The Magazines I Almost Cut Up
How one WWII image made me pause before collaging
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The Magazines I Almost Cut Up
Last week, I visited a school thrift shop at the end of my street. It’s a quirky little spot tucked under the gym. In the wayyy back, there’s a tiny section with magazines and sewing patterns, and under a pile of lacy fabric remnants, I unearthed several LIFE magazines from the 1940s. I screamed—internally. Most of them are from the local library, 80 years old and still in better shape than I am!
I grabbed six, perfectly protected in cello sleeves. I’m usually no holds barred on cutting up magazines for my collage work, but these are different. All six are tiny capsules of American life during WWII: ads and articles on rationing and sharing. My favorite ad is from Hoover announcing a temporary halt in vacuum production to focus on war efforts, depicting cheerful housewives and urging them to 'share your vacuums with the neighborly housewives’.
Thumbing through, the image of costume jewelry on the right caught my eye, and I thought it would make a great background in a collage. But after reading the article, the story is too moving to use right now, lots of absorb about its history and use. The caption:
To South Pacific natives US dollars are just pieces of green paper. They prefer more realistic currency—junk jewelry. For cheap earrings and a glittering brooch, one native dug 52 foxholes for US soldiers. To supply the armed forces with this currency a campaign called “Baubles for Buddies to Barter” was established, and more than 17,000 trinkets were shipped overseas.
Public Domain Image of the Week
As a graphic designer by day, I’m fortunate that so many early 20th-century posters have been archived in the public domain for us to reference and for future generations to study. This 1918 poster of Karen Zabel at the Metropol Kabarett, Berlin feels especially relevant—it could easily translate to modern work, especially in a collage exploring minimalism with bold shapes, color, and typography.
Of note: the Metropol Kabarett was a prominent venue, known for hosting cabaret performances that blended entertainment with social commentary. During this period, especially around 1918, cabaret often provided satirical takes on politics, society, and the impact of World War I, offering a sense of escapism amid the political upheaval of the time.
How it Started. How it Ended.
Speaking of public domain, I've been posting some Notes this week featuring original public domain photos alongside how I ultimately used them in my work. These collages date back a couple of years to when I first started collaging — interesting to see what caught my eye back then.
Collage Exhibits
🍁 Just in case you're into leaf peeping in Vermont this month, don't miss Collage/Uncollage at the Phoenix Gallery in Waterbury.