“whatnot themes” Collage, cut New Yorker Magazine paper, 9" x 12" — **“whatnot themes”**
Collage, cut *New Yorker* Magazine paper, 9" x 12"

Well, that didn’t quite go as planned.

If you’re keeping up with my weekly art challenge—thank you!—you know that I am working on finding ways to shorten my process. This project is VERY time consuming, and that would be fine if I didn’t have a job and whatnot that I need and want to do.

This week’s New Yorker issue comes from exactly one year ago. It’s the special Money Issue, slightly thicker than usual. More to read, but also more visuals.

To save time, I was selective about the articles I read. Although I cut out lots of phrases this week, I can’t say I was in love with any of them for a title. “Whatnot themes” had a fun ring to it though, and it seemed like it would open me up to create pretty much whatever I wanted. So I went with it.

“Towering Wealth” by Mark Ulriksen @markulriksenartThe New Yorker, October 21, 2019 — “Towering Wealth” by Mark Ulriksen @markulriksenart
*The New Yorker*, October 21, 2019

With collage, I don’t get to mix colors like a painter does. I work with what the New Yorker gives me. As the fantastic collage artist John Morse says, the color picks me.

This week there was a fantastic spread of slightly overexposed landscapes from Iran. The blues chose me. I knew I could create a patchwork background out of the different shades and textures.

Again, to save time, I decided just to freehandedly cut the pieces with scissors—I frequently use a straight edge and X-ACTO knife—and to be fairly random in their placement.

Alright, but what does this have to do with “whatnot,” you might ask.

I think we’re all aware of the definition of “whatnot” as a sort of “et cetera” at the end of a list. But did you also know that a whatnot is a piece of furniture? With shelves for placing knicks and knacks and brics and bracs and whatnot.

So my plan was to use the whatnot shelves as a launching pad. I thought I could place whatnot throughout the collage, perhaps with some lines that suggest shelves. Perhaps with the beautiful orange colors that were also in these same photos from Iran. Perhaps with some gorgeous greens from another photo, all as cleverly positioned knick-knacks.

I kept trying to make those colors work as I saw it in my head. But the blues took over. They didn’t want to be just the background. They became the piece.

So much for plans and whatnot.

INNER CRITIC URSULA: Yeah, I’m not so sure it works though.

ME: I figured I could count on you to pipe up.

URSULA: Is it interesting enough?

INNER CHEERLEADER JULES: I like it! It’s peaceful.

ME: Thank you. It creates a mood, right, Jules?

URSULA: But—”whatnot”?

ME: Well, it’s kind of whatnotty. I mean, there’s a potpourri of textures and whatnot.

JULES: And black-and-white bric-a-brac!

URSULA: Hm. (Raises eyebrow.)

Alright, look. This is all a grand experiment. Can I complete 52 collages in 52 weeks and keep my sanity? I have to work quickly, I can’t obsess over much at all. There’s no time for that. It’s gitterdun and move on to the next piece. The boundaries of the challenge actually create some freedom.

When I showed this one to The Hubs, he said it made him feel serene, like he wanted to float into the blue. I’m good with that.

And I’m finding that as I work on these weekly pieces, I am collecting ideas for future projects beyond this challenge. Ones that I can take more time with. I like the layering that’s happening in this week’s piece. I could have gone on and on with that effect if I had had more time. So I’ll catalog that idea for future reference.

Meanwhile, the Braves lost, and the World Serious continues without them.

Meanwhile, there’s systemic racism that some people still refuse to acknowledge.

Meanwhile, there are 545 children at the border who may be permanently “lost” from their parents.

Meanwhile, there’s a very tense election around the corner.

That’s why I am putting some of my focus and energy into creating pretty things and whatnot.

I’m also voting early and continuing my anti-racist education. If you haven’t read it already, I highly recommend How to Be an Anti-Racist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. And I am currently getting a lot out of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.

I hope you are also finding ways to keep your serenity. May I recommend a little whatnot to help with that?

Also, at the risk of preaching to the choir: VOTE.

Sending you love and hugs and whatnot.