Six by Larry Calkins
“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.” – Pablo Picasso
collage is a strange mix of collecting and visual poetry.
as a form of divination, it is often revealing and surprising, even disturbing in its truth.
collage for me, speaks the way poetry can.
in recent years my approach to collage has been pretty minimal, mostly monotone (often using my own photographs) with very little color, putting down images juxtaposed in startling combinations.
during the pandemic, i have relied on collage to keep myself calm. it seems to be the only medium that can do that for me right now - writing and collage. all the other mediums i work in are impossible.
Larry Calkins is an experimental, multi-disciplinary, teaching artist best known for his tactile sculptures and encaustic paintings. He works daily in his studio and in his metal shop. Most recently, he has been teaching virtually from a makeshift studio space in the hallway of his house for Kirkland Arts Center, Pratt Fine Arts Center, and Winslow Art Center. He is represented by Gallery IMA, American Primitive Gallery, Rice Polak Gallery, Mason Gallery, 1+1 Gallery, and The Art Spirit Gallery.
Instagram: @larryvcalkins