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A Muse to Florida

Recently I received an email from a high school gal, Heather, who lives in South Florida. She plans to study photography after high school so is wisely taking her photo class seriously. Her assignment involved an assemblage project and her research lead her to my site. She inquired after some of the techniques I use in order to apply to her project.

Heather's Creative Brief

The project I'm working on is an assemblage sort of like Joseph Cornell.... My meaning for the box is for the viewer to see all sides of the box because everyone has a need to know everything they can about an item and/or person, like Pandora's box. It started as just the box being the center of interest but I started adding a story to it. See my model has a possessiveness of the box so I photographed her with the box in different locations and I'm planning on transferring them into the box in a montage like your work or Robert Rauchenberg then inside I want to assemble it somehow like Cornell to show my model giving up the box, like leaving it behind.... basically I want to portray this mystery of a box so the viewer can come up with their own story for it. I'm still playing with the idea.

Heather & I had a bit of an exchange (we both share a love of Joseph Cornell's shadow boxes and all things Robert Rauschenberg). I offered her explanations of my techniques, sent her a handful of links and wished her luck.

Results to Date

I'm thrilled that Heather sent me samples of her work-in-progress (photos left)!

"I used Modge Podge as my medium to transfer the pictures onto this thick watercolor paper and I plan on reprinting these scans and using packing tape to transfer them and pasting those on my box."

I think these look gergeous already! I'm proud to have influenced Heather's creative process. Thanks so much for sharing and for having the courage and maturity to reach out for advice.



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