The Artobiography Experience is not an art or writing workshop, no special talents are necessary—just a willingness to participate and an interest in personal insight. If a piece is created that’s worthy of keeping, that’s a bonus. All materials are provided: magazines, scissors, glue sticks, etc. We spend some time selecting and cutting out pictures and headlines or sections of text with words, whatever seems appealing, keeping this thought in mind: More than anything, I’d like you to know this about me.
When we’re finished the spontaneous collage boards are put up on a wall. There are no signatures, everything is anonymous. I ask for interpretations about what the person who created this is trying to communicate about themselves. That person gets to hear what others think they have revealed. (Sometimes it’s surprising to them.)
The conversations are most lively, entertaining and insightful when the people involved are friends and know each other well. At the first Artobiography Experience I facilitated, the group was intent on figuring out who had done each piece and, much to my surprise, immediately guessed every one.
“As the child of a critical father, I, in particular, related to this memoir. The Artobiography Experience of “spontaneous collage,” which was a wonderful evening with close friends, revealed to me something quite personal about a cross- road I am facing right now. That it is game time for me (one of the words I unconsciously put in the center of my collage) became quite clear.”
—Anya Kirva
“The piece I made seemed to be a snapshot of this moment in my life. I wanted to put a date on it to mark this time. The collage I made looks like it’s from another era. My mother passed away 9 days earlier and I’m filled with memories of her, steeped in a lifetime of her possessions. Making the collage helped me see and embrace, own actually, how much of my mother is a part of me … and I have this collage to help with this passage in a very sweet way.”
—Sally Powell-Ashby
If you’re interested in arranging a workshop with your friends or book group call Tina Collen 303-440-4464.
TEDx at SuXanadu
Manhattan Beach, California
Date and time to be determined