Whether surreal, sublime, abstract, bizarre, or otherwise, collage is the medium of our times. And no city captures this more accurately than Los Angeles. As any Angeleno can tell you Los Angeles is not about any of the lists, articles, or stories you can read, hear, or find otherwise. Los Angeles is a complex array of cultures that overlap, intersect, and commingle, and Los Angeles amounts to what you make of it. New York has an ongoing narrative, and you have to get with the program. Los Angeles is an open offering, a blank slate, and it’s up to each of us to author the program. And while we all share a common notion of LA, our individual stories of what we experience here is all our truths can be made of. A great life in LA comes from having an intimate and dynamic relationship with the cultures that define the city’s geography, and understanding how to utilize what the city has to offer.The collagist’s toolbox is populated with the refuse of capitalism: books and magazines bought for cheap at yard sales, used book stores, flea markets, and other economic sectors that don’t occupy the sexy stratosphere of United States consumerism. In this way a collagist is just like an Angeleno understanding how to make use of all that the city has to offer. It’s not about going to the most expensive obvious places and following the story that’s been told. Los Angeles is epitomized by the people who seek out what is hidden, and weave together disparate elements of a diverse city in order to actualize their Los Angeles. The truth of Los Angeles is not to be found in the institutionalized stories of Los Angeles. The truth of Los Angeles is found in Angelenos acceptance, rejection, modification of, and adaptation to, those institutionalized notions of what Los Angeles is.The reception (Aug 12) will be a celebration of the unveiling of new works by a broad range of local artists, along with a small selection of works from artists abroad. The workshop (Aug 19) is free to attend, and we’ll provide materials, refreshments, and giveaways. The critique (Aug 26) is open to the public, and artists will hear feedback from creative professionals in music, fashion, television production, and more. These events are all free and open to the public. Featured Artists:Irena Azovsky, India Brookover, Colin Gray, Michael Hentz, Gabe Islas, Hana Matsushita, Zach Moldof, Jay Riggio, Tiffany Ruiz, Franz Samsa (Italy), Dewey Saunders (Philadelphia), Michael Ziobrowski. The critique panel will consist of:Andre Torres: Founder of Wax PoeticsMia DiPasquale: VP of development for Super DeluxeAlysia Alex: Artist liaison for BandoWith additional panelists to be announced. Information can be found at Twin Beast, as well as Los Angeles Collage Collective.For more info please contact Zach Moldof @twinbeast@noustousla@losangelescollage