Altered Art Piece: These Shoes…
For some reason, typing the search phrase “Altered Arts” on Google doesn’t bring terrific results. Sure, I get the links to two interesting resources on this topic within the first two pages: Altered Arts Magazine and the Altered Book Club. I even got a couple of links to my own work on the first page. But, a person looking for an idea on what exactly is altered arts or a person looking for tips and tricks on creating altered arts just might get a bit lost in the beginning. You see, right now, I think there’s not enough easily available resources on the web regarding this young topic. I’m hoping that I can help change this.
So, consider this piece a first on a series of writings and demos on altered arts — a relatively new field in the world of art. At least, in the modern context. I believe art alterations have been going on for ages. It’s just not recognised and documented enough. Altered art pieces are the sort that you either love ‘em or hate ‘em. Obviously, I’m with the former group. There may not be a lot of us, but I know that I’m not the only member of this group either.
What are Altered Arts anyway?
Altered Art Piece: I Am Woman…
At the moment, I can’t find an official definition. I’m sure there must be something somewhere. In the mean time, I’ll just try to explain as best as I can in my own words.
Altered art is an art form that utilises an existing object to create a new piece. It is closely related to the more popular art form of collage or mixed media. Altered arts, however, are not limited to using traditional ground such as canvas, paper, panel or wood. When it comes to art alteration, anything can serve as the artist’s canvas: shoes, bags, tables, pots, cars, phones… Yes, just about anything. The most popular ground among altered artists is in the form of book arts.
Things that are used to alter materials are varied. Of course, different types of adhesives are pre-requisites. Altered artists also need things such as paint, crayons, pens, wax and various types of found objects and ephemera. Magazine cuttings, homemade paper, ribbons, rubber stamps, dried plants, seeds, buttons, bottle caps, and many other things that may be considered ‘junk’ by most people can all be useful in the making of altered arts.
The great thing about altered arts is that it is a very liberating form of art. It frees your mind from pre-conceived notions of what things should be. A chair is not just a chair. A scrap of metal or a piece of fake fruit can take on a different meaning.
Altered Book Art: Great Australian
(c)2004 – 2005. Shai Coggins. All rights reserved.