Imagination Matters, Winter 2007

This was a course about creating work from natural forms. Participants collected natural materials from around their homes (leaves, seed pods, stones, bones, feathers, moss, etc) and interchanged them, so everyone was working with a collection of objects from New York, Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Canada, and even Finland!

One of the design challenges the group worked with was Imaginal Trading Cards.

                                                                                                                                                            Cards by Jori Hook  

From course Bricoleur, Dan Mack:

"In February, participants from around the world,tarted making Imaginal Trading Cards. These are a variation on a cult-like art form called Artists Trading Cards, which appeared in 1997 as artists, around the world, started making small trading card size (3 ½” x 2 ½”) collages, assemblages, paintings, drawings… whatever fit the rules of size and flatness. The cards are also the size of a normal playing card.  The interesting aspect of this is that they are always (usually) traded, never sold.   

Our Imaginal Trading Cards are quite similar in look, though we tried to keep the materials and  themes we were working in.

                                                                                                Cards by Renie Garlick

MATERIALS:  We used mostly natural materials, some recycled paper, markers, charcoal, postage stamps...The materials we chose to work with were somehow related to the natural world in color, origin, texture, smell, etc... and most importantly, evoked some memories of the natural world.

PURPOSE:  We used natural materials as a portal into a pre-conscious state of mind where we then "say" something.  As my yoga teacher, Patty, put it a few weeks ago: "Express and Release" and my friend Judd, the fishing guide, puts it: "Catch and Release." So, we are a little different from the general pool of artists who make and trade cards. We did not make "art" but looked to catch and express and release something through this card-making.

THEMES: We looked for materials from the natural world to help us say something about the interior world.

ACTION: We did several cards at a time, so no one card became too important. The process is protected.

... First, an ID... Make an object/Card that IDs who you are.  What do you know about your prominent characteristics that you can realise in an object or a card? Second, another ID... what aren't you telling us?  What's that part that's deferred, tucked away. I suspect your first card/object may have been flattering or celebratory.  Good!      ... And, now? What else? Third, tell me about your family, birth or mated. Fourth, tell me about your clan.  What you know or feel of your ethnicity?

                                                               Cards by Jody Melander

A SUGGESTED WORKING FORMAT: Mark off 1/3 of it for some icon/image of You in the World: what you do; what you are proud of what you are recognized for. This is your name tag.  People will recognize you by this. Fill the other 2/3s with materials to express some of your "other" characteristics:

• Something about your family, your clan, your country
• Something about your shadow: your fears, secrets, shames (these can be hidden and covered over, if you want)
• Something about your future and your past
• Something that you've discovered, learned, hard-earned about life"

                                                                                                                               Cards by Dan Mack
Click Here for Mini-Gallery of more of Dan's Cards.

More Information on Artist's Trading Cards:

• http://community.livejournal.com/artist_cards/
• http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/newstuff.html
• http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/
• http://www.europeanpapers.com/  supplies, papers, sleeves for Cards

 

                                                                                 Cards by Renie Garlick

 

                                                                                            Cards by Jody Melander

 

                           Card by Jori Hook

Click here to visit Natural Sculptures • More work from Imagination Matters, Winter 2007    

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