MLK jr. dr.
Atlanta, Georgia 30312

Jeff Rackley small gallery opening February 11, 2005
6:00PM - 9:00PM
Opening reception Runs through Feb. 26th

Jeff Rackley

The inspiration and motivation to work in the idiom of collage has captivated me for many years now. Whether it?s the tactile qualities of the materials that I use, the color, shape, or the unusual nature of the thing, it seems that the possibilities are limitless. I am compelled and inspired by the idea of recycling discarded materials, like pieces of junk mail, old notes, doodles, ticket stubs, receipts and various ephemera, materials that normally are not considered good candidates for constructing a collage. For instance, lately I?ve been moved to work directly on large pieces of sized cardboard, instead of using the more traditional canvas or board. I?m also drawn to certain types of packaging, like large envelopes with interesting labels, packing slips, or even plain envelopes. The notion of ?making something from nothing? so to speak, juxtaposing the materials, and seeing these elements transform from their original context into a new one within a composition has motivated me to continue working in this manner. I marvel at the discoveries through the process of experimenting, reconstituting, and working with the materials that I choose to incorporate into an image. Another interesting discovery is how the act of collecting materials, and their eventual use in a collage, seems to bring about the idea of time and place in each piece for me, since I am incorporating real things that I have collected, or that have entered my life, either by mail or by collecting things. This has become an important part of the process for me. In doing this, I may be revealing bits of my own history, or creating a new history, a memory, perhaps revealing the fragmented nature of time. Also, the notion of recycling comes to mind, and this may say something about life in a commodity driven society. It is my goal to transform these unlikely elements into a composition, something relevant and vital in my on-going development as an artist.

Added by manunderstress on February 7, 2005

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