The Society for Layerists in Multi Media

 SLMM: Discovering Art Community and Creative Inspiration

I first learned about the Society for Layerists in Multi Media, or SLMM, through the inspiring blog of collage artist Nancy Nikkal. Nancy Nikkal: Art of Collage  SLMM maintains a website, hosts exhibitions, and holds a weekly Zoom meet-up for art sharing and connection. What drew me to the group is the notion of art as being layered not only with brushstrokes or imagery but also the meaning that derives from our lives and connections to all beings. This resonated with my Buddhist and Taoist studies. 

    "Layering is an evanescent metaphor that grows like moss from living and learning. Often there is a sense of something "other" than the visible in Layered art. The kinship among Layerists is their openness to inspiration from all aspects of their lives and their shared perception of an underlying connectedness to everything." 

                                                Mary Carroll Nelson

Here is a link to the SLMM website where you can read the full statement of founder Mary Carroll Nelson. Society of Layerists in Multi-Media

I joined SLMM this spring to explore the offerings and learn about the group. The first thing that came up is an inspiration to make art from tea bags. This prompt spoke to me, perhaps harking back to my love of tea as ceremony in my teen years and now, as a favored beverage for relaxation and restoring health.  

Now that I am working with teabag paper I see its lovely transparency, strength, and porosity.  Here are working photos of my first three teabag explorations. 

Robin

July 9, 2021

tea bag collage #1, 9" x 12", 2021

tea bag collage #2, iteration 2 with teabags and rose petals
(partially glued with second layer arranged)

tea bag collage #3, iteration 1 with teabags and assorted papers(unglued)