It’s been a unique journey for California-based artist Joha Harrison. Louisiana born and Georgia raised, he latched onto photography early and initially wanted to enter law enforcement as a crime scene photographer.
But the confinement of covid brought out an artistic nature that had been bubbling under the surface so he switched gears, starting a collage/painting combo that is his current artistic passion.
Harrison is the next Artist-in-Residence at Allerton Park and Retreat Center with a three-week visit in August which will include a public outreach event Aug. 11 — A Community Collage — that will walk participants through the creation of ‘blocks’ that will then be compiled into a large collage.
Collages not only meet Harrison’s artistic need, but appeal to him as unique abstract puzzles, but done without the box top to show you the way.
“Let’s say you have a grocery bag full of paper and all those scraps come together to complete a puzzle, then you take the puzzle apart,” said Harrison. “So, when I collage, I will take those scraps of paper and basically complete a puzzle from the pieces I have.”
The unique, tactile medium started from a waste-not, want-not attitude.
“I used what I needed in pieces but I wouldn’t throw anything away. I kept all my scraps and put them in a bag. One day I took those scraps and made a painting out of it,” he said.
Allerton Senior Program Coordinator Olivia Bunting is excited to see what comes out of A Community Collage, an open-house style event that will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11 in the Mansion Library.
“I’m excited to see what pieces he ends up creating with his collage and papermaking processes,” said Bunting. “His project sounds unique and interesting, using park and nature to create abstract pieces. I’m also looking forward to seeing how the community turns out to help create a collaborative piece of art using Joha’s unique collage techniques.”
Those wanting to take part in the workshop can register here ($5/person). Walk-ins will also be taken as space allows.
Harrison is also looking forward to his stay at Allerton, which began on Aug. 3.
“I’m kind of excited for the isolation; being away from everything to see how may brain processes it and what it creates,” he said.
Harrison’s stay is part of the In-Residence Program at Allerton, which has hosted artists, writers, naturalists and musicians since 2020.
