization and the showing and community opportunities it can provide.
I also found other groups and organizations interesting, and I hope to join/follow up with them later.
Other Organizations
Collage PDX - “curated art & craft supplies, collectibles and curiosities”
PNW Collage Collective - “We are a group of passionate collage artists located in the Pacific Northwest of the USA… Our mission is to foster a community of artists that enjoy cutting and glueing by holding art contests, art shows, collage meet-ups and more!
International Collage Communities
Finally, wherever you may be, the Kolaj directory might be able to help you connect with your collage community.
Kolaj - an international directory of collage communities
Collage on Substack
Finally - a shout-out to a few of the many collage-dedicated publications and posts here on Substack.
I hope you found some new sources of collage fun for yourself - and if you have a collage community to promote, feel free to post it below!
Happy community building - in whatever form that takes,
~ Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer for posting these places to join and submit collage artwork. It takes time and enthusiasm to do this and I appreciate your generosity. Suzanne Getz. ksgetzart.com
Thank you so much for including me in this! I'm thrilled to check out your work and all the other folks you mentioned. So much talent! <3