THIS QUIET PLACE FOREVER original paper collage

Dolan Geiman’s original paper collages are often crafted around signature motifs; customarily, his favorite creatures from the natural world. A new spin on a classic Geiman character – the bison – Rest Not, Western Herald (Wildflowers) deposits this shaggy fellow into new pastures: modernized with a jet-black landscape and sky, highlighted with puffy clouds and bright bursts of high plains flora.

To create this bold work, Dolan first applied a thick of layer of dark acrylic to a wooden panel; atop this, in light pencil, he drew the bison’s outline and the first glimpses of flowers.

Then, to the stacks and stacks of drawers lining his collage studio! From this carefully sorted collection, Dolan extracted sheets of music, vintage magazine advertisements, long-forgotten envelopes with hand-inked addresses, and labels from packaging not produced in decades.

Snipping each piece by hand and carefully layering into the outlined shapes, bison and flowers and sprigs of spring came into view, forming a striking image against a stark background, interspersed with tiny details from bygone days. You may notice the technical drawings and sewing patterns layered into clouds and mountains.

This intricate work offers a nuanced and ever-evolving viewing experience, as tiny treasures and big stories peek through, revealing themselves with each new glance.