World Collage Day is 11 May 2024

COLLAGE ARTIST

2024 World Collage Day Poster Artist

Kolaj Magazine is pleased to announce the 2024 World Collage Day Poster artist is Bahraini collagist Ali AlShaikh. The artist writes, “As an artist, my work is an exploration of myth, space, and outer worlds, utilizing themes of dystopia, nostalgia, and the human experience. Through the medium of hand-cut collage, I try to create surreal imagery that delves into the complexities of identity and the ways in which people, nations and their folklore have constructed their sense of self.” 

The collage, Beehouse, which appears on the poster was inspired by a hive the artist found in one of his palm trees. He writes, “It was dark and shoved in a corner.  I saw this pattern that had a texture of mud caking on a paper and I thought, if someone opened earth and looked at it the same way we look at beehives, Will they see us milling about and going on our own ways with clear missions in mind? We tend to be a bit more casual, a bit more relaxed, and a bit more lenient with how we spend our time. Our universe would be more colorful and more fluid with the different color shades of Earth.”

The World Collage Day Poster is free for anyone to use. Click the image on the left to download a high-resolution pdf suitable for printing on an 11×17 piece of paper.

POSTCARDS

2024 World Collage Day Postcards

In honor of World Collage Day, Saturday, 11 2024, Kolaj Magazine is releasing a special edition of the magazine, which includes a pack of 8 postcards featuring the collage of 2024 World Collage Day Poster Artist Ali AlShaikh.

Inspired by characters from Greek, Norse and Egyptian mythology, AlShaikh combines terrestrial images and fragments of people with imagery of outer space as a means of exploring humanity. “Through the medium of hand-cut collage, I try to create surreal imagery that delves into the complexities of identity and the ways in which people, nations and their folklore have constructed their sense of self.” The artist writes. “Since I was young, I’ve always been fascinated with mythology and the idea of how people make sense of the world.”

Organize an Event or Project

One of the many remarkable things about collage is its ability to extend across borders and barriers and to involve people regardless of skill level. Professional artists at the top of their game sit side by side with members of the general public who are picking up scissors for the first time. This is unique in an art world that often trades on hierarchy and status. The collage community is generous and kind and welcoming. It is one of our greatest strengths. World Collage Day is one day we show the world how we do that.

We encourage everyone thinking about a World Collage Day event or project to take responsibility for educating themselves about the needs of their community. We encourage you to follow guidelines set out by health officials and be mindful that these may evolve and change over time.

If in-person gatherings are safe and possible in your community, we invite artists, art centres, museums, galleries, schools, and communities to celebrate World Collage Day by hosting events and projects that bring communities together. Ideas include collage making meet-ups, docent-led tours of collage in a museum or gallery, activities for kids, slideshows or talks that appreciate collage’s role in contemporary art and art history, exhibitions of collage, and more. Consider a project that manifests the spirit of World Collage Day in a safe and responsible way. This may take the shape of a Window Exhibition, sharing Collage Starter Packs for your neighbors, or organizing an online Collage Happy Hour. To get inspired, check out past events and projects from previous years.

In February 2021, Kolaj LIVE Online hosted a forum, “How-to World Collage Day.” You can watch it HERE. In February 2023, we hosted another Kolaj LIVE Online forum, “Get Ready for World Collage Day 2023.” You can watch it HERE. Both of these videos are great ways to familiarize yourself with the event and learn how other artists have organized events in the past.

Now is the time to plan and whatever you decide to do, we want to hear about it. After you submit your event, we will announce your event on the World Collage Day website and through our social media. We invite people to come together around collage in their own communities and to connect to the world digitally using the hashtag #WorldCollageDay.

SAINT-AUGUSTIN-DE-DESMAURES, QUEBEC, CANADA

Vintage Minature Collage of the 1950s, 60s, & 70s for World Collage Day

9 May, 10AM-2:30PM & 11 May
Centre Delphis Marois, ACSAD, 2nd Floor
300 rue de l’Entrain
Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec G3A 1L6 Canada

On May 9, ACSAD members are invited to participate in a miniature collage activity, creating works on the back of playing cards using vintage material from the 50s-60s-70s. On May 11, Nathalie Beaupré will host a virtual exhibition of the collages on cards on the ACSAD website and Québec Collage‘s social media. MORE

WORLDWIDE, ONLINE

The New Machine III, by Strange Pill | Net video art & music EP

Ongoing
strangepill.co.uk

The New Machine III, from The New Machine series, is a psychedelic 4-piece online interactive EP music experience, with four songs created by the Strange Pill duo with cut-ups of filmed live performances of everyone involved. With this EP, Strange Pill takes us to a perception-expansion journey where a song is more than the sum of the parts, and where the parts are also essential for the song to exist: exploring new ways of experiencing music in the digital landscape by unveiling the original visual narratives of sounds, from the perspective of music as a collage and with multisensory textures. The EP is created with Strange Pill’s own audio-visual music creation and collaboration platform, Musicjelly’s Interactive Video Machine, using the visual narratives as a threading link between musicians, and bringing the audience closer to the artistic experience. The EP is available online accessible for all devices. Plug in your headphones and tap on the different performers/objets to isolate the sounds, tap outside to bring it all together again, replay. MORE

PORTLAND, OREGON, USA

World Collage Day at Powell’s City of Books

11AM-2PM
Powell’s City of Books
1105 West Burnside, Pearl Room, 3rd Floor
Portland, Oregon 97209 USA

To celebrate World Collage Day and the May showcase of Portland collage artists on the walls of the Basil Hallward Gallery at Powell’s City of Books, Kellette Elliot of the Pacific Northwest Collage Collective and Kevin Sampsell of Sharp Hands Gallery will host a free gathering where they will cut, paste, and talk about the medium of collage. Materials (paper, vintage magazines, scissors, and glue) will be provided. MORE

ASHTABULA, OHIO, USA

Croissants & Collage!

10-11:30AM
Ashtabula Arts Center
2928 West 13th Street
Ashtabula, Ohio 44004 USA

Enjoy a morning of croissants, community, and creativity as novices and experts alike create collage postcards. Supplies will be provided. This event is open to the public. MORE

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Collage & France as Seen from Mexico Exhibition

3-6PM
Alianza Francesa Ciudad de México
Socrates 156, Polanco
11510 Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

France and Mexico share many aspects of their cultural identity; throughout recent centuries, artists from both countries have exchanged ideas and knowledge that have strengthened ties of friendship and collaboration in various fields such as art. Collage, a word derived from Colle, glue in French, is an artistic technique that consists of gluing different images and cut photographs from magazines, books, or newspapers on a canvas or base. This term is mainly applied to painting but by extension, it can also refer to any artistic manifestation such as music, cinema, poetry, animation, and video. Its invention is attributed to artists such as Braque and Picasso who were great masters of their time. For this reason, the works presented here represent this vision and encounter of common elements that have been an influence and example for both nations. The exhibition, organized by Fabian Giles, is presented within the framework of the 140th anniversary of the French Alliance in Mexico City and World Collage Day 2024. MORE

SANTO ANDRE, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

Coffee & Collage Club with Marcia Rosenberger

2:30-5:30PM
Casa Âmbar de Cultura
R. Pôrto Rico, 5 – Parque das Nações
09280-720 Santo André, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Coffee & Collage Club is a meeting for enthusiasts to celebrate World Collage Day in unison. Led by Marcia Rosenberger, visual artist and editor of the Loreley Books label, the Club is a relaxed moment to talk about this fascinating universe, sharing experiences and ideas about their creative processes, and creating collective collages. There will also be a moment for the production and exchange of ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) between participants. Participation is free and open to everyone with a joyful and collaborative spirit. Bring your material and participate! Places are limited, be on time and confirm your presence by EMAIL.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Place, Memory & Distance: BYOC (Bring Your Own Collage)

20 April, 1-6PM & 11 May
Atelier 818
8 East 18th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia V5V 1C9, Canada

Atelier 8.18 is putting out a call for mail art that explores ideas and senses around the theme of: Place, Memory and Distance. How do we remember spaces and places? How does distance impact or change relationships with communities and locations? As we move and exist around the world in different locations and cultures, how does that transform us? All types of media will be considered. Work must fit in 5 x 5 square and must be able to be mailed. All collage art must arrive by April 26th. Mailing the artwork to Atelier 8.18 you are knowingly releasing the work to be sold on World Collage Day on May 11th for the purpose of fundraising for the operation costs of Atelier 8.18 and will be displayed at the closing of the exhibition: “Place, Memory and Distance” This show will be connected to the current exhibition which features work by: Alison Keenan, Ideet Sharon, Simon Fleming, and on May 11th showcase works with visiting artist in residence Viviana Maidanik. On April 20th, BYOC (Bring Your Own Collage) will be a collage-making event where you can make a 5 x 5 collage for the Little White Square Postcard Project. MORE

PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, USA

World Collage Day Meetup at PAC

1:30-3:30PM
Pawtucket Arts Collaborative Gallery
560 Mineral Spring Avenue
Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860 USA

Join the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative to celebrate the art and craft of collage on World Collage Day. Supplies will be provided and you’re welcome to bring your own materials and tools to use or share. The group will work side by side, share conversation, techniques, inspiration and build community through collage. All skill levels are welcome. No experience is necessary. This is a free event. MORE

LLANFRYNACH, POWYS, UNITED KINGDOM

Cut’s Paste: Making Collage in the Style of Mark Hearld

10AM-3:30PM
Llanfrynach Village Hall
School Row, Llanfrynach
Brecon, Powys LD3 7AZ United Kingdom

Join the Brecknock Art Society in Wales for a workshop that will explore the work of Mark Hearld. After a brief history of collage and an introduction to Heard’s work and influences, guests will be invited to create a collage in a similar style.  At the end of the event, an informal exhibition of the works created will take place. Materials and support provided. Space is limited.

PORTLAND, OREGON, USA

“Exquisite Community” Collaborative Collage

Ongoing through 25 July 2024,
with a World Collage Day reception at 5:30PM
Lewis and Clark Community Counseling Center
4445 SW Barbur Boulevard
Portland, Oregon 97329 USA

“Exquisite Community” is in its 4th year as a regional collaborative event based in Portland, Oregon, USA. Organized by MJ Connors Davison, its idea originates from the Surrealist art movement of 100 years ago. With the human body as the premise, artists are assigned a section to collage then conceal, moving the project on to the next participant, sight unseen. The process is abstract, exploratory, and ultimately surprising.

Only at the exhibit’s reception are the “bodies” of collage artworks revealed to all who contributed to their creation. There, too, attending artists share with the whole audience about their journeys and experiences with a section. One may speak about what it was like to form the head and neck, upper or lower torso, or the legs and feet. The sharing is as wildly diverse as the Exquisite Community “bodies” themselves! MORE

HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA

World Collage Day Open Studio and Collage Meet-up

1-5PM
Deerslug Studio
Studio A
2020 Commerce
Houston, Texas 77002, USA

Join us, Scissors of Texas, for World Collage Day in the studio of Houston based artist, Stephanie Gonzalez, who draws from her experiences as a lesbian Mexican woman, channeling her emotions into mixed media works using vintage magazines and discarded materials.

There will be a collage meet-up, during the opening, attendees must sign up via Eventbrite for an hour of community collage making. Due to size constraints, we must limit the size to 4 sessions of 12 people at a time.

Tickets are not required to show up for the opening. Tickets are only for the collage making portion of the event. Please only sign up for one session.

The event is free and materials will be provided. Parking also available. Beer provided by Saint Arnold Brewing Company. MORE

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, USA

Give & Get, Make & Share Mail-Art Exchange

11AM-5PM
Berkeley Art Center
1275 Walnut Street (in Live Oak Park)
Berkeley, California 94709 USA

Give & Get, Make & Share Mail-Art Exchange is a 3 stage project, open to
all.
Stage 1: Throughout April, collageables will be mailed to Berkeley Commonplace by members of the global collage community.
Stage 2: On World Collage Day, at the Premiere Exhibition of Postal Collage Project No.13, new work will be created using the collageables from stage 1.
Stage 3: In the days and weeks following World Collage Day, the newly
created collages will be mailed to all content providers. 

For more information, including on how to participate go HERE.

Spread the Word

You don’t have to wait until the second Saturday in May to use the hashtag #WorldCollageDay. Hop on social media. Post images. Share what you will be doing to celebrate World Collage Day. Contact your local media and let them know about World Collage Day and ask them to cover the event in your area. Follow Kolaj Magazine on Social Media: