Stories Told – Fragments of Paper and Prose by Sarah Z. Short, October 4-27, 2024 

Opening reception Friday October 4, 5-8pm

WESTERLY – The worn pages that hold stories, whisps of memories, and words scrawled in cursive letters capture abstract collage artist Sarah Z. Short’s imagination – right before she cuts them apart.  

But deconstruction of vintage materials – book pages, handwritten letters, maps, forgotten piano rolls – combined with wooden type block prints is how Short, a mixed-media abstract collage artist and Charlestown, RI native, begins creating new narratives with her work. 

“It begins with a fragment of text from a vintage book. This snippet becomes the seed of an abstract collage, each layer adding depth as I chase the unfolding story, crafting a path through the composition,” Short said. 

The words and stories exist not only within Short’s artwork, but also in the accompanying pieces of micro-fiction she writes. 

“I weave my memories and a touch of imagination into a written story that accompanies the artwork. This act of writing allows me to honor the words hidden within the collage and pay tribute to the books I’ve deconstructed,” Short said.

And on Oct. 4, from 5-8pm, during Westerly’s First Friday Arts Crawl, an exhibition of Short’s work, Stories Told – Fragments of Paper and Prose, opens at AiR Studio Gallery. 

The exhibit features 100 works from Short’s collage-a-day project – a challenge she set for herself to create quick daily collages using vintage magazines – and is open through Oct. 27. 

In addition to Short’s collage-a-day project pieces, the exhibition also features work inspired by them. 

Short’s love for words and books first took her into the classroom as a middle and high school English teacher where collage always found its way into student projects. During her years as a classroom teacher, she also earned an MFA in creative writing. 

But it was during COVID lockdown when Short delved into her practice as an artist taking online classes, absorbing all the learning she could to bring into her work and find her own unique voice.

“I’ve always told stories. In the beginning, my stories were made of words alone. But as my art evolved, I discovered a new form of storytelling—one that is visual, tactile, and layered,” she said.

It’s no surprise then, that Short is combining her vocations as artist and teacher to offer a one-day workshop in conjunction with her exhibition. During the workshop on Oct. 19, 9:30-4:30 pm at AiR Studio, participants will have the opportunity to explore abstract collage and composition using vintage materials.

“In an era that urges mindfulness about consumption, Sarah’s creative practice could be considered truly of its time as she reduces, reuses, and recycles what would be discarded,” said Annie Wildey, AiR Studio Gallery co-owner. 

“With these materials she explores texture, color and the shapes and negative space of original letter forms. The results are both contemporary and timeless graphic compositions,” Wildey said. 

Short’s collages and prints can be found in galleries and as licensed prints. She has been published in print and online magazines and teaches online and in-person.