With my birthday more than two months behind me, age 62 is now feeling old hat, but I have not forgotten about the gift from Ted Tollefson. His collage on beer coaster sparked a strong desire to reciprocate. Toll Taker is the result, and one could say I was “under the influence” of his cool style. It shall be sent it to him promptly with a couple more surprises.
Toll Taker
collage on Lore Brewing coaster
J A Dixon, 4 x 4 inches
collection of T Tollefson
“To alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.”
— Homer Simpson
Yesterday was my birthday, and I was rocked by the generosity of a fellow practitioner, Ted Tollefson. A veteran collaborator, he is also one of the more versatile individuals currently laboring in the medium. Like many collage artists, Tollefson explores a number of different approaches, but has recently established his mastery of the collage-on-beer-coaster format.
I was not fully aware until today that he has been producing a coaster-based collage for each of his facebook friends. That means hundreds of miniatures in a relatively short time frame, and, from what I can tell, he calibrates the visual method for each intended recipient. Given my expressed fondness for personal miniatures, TT is a kindred spirit indeed. He has crafted a real gem for my gift coaster. Everything about it — scale, colors, composition, textures, choice of ingredients — are simply outstanding. Thank you, sir, for your kindness. Keep up the superb effort. You are a true heir to Kurt Schwitters. Merz lives!
Take a look at just a few examples of his creative output and you might share my high regard for this mushrooming body of intriguing work.
April 29
collage on beer coaster
by T Tollefson for J A Dixon
Personal miniatures on beer coasters by Ted Tollefson.
(Hover over image for more information; click to view larger.)
An atypical subject-oriented collage, but, with this one, I wanted to focus on something of favored interest to my daughter. Gift art is always an opportunity to put any ruts in the rearview mirror, especially at the cusp of a new cycle.
Sovereign Creature
collage miniature by J A Dixon
8 x 10 inches
collection of T Strock
“Never lose sight of love and kindness for family, clan, and friends. Family comes first and many times we make it, or seem to make it, last.”
— John Edward Dixon
This would be my father’s 90th birthday, had he not been lost to us nearly 20 years ago. For the rest of my life I shall create pictures of him. Of course, I can’t know what he’d think of that, but I suspect his feelings would be mixed. Modest enough to be uncomfortable with the practice, he probably would have approved, on the other hand, of my using his image as a mechanism for continuous artistic investigation. It’s natural for me to think about him on his birthday and how enhanced my life would be if I still had access to his wisdom, evolving perspective, and keen sense of leadership. Whether we comprehend it or not, each of us has a meaningful influence by our very presence in the drama of existence, affecting our world and others in countless ways. Perhaps our departures from the stage will be less profound than his, depending on how each of us has played our part. When one is as beloved as my namesake, the absence is a deeply felt void which sends wide ripples across the surface of family life. And so, it is a day for me to pay tribute, in the springtime he cherished, and to declare that I shall love him forever.
Variations on a Theme by Grandybo, Part Eight
mixed-media collage by J A Dixon, 2006
collection of A Kenner
Happy Happy to “my partner in all things.”
I love you forever . . .
Microcosmic Memories
collage miniature by J A Dixon
6.5 x 8 inches
collection of Dana Dixon
“The dealings with artists, for instance, require great prudence; they are acquainted with all classes of society, and for that very reason dangerous.”
— King Leopold II of Belgium
As many artists have found through the ages, there is something uniquely satisfying about creating a small work of art as an expression of fondness for an individual person. Part of the appeal is that one knows it will be accepted unconditionally and without judgment. It can serve as an exercise in unfettered intuition, free from the kinds of meddlesome thoughts and feelings that can accompany the formation of a work for exhibit or sale. This is a good habit to internalize. It keeps one in touch with the heart of creativity, a necessary balance to the practical concerns that come with being an art professional.
I usually begin by deciding whether the miniature will also function as a card, and if it will lean toward the verbal (series alpha), the visual (series omega), or a hybrid of both. Once the basic composition is blocked out with key shapes and color quantities, I allow total spontaneity to overwhelm the process. Ingredients that allude to the world of the recipient merge with conspicuous or camouflaged non-sequitur elements. The outcome is intended to be a close-up viewing experience. The collage miniature can be a perfect format for this sort of intimate rapport.
Coast Starlight
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of R W Breidenbach
Nurse Kari
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of K Oldham
Give Me a Facelift
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of R K Hower
Flowers for Mombo
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of V E Dixon
Bob’s Orb
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of R D Dixon
Presidential Mule Team
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of J D Wood