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Photo by Devin Courtright/The Advocate
Susan B. Schenk’s exhibit “Painting with paper” will be on display in the Fireplace Gallery until Jan. 28.
Artist re-imagines collage medium
The Advocate
The beauty of Susan B. Schenk’s art is in the way “it’s really striking from a distance, and then it draws you in and makes it even more interesting,” said Pam Kuretich, student events and special projects coordinator.
Schenk’s exhibit, “Painting with paper,” is being displayed in the Fireplace Gallery until Jan.28.
Schenk, a retired high school vice principal, took a class in creating collages that she really enjoyed. Although it was intriguing to create such abstract pieces, she never reached a feeling of fulfillment. “I never had a sense of being done,” she said.
The artist’s frustration caught the attention of her instructor and the idea to try making something more representational, like a painting was born. Schenk watched as her instructor tore up paper and began shaping the objects she was emulating.
“At first I didn’t think I could do it, but my teacher told me to just try it,” said Schenk. “I loved it.”
The Mt. Hood Community College Student Life Committee sent out a request for artist’s submissions and Schenk responded. Her collection stood out from the rest because MHCC has never displayed a collage artist’s work, according to Kuretich.
Schenk captures images ranging from a cheetah to a housing development, using different colors and “editing in many layers” to ensure the life of the object radiates from the canvas.
The pieces are made of mostly recycled materials and, according to Schenk, even the frames were purchased at thrift stores and garage sales. “The glue is pretty much the only cost,” she said.
While the cost is minimal, Schenk said this is still a hobby and she has not pursued it on a professional level.
“It was a way to let out the inner artist in me,” she said. “The inner artist has been asleep and it (art) has wakened it up.”
Schenk is teaching some classes at the 100th Monkey Studio and anyone who would like to learn the process of creating paper collage paintings can find more information at their website, 100thmonkeystudio.com.
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