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WED MORNING Collage Classes - TERM 4

WED MORNING Collage Classes - TERM 4

1.5hr Contemporary Collage Classes


Description

Have you/your friends ever wanted to experience the JOY of cutting up beautiful books, postcards, calendars & magazines so you could create contemporary collage art pieces? I'd love to show you why I am SO OBSESSED with this massively FUN and incredibly LIBERATING art form!

Here you'll have a chance to work at your own pace over a few weeks as you explore your imagination while hanging with other like-minded, inquisitive people. I'll be there all the way to guide you, when needed.

PS. off-site workshops also welcome (perfect for schools/work team building/parties/gifts/special events).


~{*!*}~           Who/what this is GREAT for           ~{*!*}~

Super Curious & Creative Individuals

Explorers

Thoughtful Gift(s)

Mental Wellbeing

Friend Groups

Inventors

Family Bonding

Storytellers

Special, Small Gatherings


My background:

Growing up, I have found solace in cutting up and creating my own pieces. 

As an extrovert-introvert, I LOVE gathering fellow creatives, but also need loads of time to do my own thing. So, being alone together with nice tunes playing in the background while being in the creative flow, is my idea of heaven. It's like finding CALM amongst the CHAOS, because, in the end, the world is a collage that we just need to piece together in our own, unique way so it makes sense to us.

That's why collaging is brilliant for social anxiety, overwhelm and general get-to-know-others in an unawkward way.

Sourcing & making different imagery by regrouping and pairing them with new elements, speaks to me as a natural-born storyteller.

It's a magical & fantastical thing to be able to form A WHOLE from so many incredibly different pieces, and to this day, I still get surprised by how every single artpiece takes on a life of its own, mostly completely different from what I initially had in mind for it!


My motivation & experience:

This meditating act of cutting & curating imagery is like being in the eye of a storm: C O L L A G i N G  calms & grounds me.

That's how STORYHOLDING was born and how I finally embraced a long-overdue temptation by MONTSALVAT to set up my studio there.

It wasn't long, and I soon had the honour to partake in various group exhibitions, as well as having my very first solo exhibitionLONGING & BELONGING.


What I want to OFFER you in this workshop:

  • Let's rescue those beautiful, old books and magazines no one's looking at anymore and give them a new platform from where they'll be APPRECIATED ONCE AGAIN IN A NEW LIGHT (a bit like a makeover for old/discarded/damaged things and regrouping/blending them with new "friends/families").


  • Let me   O P E N   U P   your world to a    N E W     level of communication & expression where you're only limited by your imagination.


What will you NEED?

ALL materials will be provided, except... 

THE most magical ingredient of all, your...

~{*!*}~  c u r i ø S i t y ~{*!*}~

Oh, and also an appetite for diving
d

             e

                      e

                e
e

                                        e

                                                 p

                                         L
                                   
  y


    into an

                      *~ a l t e r n a t e ~* 

reality of 

d e c o n stru c ting
&
re o n st ruc ti n g


paper images sourced from my eclectic collection of vintage, artistic and intriguing pieces from: 

children's storybooks

picture encyclopedias

National Geographics

old cards

interesting flyers

calendars

art/magazines, etc.


You're also welcome to bring along any images/books you may like to donate/share/work into your creation.


The GOAL of these classes:

  • To learn about & try out different contemporary collage techniques;
  • To get away from screens and embrace the surreal reality of analog art-making;
  • To help let go of expectations so you're NOT paralysed by perfectionism. To embrace organised chaos. This means NOT focusing on the final piece, but rather, the actual JOURNEY of getting to it (who knows, your plans for the final product may change about a million times as new ideas keep being bourne from your process!);
  • To help you express ideas/feelings/emotions/views artistically in an incredibly accessible, diverse & tangible way;
  • You don't have to be a painter, illustrator, writer, poet, sculpture or of any other artistic discipline in order to be able to collage... however, if you are, contemporary collage will be a great contribution to your already-chosen form(s) of art discipline(s);
  • To bring you into the present moment in a safe, accepting space. It's incredibly healing when we get to work with our hands;
  • To ease loneliness, whether it's bringing you back to a place of compassion for yourself or for others. Collage-making is full of imperfections and flawed/false starts, with the reward as the SURPRISING outcome of your creation that ended up taking shape! We get to be alone together, where we work on our own pieces, but also share in the process in whichever way we choose.


Age & competence level:

  • Ideally grownups, but "kidults" welcome - as long as you are competent to SAFELY work with scissors.
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What you will learn

  • I'll share examples with you of different ideas/styles so you can get i n s p i r e d !
  • Tips & tricks when it comes to different cutting, pasting (or non-pasting) and layout styles (suggestions from you also welcome, of course!).
  • Then it's PLAY TIME, because by now your creative juices will be flowing like mad and your hands shall be ITCHING to start CUTTING & ASSEMBLING! I'll guide you into sourcing for ideas & images and leave time for you to enjoy the adventure of finding your pieces that will make your whole! You'll explore the way(s) that best work for you in assembling your pieces together.

What you will get

  • ALL materials will be provided.

What to bring

  • Left-handed friends, please bring your special left-handed scissors xx
  • OPTIONAL: You're also welcome to bring along any images/books you may like to donate/share/work into your creation.
  • BUCKETS of curiosity!

What to wear

Comfortable clothing, ideally NO long, flowing sleeves... unless you can roll/push them up.

Appropriate for

Suitable for ALL skill levels (beginners are totally welcome) & anyone who can SAFELY deal with "grown-up" scissors!

~{*!*}~ l i t t l e b O n u s ~{*!*}~

Music. High-res flatbed A4 scanner if you'd like to digitize your art. Tea/coffee-making facilities.


Storyholding

4.9
(22 Reviews)

Hi, my name is Rochelle Van Der Merwe

As multi-disciplinary artist, I find exploring ideas through storytelling with imagery & words 

via contemporary collage 

a very effective way of connection 

&

creating a sense of 

BELONGING.


Collage allows us to deconstruct & reconstruct the world how we see it. 

It gives you an opportunity to 

create a new universe

irrespective of how 

small 

or 

large 

it 

is. 


I am especially drawn to how contemporary collage gives new life &meaning 

to pre-used books and imagery

so they no longer lie alone in the corner and gather dust. 

We already have so much in this world, 

so collage offers 

an opportunity 

to 

waste less 

rebuild.


My studio, 

named STORYHOLDING 

is located at the pool in

MONTSALVAT, Australia's oldest continuously active artists' community

In fact, 

it's my MOST FAVOURITE room 

in 

the 

whole, wide world. 

Read all about it HERE!


My work has been featured in both SOLO & group exhibitions


As an immigrant from South Africa & as a trauma survivor,
I am passionate about using art-making 

as a way to thread our connection back to
our authentic selves
&
true expression
.


What drives me, is to share & learn

which is why teaching has always 

drawn me like a magnet.

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Cancellations & Refunds

If the organiser cancels the class:

You are entitled to a full refund.

If you can't attend the class:

You’re welcome to send someone in your place.

OR

  • A refund can be requested 5 days before class starts. Free of charge.
  • A credit note can be requested anytime before the class starts. Free of charge.

No changes will be allowed after these times.

We recommend the refund upgrade option upon checkout in case you’re not able to attend the class. Learn more about refund upgrade option.

Terms & Conditions

Anyone partaking in any classes or coming to any events at Storyholding or organised by Storyholding must agree to these terms and conditions.


1.) LIABILITY WAIVER

I agree to take on full responsibility for any damages, injuries and for physical and/or personal property, which I might incur whilst participating in classes and/or events organised by Storyholding.


2.) PHOTO & VIDEO

I agree to give Storyholding unrestricted publishing rights for any photographs or videos taken at Storyholding  classes and events or on Storyholding premises. (For use of Storyholding marketing materials).


3.) BOOKINGS

To secure your place in a class, course or workshop, full payment at the time of booking is required.

Bookings are only accepted through the online portal at www.storyholding.weteachme.com/.

Payment of class, course or workshop fees can only be made through the online portal at  www.storyholding.weteachme.com/.

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