Meet Carrie Wooden | Analog Collage Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carrie Wooden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carrie, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Being a creative is hard, but starting a creative business is even harder. You have to have the confidence to put your art out into the world, let it be judged by complete strangers, and somehow still keep doing what you love. Every vendor market, art competition, artist residency, call for art from galleries, etc., can add so much pressure to an already competitive local art field, but you send those applications in over and over again (with fingers crossed)..

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always considered myself a “vintage junkie”, collecting magazines and books for years. During the pandemic, I began cleaning out closets, intending to toss some of my precious periodicals but just couldn’t do it. Instead, I started cutting out my fave ads and really anything else that tickled me. After discovering analog collages on Instagram, I decided that a collage would be the best way to pay homage to our social history, as well as being sustainable. I entered one of my first collages into the Redux Contemporary Art Center annual art auction, and was accepted.. I haven’t looked back since. I now incorporate vintage wallpaper, wrapping paper, and even vintage postcards into my collages. I’m now teaching collage class, I was awarded an arts grant from MUSC, my art was featured in Charleston Magazine after winning the Under the Radar arts competition, and I’m a member of the North Charleston Arts Guild. The remarkable part of this whole art journey is that I didn’t consider myself an artist. Now, at the age of 53, my entire life revolves around creatives and the art community here in Charleston, and I couldn’t be happier.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Redux Contemporary Art-local art, open studios, great staff

Halsey Institute-fantastic programs and visiting artists

Folly Beach-great bars, usually quiet beach, fantastic pier

Park Circle-very cool local shops, parks, restaurants

Santi’s- favorite Mexican restaurant for 20 years

Paper Canopy-locally owned, gorgeous paper shop with tons of local artists represented

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Darcy Strickland (editor of Charleston Magazine)
Terry Fox (Charleston Arts Alliance)

Mad Collage (collage artist based out of Vermont)

Website: n/a

Instagram: @collagekitsch

Facebook: Collage Kitsch

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