The Art of Assemblage
Assemblage, a three-dimensional art form which is like both collage and sculpture, puts together incongruent, non-art materials in a variety of ways
My friend Evelyn and I have been walking for twenty minutes, and here is what I've picked up along the way: one curly pink and purple ribbon, a small piece of cracked ceramic tile, an oddly shaped piece of wood and one wine cork. Oh, and a small envelope with lovely cursive writing adorning the front. Evelyn's findings are less exciting: an oversized paper clip, two buttons and three twigs, one with lichen clinging to it.
This art form is a terrific way to use those rusty tools, keys to nowhere and flotsam and jetsam proliferating in our junk drawers.
Evelyn and I are not hoarders. We are assemblage artists -— well, we hope to be — and we are collecting interesting found items in preparation for an upcoming class we've signed up for in a local community center.
For those folks who are downsizing or decluttering, this art form is a terrific way to use those rusty tools, keys to nowhere and flotsam and jetsam proliferating in our junk drawers. The problem, though, is that you now have not only a great reason to bring home new goodies, but, if you really don't want to get rid of anything, not even that half-torn three-pronged rubber plug, you've got the perfect excuse: "I'm saving it for an art piece I'm making."
Junk Art, Found Art or Even Trash Art
Well-known 97-year-old African American assemblage artist Betye Saar says, "I've always considered myself a hunter and gatherer. I'm like a recycler, recycling the energy of the objects or interpreting what they are saying to each other to make my own statement."
Like many of us, Saar inherited a beloved relative's collection of accumulated objects, which included gloves, fans, lace and brooches. Instead of stuffing them into a cardboard box to be stored in the garage, never to be seen again, Saar integrated them into what she called "The Nostalgia Series," artwork which highlighted personal family history and memories.
Many artists had started incorporating discarded or disassembled objects into their work in the early 1900s.
Assemblage, a three-dimensional art form which is a close cousin to both collage and sculpture, puts together incongruent, non-art materials in a variety of ways, using string, wire or glue to hold the elements together. There are varying assertions as to who first popularized this genre of art, with artists such as Marcel DuChamp and Pablo Picasso frequently being credited for its' development. Although Joseph Cornell is considered to be "the pioneer of assemblage art," many artists had started incorporating discarded or disassembled objects into their work in the early 1900s.
This was well before French artist Jean Dubuffet coined the term "assemblage art" in the 1950s. Interestingly, "curiosity cabinets," also known as "accumulations and combines," were a trend among the crème de la crème way back in the 1500s. Much more recently, assemblage art began to be referred to as "junk art", "found art" and even "trash art."
Creating Your Creation
Julia Norton, a New York City- based visual artist and educator, says "In my art practice I always start with the materials. Since I use predominantly things from nature, they all have distinct meanings and their own life forces, which often dictates how they are incorporated into my work. Sometimes I have an idea in my head as to the formation of shapes, but usually the meaning evolves concurrent with the act of making."
Norton enjoys working with earth pigments, also known as ochre, and different kinds of paper that integrate natural materials into the pulp. She loves foraging and collecting colorants, such as dyes for fabric and ink making. "I find objects all the time, and sometimes they find me," she says.
Sara Krieger, a New York City assemblage artist and voice-over and vocal talent, says "I've always been a collector of things, the weirder, the better!" With more than a modicum of pride, she adds, "I have a collection of bleached chicken bones, dice, game pieces, vintage toys, doll heads, bottle caps, anything somewhat quirky and strange in nature. My eyes just naturally gravitate towards the unusual and the eclectic." Her eclectic creations often blend a contrasting combination of something sweet with something bold, disparate or semi-disturbing.
Every assemblage artist will tell you that the hunt is part of the fun. This includes scavenging not only beaches and back yards but also dried up creeks, rock overhangs and forests, where Native American arrowheads or other ancient artifacts may be found. Of course, flea markets, second-hand and antique stores and garage sales are great fun to explore.
Every assemblage artist will tell you that the hunt is part of the fun.
Looking at, touching, cutting, bending and otherwise manipulating found objects that you're saving in your home or studio (if you're lucky enough to have one) until you've discovered the perfect use for them is another great pleasure.
Storing or categorizing items in some kind of order so you know what you have (or can find what you want to use in your ever-growing stash) is a challenge for every artist. (Saar called her method "organized chaos.") Some artists separate things by color, others by size, and others by theme, such as a collection of tiny plastic animals or miniature furniture.
You have to decide what you'll use to house the ephemera, defined as things, usually paper, enjoyed or useful for only a short time. Examples are ticket stubs, postcards and letters. The three-dimensional aspect of assemblage means you'll use things other than or along with paper.
What to Make
Some assemblage artists use paint, alcohol inks or other colorants to alter the substrate (the foundation of the piece on which objects are placed), while others like the natural grain of wood or the ridges in corrugated cardboard. Some alter the appearance of the objects themselves using techniques such as gilding, patination and rusting. Noted assemblage artist Louise Nevelson spray-painted her assemblages a single color to make them monochromatic, frequently using black or gold paint.
Other possibilities for bases are wooden or cigar boxes, printer's boxes, cell phone boxes, shadowboxes or metal. Cigar boxes, miniature candy tins and heart-shaped candy boxes are other possibilities.
With these, you can make:
- Vintage-inspired shadow boxes using objects such as old keys, pocket watches, and small old photographs. Tiny figures or props can be added to the box to tell a story.
- Beautiful nature-inspired wooden or ceramic treasure boxes adorned with pressed flowers, acorns, and small sea shells. An antiquated lock or clasp can be used to complete the look.
- Whimsical found object sculptures can be created by sanding, painting or staining different sized pieces of wood or scrap lumber or cardboard, stacking them, fastening them together in a vertical tower and adding objects such as toy parts, small metal pieces, wooden blocks, or broken jewelry.
If you're just starting out and don't want to spend a lot of money, glue sticks, white glue or school paste are good for adhering lightweight items. To fasten things together or attach heavier objects, hardware such as screws, bolts and wire, a hot glue gun as well as different types of glue (PVA, gel medium, Gorilla Glue, E-6000 or two part-epoxy adhesives) can be used. Norton likes YES paste, a white, water-based, permanently flexible adhesive which doesn't curl paper and is acid-free.
There are many wonderful websites that discuss the history of assemblage as well as giving ideas for materials and techniques. I like The Art Story and, great for beginners, Beechhouse Media.
You don't need talent or training to become an assemblage artist. You just need open eyes, open hands and a heart that welcomes the beautiful, the whimsical and the strange. The possibilities are endless!
