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Collage showing both the present, and where we might be in the future Photo by: John Turck from MyModernMet

Often times, art has the ability to be open-ended. In some works, the artist almost definitely left their creation to be open to multiple interpretations.  This piece of art, made by John Turck, most definitely is an example of that. Although I am only reviewing one of his pieces, it seems that he is the kind of artist that creates his collages with intent to make people think, or “scratch their head” if you will. Judging by the seamless blending and glowing features of the collage, I would guess to say that this image was created using digital tools. Along with that, this piece tells us more things about the artist. For example, John Turck must have been born relatively recently or is possibly still alive. With his obvious use of digital tools to help him create the image, along with the fairly high definition photo used at the bottom of the piece, we find evidence that this is true, as the technology to do the things previously listed has only been around for the last few decades. This piece also shows his ability to blend pop-art techniques, and more contemporary approaches seamlessly.

The way the piece is presented makes the person viewing it, to interpret it differently than most other collages, because of the way multiple styles are incorporated. First, it appears that the top half of the piece, was created using some sort of computer software. This is a great choice because this part of the collage has a more science fiction or futuristic tone to it. Using “futuristic” software to create a “futuristic” scene correlates perfectly. Like the top half, the bottom half does the same thing, however, in a different way. It shows a older age, more recognizable image of the man in a boat. This part was created using less sci-fi means in the form of a photograph. Also, the artist uses a line in the middle of the photograph, showing the divide between the present, and the future. All of these things make the collage very interesting to look at, however there is one part of the piece that stands out from the rest in my opinion. The artist uses the technique of contrast in this collage in a very interesting way. The part of the piece that is in the foreground, or laid on top, is the bottom part, or the more present image. In contrast, the more futuristic part of the piece is laid underneath, almost in the background. The line in the middle of the piece is jagged, in my opinion, showing how as our time in the present progresses, we begin to “eat away” or become more like the future. In other words, if the collage could move with time, eventually, the bottom half would eventually take up the whole image, showing that we are now in the future.

John Turck is an artist from New York City who is really interest in creating images which are so seamlessly collaged that they appear to be real. He likes to create scenes which look real but are in fact surreal. He looks at pictures in various books and magazines to get inspiration for his collages. He also has a Tumblr account which showcases the variety of his amazing artwork.

I think that his creative choices have probably been influenced a lot by all of the media that is out in the world today. He says on his Tumblr account that he gets most of his inspiration from modern magazines and books. I would also argue that he probably gets a lot of ideas from watching tv as well as images on the internet and social media. These modes of inspiration would not have been possible during a time when most images were black and white. It is really amazing that he can look at all of the media around him and figure out how to make something spectacular out of it. He makes amazing art out of everyday images that most people would not even look twice at.

In this collage created by John Turck, we see an other-worldly perspective through the means of a seamless piece of art (John Turck, “My Modern Met”, 2015).

At first glance, some of John Turck’s compositions look as if they are actual pictures that he has taken. However, after taking a closer look, it becomes obvious to the viewer that this is in fact not possible. For example, the image to the left showcases a scene in which a man is rowing a boat through what looks like outer-space. This is obviously not possible; however, the image is so crisp that it is hard not to believe it for a split second. The middle of the image in which there is a planet seems to be the most dominating part of the work. This is true because of both the large size and bright color. I feel that—due to this dominating component residing in the middle of the image—it helps to balance out the image as a whole.

I never knew that it was possible to create a collage in which the various components were seamless. I thought that collages were simply newspaper or magazine clippings stuck to a page tied to some imaginary other-worldly meaning. The compositions of John Turck have really opened my eyes to the possibility that collages can be much more than this and they are in fact a legitimate form of art.

A mixed media collage for a book cover by John Turck, 2015. https://www.turckcollage.com/product-page/booger

John Turck is a brilliant artist who dedicates his time to creating extravagant collages that mix nature with pop culture. Sometimes he adds architecture to his pieces in attempt to complicate the design. Turck is a great example of a collage artist, given that he often will scrap elements from magazines and books to inspire his design. This was probably inspired by the era in which he grew up and developed his idea of art. Magazines and books were a common form of entertainment before the prominent era of technology. With an everchanging mindset of ideas, Turck goes into a design with no real hard outline, he rather will play with elements until he feels its best fit to portray his concept.

Turcks’ goal is to take elements completely out of context and create a digitally seamless collage. His goal is to create a detailed and interesting collage that viewers enjoy to look at, as well as develop feelings in response to his piece. Many of Turck’s collages have a retro, “out of this world” perception. He is able to create this by uploading many various elements onto photoshop and combining them. Turck uses many examples of color as well as texture. However, arguably Turcks most famous element is his use of line. Many of his pieces have dramatic lines that encourage the viewers to follow which then allows eyes to travel all throughout his collage.

Turck’s use of various elements inspires his viewers to get exited about art and the limitless ability the artists truly have in creating an original piece. By using Photoshop, he is able to develop a personal style as well as the chance to make his design specifically as he pleases. Turck’s work appeals to me and has sparked as interest in pursuing his style of collages. I want to be able to create something enticing to look at, but also withholds a deeper meaning. This, I find in almost all of Turck’s work as well as many other artists. I am exited to being creating my collage, as I have found inspiration in Turck’s work as well as many other artists.

For this piece, I have chosen to write about, “Opened by Customs” a collage put together by Kurt Schwitters. The piece was produced from 1937-38. Collage making was widely popular during the early 20th century.  This artist demonstrates the technique of cutting and pasting papers adopted from Italy. In the early 1900’s well-known artist Pablo Picasso innovatively established this technique. Textures of the piece varied with differing materials like soft white paper, thin newspaper, and long thick brush strokes. Influences on these colleges were reading materials like books, newspaper print and various paper materials.

Opened by Customs 1937-8 Kurt Schwitters 1887-1948 Purchased 1958 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/T00214

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, form of media then was the newspaper which helps bring the point a crossed collage pieces through written words. The low neutral colors of the collage gives the examiner a better idea of the time period. Its influences give this collage a well balanced piece because of the dark grays and black mixed in with the red and orange hues. The repetitional use of the Old English Text alongside the paper can help me notice the seriousness of the piece. The vertical lines in the collage leads me from top to bottom, gradually going from the soft light browns to the more implied grays and reds. The depth of all the papers stacked on each other send a sort of subliminal vibe. It reminds me of something political and tells a story from the time period. The paint reveals the type of paint most commonly used during that time. The layers of different materials used makes the piece complete with its unique arrangement. As the article suggests, it “served as a correlation with the pace and discontinuity of the modern world”, bringing a sense of modernism to tie into its own decade and the past decade of when it was originated. The collage’s unity makes the perfect symbol for early collage work that was very common in era.

The pop art ‘The Dream’ made by Rosalyn Drexler in 1963. ‘The Dream’ was contain a chimpanzee and a woman bu using collage method to present. (Exploring the Cutting-Edge History and Evolution of Collage Art, MY MODERN MET)

Rosalyn Drexler was born at 25 November 1926 in the Bronx, New York. She was a artist, novelist, playwright with Obie Award-winning, and screenwriter with Emmy Award-winning, and former professional wrestler. I was shocked when I know she was a artist but also a professional wresler. Rosalyn Drexler also worked in sculpture as her early job. She was better known for her Pop culture Art.

Drexler started to make Pop Art in 1961.  She liked to brush against the edge. Thus, She searched images through old magazines, posters, and newspapers for her paintings. She cropped images from magazines and newspapers by using her selt-learned technique, collaging them onto canvas, and used bright, saturated colors to paint onto the images that she collected.

There was not Adobe at 1961. Therefore, the only way to make collage art was to make a outline on the paper, and then collaged pieces onto the paper. Based on the reason that there was not adone at 1961, Drexler could not preview her artwork with line, color, diretion, shape, and etc by doing collage on photoshop. She could only refine the elements of design while she made the collage.

From my perspective, I like the method that Drexler used on her Pop Art. First of all, Corpping images from newspaper and Magazine and collaging them onto the paper is interesting and full of fun. Because I never know how my work is going to be, even though I have a blue print of my artwork in mt mind. After collaging images onto the paper, painting is going to be next. I believe that work is going to be unique as personal style after combining images and paintings.

A Nintendo DS handheld game system that I received as a gift when I was young. (Photo taken by Emmalina Krist, August 2018)

A technological artifact that I feel would help define me is the Nintendo DS system from my childhood. It was a gift from my mother when I was about seven years old, to replace the Gameboy Advance that I’d owned previously. This object is important to me because, other than the Gameboy Advance, it was one of the first gaming systems that I could remove from the house and carry with me. I took advantage of this, and carried it by my side nearly everywhere, similar to how I carry my phone nearly everywhere with me today.

One of my dearest memories of this device is taking it with me when I visited family in Poland. I had difficulty communicating with the children my age due to a language barrier at the time, but they did show an interest in my gaming system. I found that explaining and demonstrating games in this way required very little speech, so this device helped me build a relationship with relatives that I might otherwise have been more distant with.

The system still works as well today as when I received it; like the Media Archaeology Lab, this allows me to play it and realize how much mobile technology has changed for me; instead of being limited to five or six game cartridges that were easy to misplace, I currently carry a small computer that not only can play games, but can quickly access the internet and help me with everyday tasks.

Digital cassette tape music converter. Photo by Rachel Lentz, August 2018.

Defining a personality and definitely a generation by one piece of technology is a nearly impossible task in today’s world. Technology has begun to move exponentially fast, building upon itself to create new offshoots and innovations. Every year companies come out with new and improved smartphones, businesses and schools offer cutting edge technology for their people to use, and parents call their children for tech help as they struggle with the basics. This type of fast paced change has yet to be seen so fully incorporated into society, so much so as to define this time period of human history. For all of this technological advancement humanity started somewhere and luckily we stand on the shoulders of giants. Our parent’s legacy of technology is the foundation on which we stand today and now we use this to build tech wonders. As such we can see these old structures through the gaps in our shiny new screens. For example, the radio in my car has been shamelessly adapted to accommodate digital music technology from its older generations. My car is a 1999 Toyota Camry, and still has the originally installed radio. This radio only has a cassette tape player and as a citizen of generation Z, I do not own any cassette tapes. At best I could scrounge some dusty CD’s or a tape of two from my mother. Luckily, technology has my back. I was able to purchase a cheap cassette tape converter which allows me to plug in my digital phone and play music through my older radio cassette tape player. This in an example of my generation adapting to and using the foundation of the past to fit our own needs and innovations. Think of all the work that went into establishing electricity throughout the USA, years of effort and billions of dollars when into the establishment of this now basic need. Today electricity connects to the phone towers that broadcast the internet signal to my phone which allows me to play digital music through my old radio. Foundations are important and how we adapt and use them today can be traced through time, like a tree growing from its simple roots.