Fat Tuesday seems as good a day as any to finish a pair of collage miniatures that clearly fall into the category of “catharsis.” Not all artwork in the Merz tradition is specifically purgative, but the synchronicity inherent in this dynamic approach lends itself to the impulse.
“I’ve reevaluated myself and my work. I see that continually calling people jerks can never be a solution. Furthermore, I’m not too certain that political statements, credos, or philosophies solve anything.”
— Philip Burke
Evilution
collage catharsis by J A Dixon
8 x 9.5 inches
“My father told me when I was a little boy that people in authority lie and the job in a democracy is to remain skeptical. I’ve been science-based since I was a kid. Show me the evidence and I’ll believe you, but I’m not going to take the word of official narratives. The way you do research is not by asking authoritative figures what they think. Trusting experts is not a feature of science, and it’s not a feature of democracy.”
— Robert F Kennedy Jr
When I indulge the impulse to have a collage catharsis, the Fred Otnes influence of my editorial past often bubbles to the surface. So be it. Wishing everybody a new year brimming with creativity, marked by discernment, and devoid of fear!
American Janus
collage catharsis by J A Dixon
11 x 10 inches
I am comfortable with art containing visual ingredients that represent a spectrum from the greatest evil to the highest good, but it always bugs me to see a collage artist traffic in the shock that comes with merely taking a “cheap shot” or “low blow” at religious imagery.
My third rule of collage: Intuition is worthy of your trust.
Taken to fruition, a catharsis of the unconscious is always a possibility with this medium. And so, my peculiar series continues in a thought-provoking manner.
Unprotected Speech
collage catharsis by J A Dixon
6.75 x 8.875 inches
available to collectors
Down Side Up
collage catharsis on book cover by J A Dixon
12.5 x 8.75 inches
available for purchase
Face the Music
collage catharsis by J A Dixon
6 x 7.5 inches
private collection
“Collage is a fantastic tool to modulate the strain of life and associated feelings.”
— Laurie Kanyer
This one was started some time ago, in response to the Paradise conflagration, but I had no determination to finish it until after a deadly storm front came through our region last Saturday.
If you can, please reach out to help.
Ticket to Trauma
collage catharsis by J A Dixon
8.25 x 10.625 inches
available for purchase
The national symbol of the eagle is so iconic I often forget that Benjamin Franklin was opposed to its adoption and favored the turkey. (Some things need no further elaboration.)
If You Turkeys Can Keep It
collage catharsis by J A Dixon
8 x 10 inches
available for purchase
Prognosticated Harm
collage collaboration by J A Dixon
5.25 x 6.75 inches
for the Arizona Collage Collective salute to World Collage Day
available for purchase