WHAT THE F◼️◼️◼️ IS A TARPAGE?
A TARPAGE IS A MIXED MEDIA ARTWORK CREATED USING THE UNORTHODOX MATERIALS POLYVINYL TARP, DUCK TAPE, OIL MARKERS, AND HAND SEWN-ON BEADS AND SEQUINS. THEY VARY IN SIZE FROM 12 X 16 INCHES TO 8 X 10 FEET AND ARE COLORFULLY PATTERNED WITH ETHNIC AND TRADITIONAL MOTIFS EVOKING A JUXTAPOSITION OF “STREET ART” WITH THE TRADITIONALLY DOMESTIC ARTS OF APPLIQUÉ AND QUILTING.
ARE THEY FINE ART? ARE THEY CRAFT? ARE THEY TREASURES, OR ARE THEY TRASH?
FEEL FREE TO LEAVE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT LECTURE ME ABOUT THE SPELLING OF THE TAPE I USE — IT IS NOT “DUCT” TAPE, IT IS “DUCK” TAPE A BRAND OF (VERY SIMILAR) TAPE WHICH COMES IN A VARIETY OF COLORS AND PATTERNS (NOT INCLUDING DULL GREY). IT IS USED TO ADHERE THE TOP LAYER’S CUT-OUT OPENINGS TO THE BOTTOM LAYER OF POLYVINYL TARP. I THEN MAKE SURE IT STAYS PUT BY HAND SEWING ON THE BEADS AND SEQUINS WHICH I’VE DUBBED “BEADQUINNING.” I LOVE A PORTMANTEAU.
TARPAGE PORTFOLIO
TARPAGE POSTS
BLACK ELK’S VISION
IN JANUARY 2017 I PARTICIPATED IN AN EXHIBITION “BLACK ELK, LAKOTA WARRIOR, MIGHTY VISIONARY” AT THE CANYON CROSSROADS MUSEUM AT CELEBRATION PARK IN IDAHO. I CREATED THIS TARPAGE “GREAT CIRCLE OF LIFE” INSPIRED BY THE FEVERED VISION BLACK ELK HAD WHEN HE WAS JUST 9 YEARS OLD. HE SAW SPIRIT HORSES GALLOPING FROM THE FOUR…
A MAZE OF CHAMBERS 