ARTIST

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Emily Krill is a Pittsburgh artist who constructs collages out of paper ephemera from the 1850s to the 1970s. Ledgers, checks, documents, and letters; at one time, these papers were very important to the people who owned them. Although these older methods of recording and tracking the details of daily life have become obsolete, they have a tiny spark left in them. Emily adds vibrant colors and whimsical patterns to these mundane materials to create something altogether new.

 

Calla Lilies (Left): This floral still-life always calls to mind Katharine Hepburn's famous line from Stage Door,  "The calla lilies are in bloom again, such a strange flower, suitable to any occasion..." The collage is a combination of 1950s mechanical engineering homework and contemporary patterned paper. And in the upper right-hand corner, presiding over all is a tin-type photograph of the matriarch of the family. There is a story here, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is.  

 

Love Letters (Right): This collage contains several elements that, when taken in together, imply a sort of narrative as well. The walls and photograph are made of contemporary paper, the floor is 1960s player piano paper, and there are two letters addressed to Mr. J.J. Steele on the table. The letters are postmarked 1897 and 1899. Because of the antiquated handwriting, I can't make heads or tails of them, but I like to think of them as love letters.