Collaging for Ritual, Self-Care, and Liberation
Photo Credit: Gherdai Hassan
Tell me something better than a good personal ritual…I’ll wait. Now your girl loves her a good ritual - bad! And ever since the pandemmy, I’ve been really leaning into those simple daily and monthly rituals that cause me to slow down, ground, and be present. Some of my faves are tea brewing, doing my weekly manicures, and of course - reading!
But another ritual that I have come to appreciate greatly is collaging. Collaging is the art of making a picture in which various materials or objects, are stuck onto a larger surface. Now for an art noob like me, collaging has been an amazing outlet because it enables me to get my inner thoughts, feelings, and goals out of my brain and into the world in an artsy and meditative way. Whether I’m intentionally working on a vision board or just plain bored and fidgety, collaging has been as revealing of my inner self as journaling, and it is definitely a soothing form of art therapy.
So that’s why I am super-excited that Loc’d and Lit will be hosting thee amazing Doriana Diaz on April 14 at the Boogie Down Grind right here in the Bronx! *squeals*
Artist Bio: Doriana Diaz is a multidimensional artist, archivist, and memory worker rooted in Philadelphia's soulful rhythms. She has hosted a wide array of collage and bookmaking workshops around the city in spaces like The African American Museum, Brandywine Art Museum, United States Botanical Gardens, a variety of schools including Penn Charter, Delaware Valley Friends School, and Green Street Friends, along with places such as Express Newark,and Bok Bar. Her work explores loss, memory, fantasy, utopia, formation and identity through the archival documentations of visual imagery. Her collage work entitled 'A Declaration of Joy in Motion; Friday Night Voodoo' was chosen as the 1-year anniversary poster for Rachel Cargel's Loveland Foundation in 2021. This honor was in partnership with The Loveland Foundation and The Akron Museum of Art. She is also one of the 2023 recipients of the Black Music City grant where her collage work will be funded by REC Philly, WXPN, and WRTI 90.1 to explore her project entitled ‘Sisters in Rhythm, A House of Our Own’ cataloging and memorializing the work of Sister Sledge and The Supremes through visual storytelling. She believes art has DNA, Her work is an exploration of cultural agency, archival documentation, and rhythms of resistance and expansion.
Whew! She’s hella dope right? So are you excited yet? Are you digging through your old magazines and looking for some scissors and glue? I know I sure am! I have been stalking Doriana ever since I found out about these bookmaking and collaging sessions, and I am so glad that we have the opportunity to host her right here in the Boogie Down.
So what feelings do you want to express, what stories or thoughts do you want to put down on paper. Come join us and learn how to create your own unique journals and collages with guidance from an amazing artist and soul sister. This is going to be a day of fun, creativity, and community, so I don’t even want to hear any blah blah about art levels and “but I don’t have any experience.” This workshop is perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike. Don't miss out on this opportunity to unleash your creativity and connect deeper with self and fellow community members. I know I’m gonna be there front and center, and I hope to see you there too!
To register for this upcoming workshop, click here. The vibe will be a cozy and intimate so seats are limited. Make sure to lock in your spot today!
C’mon y’all and LET’S GET LIT!!