Collaborators
Booyakatopia (Netherlands)
Daniel Guy (Canada)
Jan Kather (New York)
Fred H Athey (California)
Laura Lubecki (Pennsylvania)
Delivery Sequence
Booyakatopia sends to Daniel
Daniel sends to Jan
Jan sends to Fred
Fred sends to Laura
Laura sends to Booyakatopia
LETTERS AND FLATS ONLY
PROGRESS GALLERY
March 12, 2026—Daniel Guy’s completed collage has arrived at headquarters.
March 6, 2026—Booyakatopia’s completed collage has arrived at headquarters.
February 20, 2026—Jan Kather’s completed collage has arrived at headquarters.
February 18, 2026—Fred Athey’s completed collage has arrived at headquarters.
February 13, 2026—Laura Lubecki’s completed collage has arrived at headquarters.
Laura Lubecki. February 12, 2026
Dear Group,
I finished my starter collage and it is now on its way to Berkeley Commonplace!
Thank you, everyone, for your contributions. I love the different layers we have going on – the intriguing foreground made alive with a tidal sort of energy. I love how the arc of earth in my original start became a layered wall with a lively prairie middle ground sporting deer, buffalo and riders on horseback. The breaching whale is the majestic focus, with a fantastic alpine cloud background – a true mix of sky and sea!
I gave it just a few finishing touches, activating the space behind the whale with some bubbles. A border all around the edge gave it just the needed sense of completion.
I hope to see the final results for everyone’s collages!
Laura
Jan, February 7, 2026
Finally, this -4ºF Saturday morning prompted me to open the package Daniel had sent weeks ago from Canada.
I love this final collaborative collage just as it is! The interactive piece lifts to reveal a hidden history, and I feel I should re-title the collage with Laura’s title: “The Great Forgetting.”
It’s a challenging puzzle to read the commentary from each contributor and connect that with elements I can find in the collage. Laura’s historical info on Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues’ French expedition to Florida under René de Laudonnière in 1564 was referenced, and I must admit it is the first I have heard of this history! I also appreciate the attention to detail Daniel offers about his addition of a Native American face as a transfer: “I delicately applied thin layers of matte medium to soften the glossy finish of the tape,” expressing caution about how easily this method can cause terrible wrinkles. Everyone’s attention to detail shows in the careful cutting, pasting, and weaving of materials. This piece has an aura, a presence, a vibrance to behold. Thank you all!
I will wait for a warmer day to send this off to Marty. I look forward to seeing everyone’s final collages in Group # 42’s collection of collages posted in the spring.
Laura Lubecki, January 13, 2026
Happy New Year! I have finished my additions to Booyakatopia’s color triptych and it is now in the mail to the Netherlands! This was very fun series to work on – I feel that each color has a different personality and required some different collage techniques.
Orange: This collage still had a bit of white space, so I worked on patching the holes with orange tones of painted tissue and magazine pages. One of the collage elements fell off in transit (the Southwest region geographic feature – Arizona?), so I re-glued it and guessed at its position. I like that the chickadee remains a clear focal point in this collage.
Green: This was the trickiest collage – I spent the longest thinking about how to add to it. I was intrigued by the half figure holding the deer skull. This was inviting someone to complete the other half, which I did by tracing and flipping the figure to create a symmetrical half that I then cut out of watercolor paper and applied some colored pencil shading.
Purple: This is an exciting collage! I was flipping through my materials and found the perfect star for this collage – a lady in a purple jumpsuit from a retro (1970s?) advertisement in a garden magazine. In the ad she is dancing with a rake which is sprinkled with flowers.
Daniel Guy, January 9, 2026
I just received the 42C initiated by Jan.
Have a nice day Marty.
Jan, December 30, 2025
I find it quite wonderful to read about the thought processes of all who are working in our group. It is amazing to me that so many different responses are swirling around the globe! I was heartened to read Daniel’s commentary about his research into the importance of the buffalo and other native species to the survival of Native Americans. It helped me to consider how I might add to Fred’s “Americana” collage that seems more like a puzzle-book to be read and viewed. I assume it will be exhibited as a sculpture so all sides can be viewed (and read)?
I have never worked on a collage that so literally explored a subject like the histories of indigenous people, and I found that in itself difficult. My typical working methods are much more rooted in elements of design/symbolism/figurative expression. I was feeling out of my element, but I tried mirroring the techniques already in play.
There was a fair amount of text on the “front”, so I continued this use of text on the “back” of the collage. Inspired by the collaged happy images of a man playing a guitar and people dancing, I added a musical instrument, a BIRD RATTLE. The image came from a book from the Metropolitan Museum of Art with the description that it was created by the Haida people. For me it seems to represent a way we all can connect with the beauty and terror of nature and the spirit world through sound and image. This suggested that music is a universal language, and with an open heart, we can feel the magic, its healing powers, as it moves the spirit in and through all of us.
Happy new year, everyone!
Booyakatopia, December 29, 2025
It’s wonderful to see everyone’s progress reports. About time I start contributing too.
Recently I added to Jan’s collage, with its interesting textures of weaving and tape transfers. From an auction brochure I used a picture of a basket that indigenous women used to carry their babies in. Another example of the ingenuity of indigenous tribes is a rope bridge that I found in Nat Geo. Nowadays we have steel structures, but the basic ideas have remained the same throughout centuries. How smart were the originators of those types of structures (from pyramids to bridges)?
Next to the bison I added a landscape for it to graze on.
By now, the collage should arrive with Daniel shortly.
Daniel Guy, December 11, 2025
Laura, I wanted to thank you for your contribution to my initial collage. Since the email I sent you about it bounced back, I’m writing it here.
I’m increasingly grasping the scope and possibilities of such a collaboration. Your contribution significantly enriches what already existed. A dialogue is established, especially between Jan’s section and yours. The central gaze (Jan’s) intensifies. It becomes powerfully beautiful, a dialogue of wounded souls. This sudden fragility I feel is magnificent… Then, I look at it again and I love more and more what it creates as a whole. And it’s not over yet…
Thank you both, girls.
Jan, December 10, 2025
I received Laura’s collage from Daniel in Quebec this week and followed his lead to keep the whale as the focal point. This morning I added some elements based on color and texture, making minimal changes. It might be a “Where’s Waldo?” kind of search to see the changes in the side by side that I am sending for this post. I was hard pressed to add anything, as I really liked the collage as sent!
I have peeked at Daniel’s post about Fred’s collage. Looking forward to seeing it in my mail box, and I fear I will have that dilemma of adding to the collage when arrives. So glad to see Fred’s Native American theme evolving.
Wishing all a healthy and happy 2026!
Jan
Laura Lubecki, December 9, 2025
Dear Team,
I have made additions to Daniel’s collage. This was a therapeutic experience to contribute to, almost like art journaling. I appreciate the theme of “chaos intérieur.” I let my additions happen without much conscious thought, while trying to match the emotions the collage evokes. My contributions are mostly on the right hand side and I have realized express an estranged relationship being experienced by one of my loved ones right now.
I will mail this collage to Hedwig today!
Daniel Guy, December 4, 2025
Hello everyone,
I made very few changes to this collage, using only three elements: a horse, an elk, and an eagle. But I wanted them to be meaningful and directly relevant to the theme. So I did some research. On Sitting Bull, the Lakota people, and their famous horses. One of the pleasures of exploring a theme.
Sitting Bull’s famous horses are called Nokota. They have a very strong roan gene. This famous blue roan has become emblematic of these horses, although black, azelan, and bay also exist. I found a black silhouette of a horse and an example of this blue roan coat. By copying and pasting, I gradually built the coat of this Nokota. I’ve been doing this for a few months now, in order to create original elements. This also allows me to scale them for the collage.
Although bison was the primary food source for many Native American tribes in North America, moose, deer, and elk were also sources of sustenance. That’s why I included one.
The eagle was considered the strongest, most courageous, and bravest bird. Its plumage symbolized this. What could be more emblematic than a feather adorning its headdress?
This is my contribution to Fred’s wonderful thematic suggestion.
Daniel Guy, November 25, 2025
Hi everyone,
It’s great to see the progress on our collages. Well done, Jan, on your additions to Hedwige’s! Collaborative work always holds surprises. I decided to embark on this adventure to step outside my comfort zone, learn to let go, and, above all, appreciate the work of others. And so far, it’s working well.
I’m going to sent Jan Laura’s initial collage (42E) with my additions. I added two elements for the «Air-Sky» theme and four for the «Sea» theme. None for the «Earth» theme. I made sure the whale remained the central element and focal point of this collage. Jan should receive it in a few days, if all goes well with Canada Post, which is a bit slow. But it’s coming along.
I’ve also finished my contribution to Fred’s collage (42D). I should be sending it to you in a few days. We’re all caught up. Awesome!
Jan, November 18, 2025
This morning I opened the slim little package sent by Daniel from Canada and was delighted to discover Hedwig’s evolving triptych based on three “simple & abstract” designs limited to purple, orange and green. What was my inspiration? The first thing I saw when I opened the November 16 Sunday NYTimes T magazine was an Yves Saint Laurent ad. I noticed two things: the graphic design was based on a ripped edge collage, and the colors purple, orange and green stood out. I kept the ripped edge within the collaged ad and added my own ripped edges. What an excellent idea to propose the “monochrome” constraint… I think I’ve transgressed a bit:)
I will send this to Fred in California today!
Laura Lubecki, November 12, 2025
Hi Everyone,
I want to report that I made my contribution to Jan’s collage and I have just posted it in the mail, on it’s way to Hedwig. I really enjoyed adding some more weaving and applying some transparent tape transfers – inspired by Daniel’s technique! I hope you all enjoy contributing to this one.
Jan, November 5, 2025
I have received Daniel/Hedwig’s collage from Canada! Hurray! I also got a message from Fred who reports that he has been traveling and is back and ready to work on Daniel’s collage. Looks like we are keeping on track!
Daniel Guy, October 29, 2025
Hello everyone,
I just sent Jan my contribution to Hedwig’s initial collage (42A).
Hedwig’s submission consists of three pieces, each approximately 4×6 inches. I’ve arranged them as a triptych on a black background for the photos so you can all quickly see the whole thing. But I left the three pieces separate, just as I received them from Hedwig.
Let’s hope this letter slips through the cracks of this rotating Canada Post strike and arrives quickly in Jan’s mailbox.
Bye,
Daniel
Daniel Guy, October 24, 2025
Hello everyone,
I received Hedwing’s initial collage (42A) today. I’m enthusiastic about his proposal. I’ll respond quickly. The Canadian postal strike is still raging, but it’s now rotating strikes, allowing mail to pass through. Slowly, yes, but it’s working.
Jan Kather, October 16, 2025
When you receive Daniel’s collage, you also will be treated to a lovely detailed letter that he wrote to explain his working process in his starter collage. I responded to what he sent by collaging a split watercolor self portrait with a section of a New Yorker cover drawing beneath.
Daniel suggested we might take a “political approach” and it seems I did that without intentionally setting out to do so. I originally thought of the phrase “I have a splitting headache.” This would describe my feelings whenever I have to hear the latest news from the US White House. The recent media kerfluffle over Jimmy Kimmel and freedom of speech may have crept into my response as well, as I noted the visuals that reference the stifling of speech in both Daniel and my own contributions.
I sent the collage to Fred today. I will also send him an email to watch for it to arrive in a week.
Laura Lubecki, October 14, 2025
Dear Group,
I have finished my contribution to Fred’s starter collage and I have just mailed it to Booyakatopia.
Fred’s starter collage is a wonderful tribute to Native American culture with many beautiful layers, it is truly a journey through history and beyond into contemporary issues. The front of the collage has three panels showing Sitting Bull, Chief, Standing Bear and Pocahontas. I will leave you to discover the many facets of this collage when you receive it. My contribution includes bringing some texture and distressing, applying paint and black walnut ink for depth, and expanding on the central sun with thin collage “rays” that connect the elements. Looking forward to seeing the journey of this piece, there are many opportunities for contribution.
Laura Lubecki, September 27, 2025
Dear Group,
I have a received collage update. I received a letter from Fred. I was expecting Fred’s starter collage, but I opened it, and discovered it is Jan’s starter collage (42C) that Fred has contributed to. It is a little ahead of schedule, but I will hold onto it safely and take my time with contributing. I love the trifold structure and the weaving technique with evocative photographs.
Jan Kather, September 27, 2025
Just checked my mailbox…Daniel’s package arrived from Canada!
Project Coordinator,September 27, 2025
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has gone on strike following Thursday’s government announcement of sweeping service cutbacks. Canada Post’s operations will shut down for the duration of the strike; mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered. Canada Post promises, “All mail and parcels in the postal network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume.“
Last year, there was a Canada Post strike between November 15 and December 17. It was a cause for concern, but I think the affected groups were able to wait it out and complete the project without lasting impact.
Thanks for your patience! Keep in touch. Here’s hoping…
Daniel Guy, September 22, 2025
My departure collage (42B) is finished and on its way to NY to Jan Kather. Expected arrival between September 30th and October 1st.
Daniel Guy, Sep 17, 2025
Hello group,
I’ve just come from the post office. Because my shipment isn’t flexible, meaning it has a cardboard cover, it should be treated as a small parcel. It’s my fault. I should have made this trip to the post office sooner. So I’m withdrawing my proposition and returning to my collage table. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Don’t worry, I’ll be on time.
Daniel
Daniel Guy, September 16, 2025
Hello,
Here’s what I’m proposing as my initial collage:
A diptych that closes on top of each other.
Open, it measures 9 inches by 22 inches (22.86 x 55.88 cm). So, plenty of space for everyone to express themselves freely.
Once closed, it measures 9 x 11 (22.86 x 27.94 cm). This is perfectly within the postal limit accepted by the group.
The pieces were glued together with a Britt glue stick.
Please, don’t use matte medium, as this will cause my work to warp. Use a glue stick to glue your pieces together.
The inscription «Chaos intérieur» on the collage translates to «Inner Chaos» in English.
The face is my father’s at 19.
The hands are his at 93.
Between these two elements, there was a happy and harmonious life. A unique love! A lifelong love that began in childhood. Her name was Aline, my mother. Four children. I am the eldest. 65 years of living together.
At 90, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The beginning of his «Chaos intérieur».
No longer able to live alone, he came to live with us for two years. A photographic series was then developed, «La débandade de l’être», which translates as «The Scattering of Being».
During this period, my father displayed unfailing resilience. A role model for me.
So here is our theme; this cruel «Chaos intérieur». But here, for you, it doesn’t matter which one. It could be caused by illness, by addiction, a mental imbalance, a family breakdown… It’s your choice. I hope it inspires you.
My technique now. I’ve been developing this approach since 2023. It involves tearing off pieces of color, texture, and imagery using packing tape. Sometimes more paper, sometimes more colors and textures, often all on the same strip of tape. I use the results as is without using water to remove the paper from the adhesive side. Sometimes, a single piece can include several interventions.
The starting collage that I am offering you contains around thirty pieces, almost all obtained using this technique. Except for the hands, which are made entirely of paper and come from a laser-cut print. There are a few small colored and textured elements glued to the back of some of the pieces.
I don’t work exclusively with this technique. Sometimes I use it on transparent Polaroids or in combination with “classic” collage.
Okay, don’t panic. You don’t have to use this technique in your entry. I’m explaining it simply in the spirit of sharing.
There you go. It’s your turn.
Daniel
Laura Lubecki, September 16, 2025 @ 2:39 PM
My starter collage is finished and now on its way to Hedwig in Groningen!
This is my first time with this postal collage project, and I found myself questioning just how much work I should put into the starter collage. I ended up making three attempts. The first I was struck with inspiration and got up at 3:00 AM to work on. Upon inspection once it was dry I noticed I did not do a great job with minimizing the bubbles. The next day I made another attempt, this time with more attention to pasting technique. I was very pleased with the end result but I worried I had put too much work into it – I questioned if it would strike my collaborators as “too developed — too complete?” So I made another attempt but left it more minimal. In the end, I decided to go with my second attempt as the one to send. I just kept coming back to it as my favorite and also the most evocative of the bunch. Even though I had developed it a little further, I still think it may be the most satisfying for you, my collaborators, to add to.
I was also pondering on Fred’s proposed Indigenous culture theme. My initial idea was to start a collage about the Three Sisters, a legend and planting scheme from Native American agricultural practices. I wanted to create a collage showing a first step – making the mound, after which a fish would be planted to fertilize the soil, and then the corn, then the beans, then the squash. I thought the steps of planting this type of garden would be good direction for my collaborators, and we could “grow” this type of planting as a collage.
However, on my second attempt, a whale entered the collage. He snuck in when I was looking for a magazine clipping of a sky and ended up clipping some of the whale’s nose. Well I could not leave the rest of him out, so he got pasted in too. And I was quite struck with the result. It seems like the legend has grown beyond land and now has something to do with a whale.
The photos show the second attempt, with the whale, which is now in the mail, and I think more open to interpretation. The other two attempts fall more in line with my Three Sisters garden concept, showing the mound ready for planting.
I’m so excited to see what happens!
Jan Kather, September 16, 2025
Hello!
Yesterday after my classes I began to cut up some old photograms students had left behind along with my totem photo. There were some left over cyanotype experiments that caught my eye, and I decided to try weaving that into an “in-camera collage” inkjet print that I did last year. I typically have sent a relatively blank “canvas” for my starter collage, but I thought this would create an interesting working surface to add to or subtract from! I thought about Fred’s interest in indigenous culture, and it made sense to me to apply weaving to this collage, as the Haudenosaunee who were the first people of my neighborhood are master weavers. The in-camera collage pays homage to that layer of history, with the layering of my own photos at the site where I originally took the photo along the Chemung River in Elmira, NY.
I am also including my method of folding this collage in hopes that it will travel to Canada and the Netherlands at a minimal postal cost. When it finally returns to me, I may decide to send it for final exhibition on a firmer backboard – but maybe I will be surprised at its transformation and leave it as I receive it.
I will send this off to Fred today!
Laura Lubecki, September 15, 2025
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for sharing about your creative space, Daniel. I also am fascinated to see where people do their creative activities.
My creative space is usually in my home office. This is a space I get to claim, although it also doubles as a bike garage. And the cats’ hangout. I like my office best because its where I stash all my materials. Messes can linger before I need to clean them up. Before creating my starter collage, I felt compelled to spend some time organizing my collage materials. This required stirring up a storm of all my scraps. But now I have them categorized and stowed away in page protectors. This leaves my work space looking a bit bland right now.
Sometimes I also need a change and I will pack up my materials and set up on the dining room table. This is especially nice to do a sunny afternoon like today.
I will post soon with my starter collage – I think it is ready. :)
Daniel Guy, September 14, 2025
Hello everyone,
I, too, am curious about everyone’s creative process. The creative space fascinates me. Watching an artist work in their studio moves me every time. The development of a basic idea to the final result is just as fascinating. For my part, my work table is located in my basement, leaning against one of the walls of my darkroom, in this nook located right next to a small window. I don’t know about you, but this table is a real mess. Cut pieces of old collages are lying around there, piling up, scattering in a jumble, sometimes contributing to the creation of the next collage, other times becoming a nuisance. I would say that this external disorder helps me sort things out internally. “THE” great excuse… which doesn’t rule out the need for a good cleaning. Starting today! And all of you group 42, where is your creative space located? Office corner, kitchen table, dedicated workshop…? Show us your creative space. This space will help me imagine you while I wait to receive your work.
Daniel
Jan Kather, September 9, 2025
Thanks for weighing in, Daniel. I am still considering and admire your initiative in starting already!
I did look for some old photos and found this one that I think was Montreal in 1991? Not sure where it was. But my collage may use this – I do know it’s from Quebec – but also pretty sure it’s North American indigenous art? Well, it’s in my mind.
I am fascinated to see where everyone’s ideas begin, and how it ends. A little thrill I think.
Jan
Daniel Guy, September 8, 2025
Hello,
Personally, I won’t be going along with the Native American theme Fred proposed to the group. Because I’ve almost finished my initial proposal. I’ll just let it mature a bit before sending it to Jan by mail. Fred’s Native American culture theme is interesting, and I’d be happy to collaborate on the collages that will address it.
I eagerly anticipate the arrival of Hedwing’s initial collage.
Happy thinking and hard work, everyone!
Daniel
Jan Kather, September 7, 2025
Hello,
I got a message today from Fred who is proposing a theme of Native American Indigenous Culture for our collage group. If there are other ideas, let’s be in touch soon.
Marty has also provided detailed information about keeping mailing costs low. Make sure to follow the guidelines for Letters, Flats and Packages.
Looking forward to seeing everyone’s collage!
Jan