8/23/24
The Ephemeral Nature of Art and Its Lasting Impact
Ephemeral art, by design, captures the essence of transience, portraying the fleeting nature of time and memory. In this project, each community quilt block, the original Shuster collage, and the paper clothing are crafted with this impermanence in mind, reflecting the challenge of preserving moments that are continually evolving and slipping away.
For the artist residency, I am donating only the crazy quilt collage to Shuster Hall, where it will hang over the mantel in the main community area. To ensure its longevity and adaptability to the space’s environmental conditions, the collage will be printed on canvas, with the hand-stitched elements applied to the printed surface. The remaining works from the project will be on display at the Juniata College Museum of Art in the summer of 2025, offering a broader audience the opportunity to engage with the project’s themes and explore its ephemeral nature in a new context.
After completing the crazy quilt collage, I met with Shane Moran, Juniata College’s Archives and Special Collections Librarian, to scan and digitally preserve this portion of the project. This step ensures that the intricate details and significance of the collage are captured and maintained for future reference, allowing the work to be appreciated beyond its physical presence.
