Collages

In 1995, when I transitioned from Administrator for the Costume Institute to Librarian, Sean Flaherty was my incredible successor. He was highly recommended as one of the most charming denizens of the Met, and he never disappointed. Among the many things I learnt from Sean, there is the technique for lifting pigment and text and applying it to board.

This has proved to be inspiring, fun, therapeutic image making over the years and the collages are the basis for many projects.

I also have passed the knowledge on to selected confederates and the results have been enjoyed on the Upper West Side by retirees decorated cigar boxes and kids from indigenous tribes in the Philippines, which gratified almost as much as the results achieved at home.

The major drawback is the number of cardboard pieces and magazines I have gathered as raw materials in the past 19 years and the boxes of collages. I really need to have a huge collage sale soon, or else.