Wendy Raskas Greenberg

Artist's Statement

Old objects and vintage images catch my eye instantaneously. I see them as delicate and beautiful. They have been weathered by human hands, the earth’s atmosphere, overuse, and time, but are never too worn to be used again in a different context and take on a new life.

As a self-taught mixed-media collage artist, the main focus of my work is to intermingle the old with the new. I push boundaries to create and discover different processes in which to incorporate objects and/or images of older, more worn items with newer ones. As I create, I ask myself, How can I incorporate a picture of this vintage, red-handled tool into my work? How can I reuse this weathered leaf? How can I get someone else to enjoy the beauty of this oxidized copper pipe?

Perhaps my preoccupation with old objects is my way of holding on to the past in this ever-changing world, consistently abounding with new technologies. Perhaps it is simply my way of exposing the “old” to the rest of the world, giving it the much-needed attention that it deserves. These objects and images are pieces of our history, and through my collage work, they can now find new life and a restored beauty.