Narrative Collage by KAY FOLEY

I call my work "narrative collage" because my art begins and ends with my writing, and many of the verses are narratives. Much of what I write about is drawn from my own life or experiences, a bit of something I've overheard a child say, or some odd or mildly profound thought that strikes me while I'm walking my dogs in the woods or driving home at night from a show. I continue to be amazed at the relevance that my humble thoughts and feelings have for other people, and I am grateful to be able to offer something that has meaning for others, brings out a burst of laughter or even a tear, or touches someone in some mysterious way. I am endlessly thankful to be able to do what I do and still keep body and soul alive--and I truly appreciate all the kind and wonderful comments I hear from those who like my work.

I build my collages with handcrafted papers from around the world--lace paper, tissue, embedded papers, marbled papers, screenprinted paper, etc. People often think that I use fabric, but what look like threads at the edges of the pieces are actually the fibers of handmade papers. Serendipitously, most of the papers I choose to use come from Thailand, but I also use papers from Malaysia, Japan, Nepal, and India. I consider the papers themselves to be works of art, and am grateful to the skilled artisans around the world who create them.