The River Goes Up & Down: Virtual Collage Artist Lab

The River Goes Up & Down: Virtual Collage Artist Lab is a four-week online program presented by Kolaj Institute from 8 November to 6 December 2026. The Lab invites self-motivated artists at any career stage, over the age of 21 and from anywhere in the world, to research and make art about the Mississippi River and consider its histories and cultural meanings. Through interactive sessions, collections research, presentations, discussion, and collaborative collage making, participants will explore their artistic process, present a slideshow of their work, and receive supportive critical and curatorial feedback. The Lab considers the River as a cultural force and examines questions of movement, history, power, economics, social and environmental issues, and how artists use material to shape a narrative. Historical subjects include 19th-century steamboat racing and the Great Flood of 1927. Sessions will also address appropriation, copyright, and fair use, and develop strategies for making, exhibiting, and publishing collage art that speaks to a sense of place and history. Sessions take place Sundays, 1–3PM EST, on 8 November, 15 November, 22 November, and 6 December 2026. Artists are expected to attend all scheduled sessions and complete assignments. Work made during the Lab will be considered for 2027 exhibitions, including an outdoor exhibition at the New Orleans Healing Center, an exhibition of collage prints as part of NOLA River Fest 2027, and an exhibition at Kolaj Institute Gallery in September 2027. Images and texts will be published in a Kolaj Institute book scheduled for release in September 2027.