Cohort 52 is a platform for emerging voices from the Applied Art & Design program at Sierra College in Northern California. Cohort 52 is facilitated by Assistant Professor Vincent Pacheco.

AN1
AN2
AN3
AN4
AN5
AN6
AN7
AN8
AN11
AN12
AN13
AN14
AN15

Anthony Nordin

I just started piecing things together, and then it began to reveal itself to me.

 

Interview

 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I’m an undercover nerd who is rediscovering my love for making art of my own, not just enjoying the art of others. I’ve had a wide range of career experiences, and moved a lot geographically, but always seem to come back to California.

 

How much experience do you have with collage?

Zero, unless 1st grade counts.

 

Collage artists tend to be picky when it comes to their source material. Can you talk about your approach for selecting your images and/or publications?

If I had infinite time and infinite money, I would definitely be picky to the extreme with my source material. I don’t know that I can describe what it is that I’m looking for in source material, but I know it when I see it. I tend to do a quick flip through, and I will know almost immediately.

 

Were there any large themes you intended to explore or unpack before you began with this series of work? Did you stay on theme, or did things change as you began physically cutting and pasting images?

I did intend to attempt unpacking a few non-abstract themes, but was not satisfied with the work that thought process produced. I completely changed themes, but not by picking one intentionally. I just started piecing things together, and then it began to reveal itself to me.

How did your background and life experiences inform your collages?

I think that there is an influence of joy and humor coming through which is where I try to live. But additionally a sarcastic and even emotional tone as well. These projects are helping me define or re-define who I am, I believe.

 

What was your environment and set-up like when making the work? Did you listen to music? Did you work in isolation, or were you surrounded by distraction? Do you think this influenced the work you made?

I was mostly isolated in a large brightly lit room, with relative silence for most of the work. I did some experimenting with music and more distracting scenarios as well. My observation is that there are influences in my work, but not necessarily good or bad.

 

Scissors or X-Acto?

X-Acto

 

Was there anything unexpected that emerged while creating your work? Any new epiphanies?

I was very surprised how my perceived relative lack of thought resulted in so many interesting juxtapositions, pairings, similarities, and meanings. The collaging was not a very cerebral experience for me, it was more of a meditative practice (the second attempt).

Looking at your work again, has your understanding of your collages changed over time? Has any hidden meaning emerged?

Very much so. Also seeking the perspective of others has caused several other meanings and odd similarities to emerge that I had not planned, seen, or anticipated.
Info
Category:
Tags:
Date: