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Abandoned Albums Podcast's avatar

Great work! Keep it up. Some of this hit home, like the Britbox mysteries. Why are they so addictive? Totally enjoyed this peek into your brain. Thanks for sharing it.

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

Thanks, dude!

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Paul Kimball's avatar

These are really great! Collage has become a major habit for me, too; I find the analog messiness and improvisational, non-linear nature of making it to be particularly enjoyable antidotes to so many aspects of modern life out there beyond the cutting mat. I want to know more about this collage rabbit hole -- where can I find the entrance?!

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

One of us! One of us!

I started seeing more of it on Notes once I posted an essay with collage as the header image. I think that’s how the algorithm got triggered for me. Try following @DuaneToops, he’ll lead you down the rabbit hole, for sure…

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks so much for the mention! Glad to be out here spreading the Good News of collage evangelism!

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

Love your work!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Too kind! Thank you so much!

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Jim Ruland's avatar

There's a bit in Brain Eno's new book What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory that says humans are very good at avoiding what makes us unhappy, but not so good at the opposite: structuring our lives around that which brings us joy. I don't see avoidance here but artful play and seeking joy in a very dark time. To that I say bravo!

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

I love that, Jim. Thanks so much.

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Jim Ruland's avatar

De nada! These pieces are rad!

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Pen Black's avatar

Wow! I love your collages - fantastic.

I tried a similar idea when I gave up smoking (almost 2 years ago now): I had a bunch of blank 3x5 inch 'system cards' and decided to do 1 drawing per day for 2 months - all faces, done with a range of black markers of differing width. I didn't quite reach the full quota but it certainly helped having a 'project' and something to keep my hands busy!

I'm a recent subscriber still catching up on your 'backstory'; trying to imagine the horror of losing everything in a fire... Clearly a more substantial challenge than just giving up smoking! I know it would wreck me; being a collector of much physical media, artwork, photos etc. I carry my life around like it's the weight of the world on my back!

Sounds like the collages are a healthy part of the healing process - or at least a healthy distraction - I wish you all the very best.

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

Thank you for the kind words. And thanks so much for joining the RTL party, and the thoughtful comment. Writing (and collaging) about all of this definitely helps; it seems like you discovered something similar. My relationship to stuff has evolved in the last 6 months, for sure. (And I quit smoking years ago by chewing Carefree gum. That’s one habit I do not miss.)

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Paul Covington's avatar

I would love to see these in person, when's the show? I think with your creativity + energy levels, you would have made a formidable supervillain, but this will have to do.

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

There are plenty of actual supervillains afoot these days.

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