✂️⚡️Upcoming Exhibition - Big Orange Monster: An Emergency Collage Exhibition⚡️✂️
Opening: Wednesday September 10th
Opening Reception: Second Saturday, September 13th 2025, 6-8PM (CDT)
Running until: Saturday, October 25th, 2025.
At:
The Kolaj Institute Gallery,
2372 Saint Claude Avenue, Suite 260,
New Orleans,
LA 70117,
USA.
If you follow my work then you know that I have a special interest in monsters, what they represent, how they can make us laugh, how they cause us fear, and what they can teach us about ourselves. So I am delighted to have dispatched some dastardly creatures to take part in this monstrous exhibition at the Kolaj Institute over the next two months.
Here is a little from the organizers:
“The world is run by monsters and you have to deal with them. Some of them run countries, some of them run banks, some of them run news corporations.” –Ken Livingstone
You mix fear (yellow) and anger (red) and you get a Big Orange Monster. What’s the emergency? There are a lot of Big Orange Monsters on the loose. Monsters only have power if you are afraid of them. So let’s create a space where we can slay our fear of Big Orange Monsters. Art helps us exorcise our demons. Monsters can be glorious and wonderful or horrible and evil. Let’s not cast aside the good Big Orange Monsters because some other Big Orange Monsters are well…unpleasant.
Curated by: Ric Kasini Kadour
Other Events During the Exhibition:
Collage the Tarot Workshops: September 10th & October 8th 2025 7-9 PM (CDT)
Collage Artist Meet-Up: Tuesday, September 30th , 6-8PM (CDT)
Second Saturday: 11 October 2025, 6-8PM (CDT)
For more about this exhibition, events and the work of the Kolaj Institute CLICK HERE.
If you dare to enter the hallowed Rare Monster Archives CLICK HERE .
⚡️✒️ ITS ALIVE: Mary Shelly's Frankenstein: Kolaj Edition ✒️⚡️
⚡️✂️ Featured Artist in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein: Kolaj Edition✂️⚡️
⚡️⚡️!!!!!ITS ALIVE!!!⚡️⚡️
In the Autumn of 2023, I had the real pleasure of teaming up with a whole crew of creaturely collaborators to illustrate a new version of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. It was macabre delight to work with these monsters on dissecting Mary Shelly’s seminal work of proto-sciencefiction. It was an amazing process to spend time thinking about and drawing out the colourful, magical and fearful imagery within. I had a lot of fun working on the illustrations in this version with our ghastly group, including my dear friend and regular collaborator Marta Janik.
I am delighted to announce that the book is now ready for release!
See more from the publishers below:
”This new version of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's classic 19th century novel Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus features seventy-six illustrations by International Collage Artists who delved into the novel's rich narrative and visual potential and created thought-provoking artworks that reflect the essence of Frankenstein in a 21st century context. “Frankenstein,” writes artist David Edward Johnson, “The name alone conjures a lightning storm of images. From corpses, unholy and unearthed, to gothic laboratories, alive with galvanic impulse, to personal loss, longing, and anger. Shelley’s 1818 masterwork is locked in our collective unconscious like a fever dream. Since childhood, I have been in love with its silent shudders and moss-covered 19th-century tableaus.” Artists created illustrations that connected Shelley's text to contemporary issues. Artists explored the role of science and artificial intelligence, queerness, intersectional identities, narcissism, and modern relationships. "Shelley's timelessness is proven by our ability to use her novel to reflect on our world today," said Kolaj Institute Director Ric Kasini Kadour. "Collage artists, with their unique ability to transcend scale, place, and history, are well-suited to giving us pictures that bring vintage texts into the contemporary moment."“
Participating creatures include:
Claire Dannenbaum (Eugene, Oregon, USA); Emily Denlinger (Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA); Suzanne Greenberg (New York, New York, USA); David Edward Johnson (Skaneateles, New York, USA); Marta Janik (Warsaw, Poland); Anthony D Kelly (Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland); Maureen Letton (San Francisco, California, USA); Rosie Lewis (York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom); Anissa Malady (San Francisco, California, USA); Rebecca Steiner (Lyme, Connecticut, USA); Jessica TranVo (Boston, Massachusetts, USA); Anthony Naimo (Spruce Pine, North Carolina, USA); Elzbieta Zdunek (Berlin, Germany)
To purchase a copy of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein: Kolaj Edition simply CLICK HERE.
To find out more about this project and the overarching Collage and Illustration program CLICK HERE.
Cover Image: “Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus” (2023) - David Edward Johnson
🔸🔹🔸 COLLAGE & ILLUSTRATION: FRANKENSTIEN RESIDENCY - AUGUST - OCTOBER 2023🔸🔹🔸
🔸🔹🔸 COLLAGE & ILLUSTRATION: FRANKENSTEIN RESIDENCY - AUGUST - OCTOBER 2023🔸🔹🔸
I am absolutely delighted to have been accepted to take part in the Kolaj Intitute's Collage & Illustration Residency which is focused on Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein and hosted by the illustrious Kolaj Institute over the course of August - October 2023.
If you follow my work you may have had the dire misfortune of witnessing the frightening annual Rare Monster Sighting reports posted every October, and will know that I am very interested in the intersection between visual art, poetry and literature, and how these different creative practices can act as engines to spur each other on. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been a joy to research and is so much more than a gothic horror novel. The novel itself is a poigniant reflection on the danger of humanities efforts to subjugate nature through science and technology; but also on loss, abandonment, alienation, loneliness and at times the restorative power of relationship. Its a novel of great depth and as we have started to share our ideas on the residency new perspectives and nuances arise.
⚡️!!! IT’S ALIVE !!!⚡️
The organisers have this to say:
"During the Collage & Illustration Residency – Frankenstein, artists will work to visually interpret Mary Shelley’s 1818 proto-science fiction novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. As part of Kolaj Institute’s ongoing Collage & Illustration project, this virtual residency aims to explore the themes of creation, identity, and the boundaries of human imagination through the captivating mediums of collage and illustration. Kolaj Institute will publish Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus using the illustrations made during the residency as a way of bringing this important, historical book and the themes it raises to 21st century readers. A selection of artwork will be exhibited at Kolaj Institute in New Orleans. "
To find out more about the Kolaj Institute and their residency programmes visit: https://kolajmagazine.com/content/institute/collage-illustration-frankenstein/
The Freeform Trouble Rare Monster Archives - The Fearful Facts of Year Five
😈👹👺🤖!!!!!MONSTER SEASON COMMENCES!!!!!!👾👽👻🎃
Hail Horror!!!
The much dreaded month of October has arrived again like shrieking nails on the chalkboard of my very soul!!! Dark formations of forboding cumulomalicious clouds gather on the near horizon promising a relentless maelstrom of monstrosity.
What weirdness shall we witness? What lurching creatures of the decrepid swamps of the human psyche are threatening to spill forth now? Do we really want to know?
We have a sickeningly rich assortment amongst the reports that are flung across my desk. These materials within have been carefully obtained by our world class agents through sneakery, snakery, covert maneuvering, safe-cracking, breaking and entering, trickery, misdirection, cajolery, roguery, conspiracy and outright armed robbery. Through these skills and others our daring team have gained exclusive access to ancient ruins, undersea laboratories, classified astronomical charts, underground military bases, forbidden libraries, lunar outposts and all manner of confidential records.
As always kudos to our inrepid research team, I dread to peer inside these dossiers of disaster for fear of what I may behold!
The stupendous scope of our scintillating specimens is summed up by this quote from the eminent Swiss-American Biologist and Geologist Louis Agassiz:
“The possibilities of existence run so deeply into the extravagant that there is scarcely any conception too extraordinary for nature to realize.”
So brave with us if you will in the coming days and weeks as we reveal the results of this year’s intrepid investigations.
Or if you are feeling particularly courageous you can explore the riveting results from the previous four years over at the Freeform Trouble Rare Monster Archives.
WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT - MONSTER WORKSHOP- Saturday 10th of September at 14.30 -16.30- The Parochial Hall, Cappoquin,Co.Waterford, Ireland, P51 VY40 - At New Reality: Contemporary Collage in Ireland.
WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT
MONSTER COLLAGE WORKSHOP
Cappoquin! Get your monster hunting hats on!!!
You are invited to join me in this swashbuckling, hair raising opportunity to explore with humour, the topics of fear, monsters and the healing power of storytelling, through the rich medium of collage.
I will be demonstrating the three basic types of monsters “The Ghostees”, “Giants/Miniatures” and “Chimeras”. I will then invite you the dazzlingly courageous participants to generate “Monster Reports” of your own. Join me if you dare!!!
To visit the Rare Monster Archives simply click here.
WORKSHOP TIME:
Saturday the 10th of September at 14.30 -16.30
LOCATION:
The Parochial Hall, Cappoquin, Co.Waterford, Ireland, P51 VY40
PRICE:
€7.50
REGISTER:
!!!Booking essential as places are limited!!!
To register for this event call 087 2187962 or through Eventbrite by clicking here.
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I also highly recommend the “Lets Dance” workshop hosted by the amazing Una Gildea & Marta Janik. During this fun workshop you will be invited create a collage inspired by your favourite dance moves!
Sat, 10 September 2022 between 12:00 – 14:00
To register for this event call 087 2187962 or through Eventbrite by clicking here.
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For the other amazing workshops "Cut it Out" with Alan Murphy & Tatyana Feeney Come along and have some fun creating your own collage at 10am 11.30am . Call 087 2187962 or register here .
Or "Collect/Cut/Compose/Paste" with Tom Doig at 16.00 - 18.00. Tom Doig's workshop is an introduction to collecting collage materials, the use of tools, materials and practical techniques used in the collage process. Call 087 2187962 or click here.
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For more from this fantastic festival visit: https://www.instagram.com/new_reality_festival
For more from Market House Craftworks visit: https://markethousecraftworks.ie/
Upcoming Festival: "NEW REALITY: Contemporary Collage in Ireland"- Friday the 9th of September – Saturday the 1st of October 2022 -at Market House Craftworks, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, Ireland.
🔸🔹🔸UPCOMING FESTIVAL: NEW REALITY: CONTEMPORARY COLLAGE IN IRELAND”🔸🔹🔸
Opening Reception: Friday 9th of September 6pm - 8pm
New Reality Festival: Friday 9th of September - Sunday 11th of September 2022
Exhibition Running from: Friday the 9th of September – Saturday the 1st of October 2022
I am absolutley thrilled to be invited to take part in the upcoming - 'New Reality’ Contemporary Collage in Ireland festival and exhibition. Organised by the wonderful Silvio Serverino, Una Gildea, Jane Jermyn and the Market House Craftworks.
The ‘New Reality’ exhibition opens with a Festival on the weekend of the 9th-11th Sept. The festival will feature a series of workshops a the Parochial Hall, Cappoquin, P51 VY40. Each hosted by mega talented master collage artists, Marta Janik, Una Gildea, Tom Doig, Alan Murphy and Tatyana Feeny.
I am also inviting you to join me in a “Monster” workshop hosted by truly on Saturday the 10th of September at 14.30 -16.30. Workshops come at a small cost and booking is recommended either through Eventbrite or by phone 087-2187962.
Other events will include live music by 'Mamacha & the Forest of Sound', fabulous screenings of Moving Collage, a talk by the man himself Sean Hillen (Sean Hillen Artist), subject of the award winning documentary "Tomorrow is Saturday".
The exhibition itself will be open to the public from 9th Sept - 1st October at Market House Craftworks The Square, Green Street, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, P51 KD37.
For more on this rich and amazing event visit: https://www.instagram.com/new_reality_festival/