Alchemy Collage
the art of transformation
The Story
As part of my own radical reclamation, collaging as a creative practice came back to me as crucial medicine in my own personal healing journey. Where other traditional modalities failed, expressive art making was a meaningful way in to embodied exploration and visual storytelling that helped me to discover greater truth and liberation.
Through sharing my process with others, I began to see the power of this practice as a vehicle allowing us to witness different yet interconnected identities, values, personal and interpersonal cultural narratives. Creativity as embodied medicine. Throughout the years, Alchemy Collage has become an integral way I facilitate connection and change - a way to see and be seen in our shared humanity of joy, imagination, and love - as well as a potent way to alchemize our wide spectrum of emotions including grief, anger, fear and shame. It continues to be a cornerstone in how I create and organize in the world.
What this process is...
A practice of embodied discernment and deep listening through the 5 Bodies Framework
A generative and transformative practice for tapping into personal and collective energy and wisdom
Relational healing as creative expression and interconnection
A pathway to radical truth and trust, helping to bypass internalized oppression (the inner critic)
An invitation to feel and locate who we are in this moment, in relationship with others
An emergent creative tool that is democratized, nuanced, sharable, and ever evolving
What this process is not...
A technique, lesson or how-to meant for you to replicate exactly what I make
Creating something meant to "attract" or measure up to anything external
A practice about mastery, perfection or creating in any "right or wrong" way
Only for "Artists" or people who consider themselves to be creative
About what is produced or any static end result
We Are All Creative
Creativity is an inherent human impulse found in any generative action. It is not about making something that qualifies as gallery-worthy “Art”. In our every day lives, each of us are creative in all kinds of ways, from how we dress, to what we cook, to how we gather, and the big and small ways we innovate and imagine our lives together.
Creative force is an energy we all possess. Using it together as a force for good is powerfully transformative and world-changing.
A Note on Media Literacy
I need to name that we are still very far from equal representation beyond the dominant white, cis, het, ableist, perfectionist lens that is sold to us through print media. Recognizing who is missing from these pages is a start. Remember, the media ideal is not your mirror! If you are able, diversify your stack as much as you can and use your purchasing power to support more inclusive publications - especially if you love print! The more we demand to see people who have been systematically othered, the more normalized inclusivity will become.
Resourcing Upcycled Magazines
Ask family and friends to save and share their stack
See if your local Dr's offices would like to recycle their back issues with you
Try the free/swap stack at your local library for old mags being discarded
Little Free Libraries sometimes have magazines as well
Used books can also be great inexpensive sources. Find them at library and yard sales
Start your own community magazine swap!