Back to Collage

I'm getting back to collage after a respite of a few years. My previous collages had evolved from a series of paintings that evoked calligraphy. That served as the background for the collages. They used watercolor over images from my life: worksheets from portfolio management, Sanskrit texts, & musical scores.

"Intersection" Mixed media, watercolor, acrylic, paper, on canvas. 16x20"

My first venture this year is completely different. The origin was a gift for my brother in thanks for his work on our mother's estate. So, it is a bit scrapbookish, using photos & memorabilia, but similar compositional elements.









My latest piece uses materials from both of these previous approaches. The background is watercolored worksheets, Sanskrit & music. I composed a design of travel related images on top of that. I like carefully composed collages that allow your eyeballs to rest peacefully on them.

"Reading Line" Mixed media, watercolor, acrylic, photography, on panel. 12 x 9".

Racism & Immigration in Two Good Novels

I randomly read two completely different novels which both dealt with racism & immigration. They are set in.... Arizona? Nope, in France and Italy. France? Isn't that where black jazz musicians used to flock? Yup, and it is, also, where 140 cities were in flames during coordinated demonstrations a few summer ago to protest the lack of economic opportunity for Arabs & other minorities. Unfortunately, it's everywhere. Jean-Claude Izzo's Total Chaos puts the socio/political microscope on racism in France towards Arabs and Nabs, Neapolitan Italians. It's wrapped around a tight mystery story & extraordinary descriptions of Marseilles. Worth a read.

Amara Lakhous' Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio takes a comedic bent to look at prejudice against immigrants in Italy, especially in the North. Cited are problems of people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, AND from Southern Italy. It's a well written comic novel about a serious subject.

These selections were not totally random. Both are from Europa Editions, a great press for contemporary European writers.