Exhibit at the Newton Free Library

Collage by Carol McMahon

Newton Free Library Gallery,

April 2-29, Opening Reception Thursday, April 3 at 7:00 pm

Inspired by travel and solitude, artist Carol McMahon created these large-scale, abstract collages on paper and canvas between 2005 and 2008. Working with paper, acrylic, canvas, veils, cloth flowers, sequins, patchwork quilt pieces, fringe, new and period fabric, and engaged with the abstract elements of color, composition, shape and scale, the work makes references to quilts and clothing (as cover) and adornment. Grief and loss of her father and husband in the same year is reflected in some of the pieces which are representational elegies.

The first piece in the series, BreA king OUt, BR eaKIng UP, AM steR  DAM, was begun with a layer of newspaper, glued to itself, then overlaid with pieces of found poster paper, a red sheer fabric and paint.  The show includes this work and several subsequent large-scale pieces which employ a similar method. Newer collages which were started in China in 2007, are ink and tape on Chinese rice paper and reflect the artist’s response to the look and feel of that foreign land.

Carol McMahon earned her B. F. A at the Boston University College of Art, continued her post-graduate study there and most recently worked at The Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China. She was awarded a fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT in 2007 and has shown widely throughout New England.

The collages will be on view in the Gallery of the Newton Free Library from April 2-29 with an opening reception on Thursday, April 3 at 7:00 pm.