voc ep 93: Marianne Laino Sade
Marianne Sade of Chestertown, Maryland, creates hand-cut original, playful, and often quirky collages from magazines and transforms them into settings mostly featuring crows. Her new picture book, “Tapum!” which she authored and illustrated, uses the same technique, and captures the harmony of the world through the rhythm of a child’s drum. The children’s book is recommended for ages 0-4 years, yet is meant to be enjoyed by child and caregiver alike. She culled years of experience as a children’s librarian and artist to make an attractive book with rhyme and an upbeat message. She is also an Art-O-Mat artist whose artomat.org makes her “CrowBar” series collages affordable through refurbished, yet stylish cigarette vending machines around the country.
From her artist statement: “My work invites you to explore the cleverness of our world that often hides right in front of you. The social yet inscrutable nature of crows captivates me, as does the collage form in creating my playful, yet stylish interpretations. I like to imagine what those birds are thinking as I reinvent them, while respecting their intelligence and ancient place as the 'trickster' and 'creator' in global mythology. We exist side-by-side, avian and human—their home mixes with our architectural bits. The bars become intersections in concrete and abstract in fun ways. My favorite medium, my first love, is a return (after sculpture and painting) to my childhood facility with collage and upcycling. Perhaps it’s similar to way a bird might construct a nest from what’s available. For me it’s a very pleasant way to concoct a new world around me.”
