Fishtown Fragments

I’ve always loved collage – there’s something about the intuitive, playful process of ripping and cutting that just feels good. An artist friend suggested I try working with street posters, and suddenly, my dog walks with Smidge became treasure hunts.

Now I scan the poles as we walk (Smidge prefers the routes with dog treats). When something catches my eye, I investigate. I have rules: only expired events, never lost pet signs. These abandoned announcements that nobody ever bothers to remove? They become my raw material.

Back in my studio, it’s pure play. I rip and cut randomly, then start arranging pieces until I get that spark – when the layering creates something unexpected, or a ripped edge reveals just the right bit underneath. What was designed to be temporary – to announce a band, an event, a gathering – gets turned into something permanent.

It feels good to rescue these posters before they fall to the ground and become litter. Each piece captures a moment in Fishtown, the rhythm of walking through the neighborhood, with eyes open for what’s been left behind.