2022 Winter Show: Glue Paper Scissors
Off the Wall Gallery
at Dirty Frank’s
offthewallgallery.org • NE Corner 13th & Pine Sts • @otwdirtyfranks
January 16 – March 25, 2022
What’s Waiting for You in ’22 January 16 — March 25
2022 Winter Show Opens Thursday, February 24, 7–10 pm
Thursday, March 10
Summer Juried Show theme announced
March 27 — June 3
Mary Liz Memorial Masters Exhibition 17 “Go Figure: Paintings from Jean Plough” Opens Thursday, March 31, 7–10 pm
Thursday, May 5
Deadline for entries to Summer Juried Show
June 5 — August 5
15th Annual Community Juried Show Opens Thursday, June 9, 7–10 pm
Monday, July 4
Year-ending Juried Show theme announced
August 7 — September 23
2022 Midsummer Show Opens Thursday, August 11, 7–10 pm
September 25 — November 11
2022 Autumn Invitational Opens Thursday, September 29, 7–10 pm
Thursday, October 13
Deadline for entries to Year-ending Juried Show
November 13 — December 26
17th Annual Juried Exhibition Opens Thursday, November 17, 7–10 pm
December 27 — January 14, 2023
New Year’s/Mummers hiatus
January 15 — March 24
2023 Winter Show Opens Thursday, January 26, 7–10 pm
Tuesday, February 14
Summer Juried Show theme announced
on cover, in rows from top, left to right: Jim Biglan’s “Daze of the Week,” Alyse C. Bernstein’s “Snowy Egret,” David Brezinski’s “Orchid,” Greg Ephemera Trout’s “Galaxy of Tears,” Wayne W. Urffer’s “Gott mit Uns,” Anthony Morgan’s “Feed or Slaughter,” Harvey Weinreich’s “Space Dust to This,” Robb Spath’s “Harriet”
Every collage or assemblage requires multiple elements to create a new whole. Likewise, GLUE PAPER SCISSORS, our 2022 WINTER SHOW, cohesively and persuasively unites eight of our most talented practitioners in these media.
Eight Easy Pieces
Among this optimal octet you can count a staggering 60 previous outings on our Wall — led by Jim Biglan and Harvey Weinreich at 16 each, with Wayne W. Urffer close behind at 13 — and we haven’t yet stopped to count their sales and awards, not to mention the steadfast followings they have attracted over the years. While Off the Wall has exhibited our share of collage and assemblage artwork over our history, only recently have these media become leading lights for our space. We must credit our juried shows, over the past 15 years, for facilitating this growth and introducing our community to amazing new artists who most often choose these creative paths. Our 2017 summer show, RESIST, was the entry point for Robb Spath, while the year-ending version first welcomed Jim Biglan (INSPIRATION in 2012), Alyse C. Bernstein (PETS in 2015) and David Brezinski (UNDER $100 in 2021). Meanwhile, Anthony Morgan happily came to us through a juried auction: SAVE DIRTY FRANK’S just a year ago. GLUE PAPER SCISSORS represents the inaugural edition of what we hope will become a series of semi-regular shows, since we firmly believe that an entire exhibition devoted to a single art form gains added power and immerses you in a special way. Our later-than-usual Mid-Show Reception reflects our ongoing stringent COVID safety protocols, but the timing also means we have only a month left to soak in the wonders of our show, which calls for closer inspection. Please return before March 25 to spend more time with this work. And invite someone who doesn’t know collage and assemblage to tag along and discover why these media stand apart — even as they come together. Jody Sweitzer Curator
Togo Travalia Manager
Alyse C. Bernstein
I have always found inspiration from my surroundings
and nature has provided me with endless ideas and fascination. I traveled to Florida in July to visit the Everglades to conduct research for a wildlife series and the bird collages are the first completed works. The use of feathers to create the birds was a purposeful reminder of the impact the plume trade on the Everglades during the late 19th century. Fashionable hats nearly wiped out the Snowy Egret by the early 20th century until protections were put in place and bird populations began to increase. Threats still exist in Florida, but today are related to environmental issues such as pesticides, heavy metal exposure and coastal development. A portion of GLUE PAPER SCISSORS sales will be shared with The Everglades Foundation educational programs, which are fully funded through donations. Each of Alyse’s mixed-media assemblages is 200.: “Blue Heron” “Flamingo” (at right) “Frigate Bird” (above) “Ibis” “Sandhill Crane” “Snowy Egret” Follow Alyse on Instagram @alysecbernstein
Jim Biglan
I believe I first used collage as a single element incorporated into a drawing. Later I began to rip up some of my drawings and then glue them back into a new work, layering and abstracting the image as it progressed.
Recently, I’ve been interested in using found objects as surfaces for painting, drawing and collage — often on the lookout on my walks and drives, lugging suitcases, kiddie pools, shower doors and so much more down into my studio. I also find different textural surfaces intriguing. The recent small works in this show contrast an illustrative painted image with a chunky raw background of handmade paper. I approach making collage differently from some of the other media I use like drawing, painting and ceramics. There’s an improvised chaos to GLUE PAPER SCISSORS that is unnerving and exciting. (more on next page) “Blue brain” mixed media on handmade paper 95.
“Escape” (next page, bottom right) mixed media on handmade paper 95.
“Calendar” mixed media on paper 250.
“Mirror” (next page, bottom left) mixed media on handmade paper 95.
“Cocoon” (next page, top left) mixed media on suitcase lid 200.
“Palette” mixed media on found object 250.
“Crybaby” mixed media on handmade paper 95.
“Peel me” (above) mixed media on oaktag 250.
“Daze of the Week” mixed media on wood 200.
“Thoughts” (next page, top right) mixed media on handmade paper 95.
Follow Jim on Instagram @vaughn_biglane
The majority of my collage imagery is self-created — and then destroyed and reimagined.
David Brezinski
I have been obsessed with photography for as long as I can remember. I found an interest in combining all types of different photos and text into singular little art pieces and that became my main focus. I distort them to create my own narratives.
David’s pieces are hand-cut and mixed-media collages: “Camera” (at left) 75. “Deathroad” (below) 75. “Isolation” 75. “No Future” 100. “Orchid” 75. “Orchids” (next page, top right) 75. “Sounds of Silence” (next page, top left) 75. “Terrorvision” (next page, bottom) 60. (more on next page)
Follow David on Instagram @the_slaughterhouse_district
Over the years, my love of collage has yet to wane and I collage using magazines and book photography almost on a daily basis.
Anthony Morgan
When I view images, some are imprinted in my mind with the power of a metal punch, which will “haunt” me until I take up the challenge to produce an analog collage with them.
My work is an examination of these elements and how they affect me, my life and others who view them. Since my analog collages are a collection of already produced images, put together differently, it allows them to work together in a way that was never intended.
When working in the studio, I am reminded of this Kurt Vonnegut quote:
“Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. “Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. “You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.” (more on next page) Follow Anthony on Instagram @toenyunknown
I am always interested — once a collage is completed — in how others receive and process that piece of art. “Blood Heat” mixed-media collage 100. “The Dream That Never Came True” hand-cut collage 225. “Eat Eggs, Will Ya?” mixed-media collage 75. “Feed or Slaughter” mixed-media collage 250.
(above right) “Last of Her Kind” hand-cut collage 85.
“Screen Time Barbie at the Atoll” hand-cut collage 80.
(above center) “No Flowers, No Grapes” hand-cut collage 85.
“Screen Time Barbie at the Beach” hand-cut collage 80.
“Praying for a Cure” hand-cut collage 100.
“The Queen Set #1 hand-cut collage (previous page, at right) 100. “For Woody” hand-cut collage 85.
(above left) “Screen Time Barbie at the Club” hand-cut collage 80. (previous page, at left) “Sunset over Sahara” hand-cut collage 350.
Robb Spath
I tend to iconize people who move me. Sometimes my
inspiration comes in an unexpected way. With “Arsinoe,” it was a particularly hilarious episode of Drunk History that moved me to put the X-acto to paper. “Harriet” is from a series themed around kick-ass women who moved mountains for what they believed in. “The Embrace” and “The Thinker” are about two very close friends; I am conveying through images their responses to questions I asked them. Pop culture is the biggest influence coloring my process. I am honored to be part of this show.
Robb’s pieces are all hand-cut collages: “Arsinoe” (top) 175. “Blinders” 75. “The Embrace” “Harriet” “The Thinker” (above) 175. 200. 175.
Follow Robb on Instagram @armedrobbery810
Greg Ephemera Trout “Another Saturday Night Alone” hand-cut collage 100. “Birth of Venus Bathed in Silver Nitrate” (next page, top right) hand-cut collage 200. (next page, bottom left) “Engel über Hollywood” hand-cut collage 150. “Galaxy of Tears” hand-cut collage 180. “Hollywood and Saturn” (below) hand-cut collage 120. “Monochromatic Toy Box #2: Lonely Pirates” mixed-media assemblage 100. “Monochromatic Toy Box #3: Lonely Cowboys” mixed-media assemblage 100. “Monochromatic Toy Box #4: Lonely Ghost Nation” mixed-media assemblage 100. Follow Greg on Instagram @gregephemeratrout
“New Age” (below right) hand-cut collage 250. “Sea Child” hand-cut collage 100. (last page, top) “Shadow Stage Eclipse” hand-cut collage 180. “A Silver Phantasmagoria” hand-cut collage 300. “Vernal Pool” mixed-media collage 180.
Wayne W. Urffer
I collect lost and discarded things and try to turn them into
objects that express my political and philosophical ideas. Engaging in this process is why I love working in the 2D medium of collage and the 3D medium of assemblage.
“Gott mit Uns” mixed-media collage 75.
Follow Wayne on Instagram @wwurffer
Harvey Weinreich
I suppose it’s just in my nature to work in mixed media and to
incorporate found objects into my art. Despite a formal PAFA education, I’ve ended up filing most of my training in the recycle bin — no offense to PAFA — instead finding fulfillment in a creative process that itself recycles and gives new life to objects. Assembling them and blending media freely have enabled me to develop a visual language all my own. I realize observers may interpret my art in very different and personal ways, and I am cool with that. Harvey’s pieces are mixed-media collage: “Artifacts of Fiction” (below) 80. “Dyslexic ENO” (at left) 400. “Known & Unknown” 80. “Space Dust to This” 80. “Yin/Yang” 80.
Follow Harvey on Instagram @harveyworld2431
Mary Liz M L M Memorial M E 17 Masters Exhibition
Jean Plough
March 27 – June 3, 2022 Opening Reception: Thursday, March 31 7 – 10 p.m.
Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s NE Corner, 13th & Pine @OTWDirtyFranks offthewallgallery.org