Italian Inspiration

 

by Naomi Muirhead

I began making collages during my sojourn in Italy, because I wanted an art form that was portable, immediate and inexpensive. At first, these collages were mementos of being in a foreign environment and were directly related to site and place, usually in a historic context. They have evolved into work that is less about place and more about suggesting narratives with a contemporary reference.

In most cases, I have used the original materials, rather than scanning or photocopying them, because doing so would create a different set of “rules” and infinite options more closely linked to graphic design. By not using computer imaging, this process is purposely low-tech cut and paste, which results in a rich and tactile artifact. These collages become experiences in hunting, looking, collecting and assembling elements while being game-like with a goal of solving a layered puzzle with what materials are available at hand. AV

Naomi Muirhead, a designer of jewelry and interiors, has a B.F.A. in painting from Illinois Wesleyan University and a B.F.A. of interior architecture from California College of Arts. She studied abroad for a semester in Madrid in 1992 and now lives in Florence, Italy. Her recent work can be seen at www.art925.com.