Wabi-Sabi Collages, May 12

For so many of us, this previous year of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a time of tremendous loss and pain, while also serving as a moment of deep inner reflection. For me, the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi has become a way of honoring our enduring collective strength, and expressing my complicated conversation of emotions.

“Wabi-sabi images force us to contemplate our own mortality, and they evoke an existential loneliness and tender sadness.” (Koren, 1994)

In this 2-hour workshop, participants will explore techniques of creative expression through collage/mixed media. Using original photographs, magazines images, words, and other items, Morna will guide participants in the journey of making “Wabi-Sabi Collages.” Each collage is an expression of the spiritual path of wabi-sabi, one that which embraces emergent moments blended with the enduring aesthetics of the soul. The collage processes of tearing and ripping, gluing, arranging, juxtaposition, and re arranging, signify the beauty of imperfection. Ambiguity and contradiction (two ideas that speak to our difficult historical moment) are embraced as part of the creative process.

During the first 15 minutes, participants will learn about the spiritual concept of wabi-sabi, and how the application of collage techniques can harness the complex range of sadness and joy, of anxiety and hope, of our current moment into works of art. The remainder of class is for participants to share or work alone on creating a series of one of more collages of their own. All materials will be provided by participants are invited to bring their own materials as well.  Weather permitting, we will move this class outdoors, otherwise we will hold the class in the Main Hall, which seats 168 people during non-pandemic times.. All participants are expected to wear masks and space will be designated to assure social distancing. Space is limited to 10 students.

Materials: participants are welcome to bring their own collage materials: photographs, magazines, or objects to collage on such as a piece of wood or frame. But this is not required. Materials will be provided by instructor.

About the Instructor: Morna McDermott McNulty is an artist, writer and educator. She is a professor in the College of Education at Towson University, as well as an author, and film producer (Voices of Baltimore: Life Under Segregation, 2017). Morna is a certified Paint Your Life instructor, hosting workshops in schools and art galleries around the country. Morna has been working in, and with, arts-integration for public education for over 20 years. She received her PhD, focused on arts-based research, from the University of Virginia in 2001.Some of her photographs have been published in various academic journals including The Journal of Curriculum Theorizing and The Currere Exchange. Morna lives in Catonsville where she’s been a resident for 17 years, with her husband Leonard and their two children.