Important Target Practice Project Update!

Get 'em while they're hot!

Big news! As of 12-27-2013, original vintage paper targets are again available for collaging! If you would like one, and are not yet a member of the Project's Facebook group, please join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/161991817319872/,

then note me with your postal address. I'll pop a target in the mail posthaste. If you are already a member of the group and want an additional target, just let me know and one will wing its way to you.

 

Of course if you work in digital collage, you may continue to download the target file under the "Want a Target?" tab of this blog.

 

And if you haven't already, please do take a moment to read the Project's backstory, under the "About the Project" tab.

 

Thanks to all who have so generously given of their time and talent to participate in the Project. It means the world.

 

Laura Tringali Holmes

Carl Heyward

paper, camera, lens, man

 

Carl Heyward, USA

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

Bolin Zhang and Ken Coleman

...telling it....

Bolin Zhang, Taiwan

We Are All Working Toward The Same Goal

Ken Coleman, France

 

Three Brief Exercises in Approximating Accuracy

 

Artificial-i KBittle and Nikki Soppelsa

 

 

Artificial-i KBittle, USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nikki Soppelsa, USA

 

Looks Like We Have a Winner

Moving Targets

 

The Target-Makers

 

Lewis James Golland and Marc Deb

Lewis James Golland, UK




Target 1

 

Marc Deb, France

 

Marianne

 

Amy Duncan and Isabelle Thibeault Jolin

targets revitalized

Amy Duncan, USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isabelle Thibeault Jolin, Canada

 

Wheel of Fortune

 

Andrea B Collages and Terry Flowers

an aura of a collision of worlds, with conviviality

Andrea B Collages, Argentina

 

Estan Nominados

 

 

Terry R. Flowers, USA

 

Target Practice 2

 

Shooting Gallery

 

Katrien De Blauwer and Isabel Reitemeyer

a fragility of being

 

 

Katrien De Blauwer, Belgium



Target



 Isabel Reitemeyer, Germany

Trying to hit the center of the target

 

Matt Taggart and Kathrin Diestel

Eye-ful

 

Matt Taggart, USA 

 

Kathrin Diestel, Germany

 

A Statement

 

Peggy Despres and Mara Thompson

Fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers, sons, and daughters

Peggy Despres, France

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mara Thompson, USA

 

Jumping

 

Guest Blogger: John Andrew Dixon

This Collage Collaboration Hits the Bullseye by John Andrew Dixon

An increasingly engaging form of collaboration in collage is the coming together of a diverse group to explore the shared concept. Usually, the participants will artistically exploit a suggested image or theme, but no recent joint venture has taken on a life of its own like the extraordinary “Target Practice Project.” Launched on Facebook earlier this year by Laura Tringali Holmes, the initiative makes use of identical vintage paper targets magnanimously provided to those taking part. Anyone who reads her affecting backstory here: http://thetargetpracticeproject.blogspot.com/p/about-project.html will be primed to accept her challenge of using the distinctive target image as a key compositional ingredient. If one of the 1960s archery targets from Sears Roebuck is not available (there is now a waiting list), then a high-res scanned version is available to print or digitally manipulate.

When three paper targets arrived for me by mail, I immediately plunged into the process with enthusiasm, and I rapidly assembled a collage miniature based on the first idea that intuitively presented itself — had not a young president been slain at about the same time these original targets were produced? “Friday, 1963” is what I titled the result.

Friday, 1963

“Tir de Duc” was my second submission to the project, and I spent time considering more obscure symbolic associations.

Tir de Duc

The third paper target languishes near my work surface. A visual solution worthy of the new significance surrounding the international phenomenon now seems mandatory, and my initial spontaneity is difficult to recapture. Plus, like all working artists, there are numerous schemes and deadlines nibbling away my limited time. Collage artists could spend nearly all their available hours interacting with each other through the many collaborative formats that currently exist. It is important to find the proper balance between solitary investigation and the dynamic cross-fertilization so vital within contemporary collage.

As this outstanding series continues to take shape, I cannot help but bring to mind the Merz painting, “Hitler Gang,” and how Kurt Schwitters (as usual) was just a bit ahead of us.


Kurt Schwitters, "Hitler Gang" c.1944

If he thought a target was an intriguing collage ingredient nearly 70 years ago, I am, for one, quite content to continue digging the ground he broke. At least, thank heaven, we are not fearing for our personal safety, as did he and other pioneers of modern art.

Schwitters said, "Merz means creating relationships, preferably between all things in the world.” One fine aspect of his legacy are the new connections and friendships that grow out of mutual interest in collage at the dawn of its second century. Perhaps the great German innovator might think we are right on target.

You can read John Andrew Dixon's blog, "The Collage Miniaturist" here: http://www.xorph.com/jadixon/
   

Michael Church and Robert Tucker

Does that which is impenetrable really exist?



Michael Church, USA

 

Cut Art
 

Laura
 

Nurture

  

Robert Tucker, USA

 

Blare

 

Number Three

 

Third Eye

 

 

 

Andrew Lundwall and Dianne Hoffman

Shouts and whispers

 

Andrew Lundwall, USA

 

 

 

 

 

Dianne Hoffman, USA



Night Cap

Tame Me

Low Tide

Spell Bound



Last Call