SJB Creates

Today is — a celebration of creativity, storytelling, texture, and transformation through the art of collage.

Started in 2018 by , World Collage Day was created to connect collage artists and enthusiasts around the globe through exhibitions, workshops, art-making, and shared inspiration. What began as a single day of celebration has grown into an international movement honoring the power of cutting, layering, reimagining, and creating something entirely new from existing pieces.

One of the reasons I love collage so deeply is that it reminds me that beauty can emerge from fragments. Collage invites experimentation, intuition, and play. It allows me to tell stories visually, combine textures and imagery in unexpected ways, and create meaning from what might otherwise be discarded or overlooked.

For me, collage is also a mindful practice — a way to slow down, explore emotion, reflect, and reconnect with creativity without worrying about perfection. Every torn paper edge, image, and layered element becomes part of a larger story.

In many ways, collage mirrors life itself: pieces of experience, memory, growth, and imagination coming together to create something uniquely whole.

Happy World Collage Day to all who create, collect, cut, paste, and dream. ✂️✨

I am thrilled to announce that my workshop proposal in collaboration with Art Works Now has been selected for this year's Maryland Arts Summit hosted by the Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA)!

I have been serving as a Teacher Artist with the Creative Aging Program of Art Works Now since 2023 and will be co-presenting a workshop entitled "Creative Aging in Action: Strategies for Engaging Older Adults Through the Arts."

This year's Summit will be held on the campus of Prince George's Community College Center for the Performing Arts in Largo, Maryland.

I am inviting my Maryland based artists and other creative colleagues to come to this special event!

"Visual artists. Theater makers. Vocalists. Performers. Artists of All Kinds.

The Maryland Arts Summit is where:

🎭 Theater professionals meet visual artists
🎨 Independent creatives connect with arts leaders
🎤 Singers and performers expand their networks
🤝 Powerful partnerships are born

This summit is more than networking. It is:

Statewide connection.
Creative momentum.
Where Maryland’s artistic future takes shape.
Be in the room where Maryland’s creative future is shaped.

🎟️ Register today
🎨 Join the Summit
🪑 Save your seat"

Click this link for more mdarts.org/summit

I hope to see you there!

Last week while in Philadelphia, I had the opportunity to see the exhibition "Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design" at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

On View: November 1, 2025 - September 6, 2026

This touring costume exhibition showcases the story of Ruth E. Carter’s journey as an artist and storyteller, who found a home and passion in Costume Design as she adventured from her humble beginnings in Springfield, Massachusetts to the legendary Dolby Stage in Hollywood, California, to becoming a two-time Oscar® Winning Costume Designer.

From movies such as "Do The Right Thing" , "Black Panther" and "Sinners" the exhibition showcases:
award-winning work;
personal sketches;
iconic celebrated costumes;
design process that goes into creating costumes that connect actor with character;
filmmaking and production collaborations that bring the Afro-futuristic costumes to life; and
impactful contributions to film, television, and pop culture.

If you find yourself in Philly or live in the area, check it out. The exhibition is on view until September

I am pleased to announce that I am currently the featured artist at Mattawoman Creek Art Center

This is my fourth exhibition for 2026 and the second time that I am exhibiting my latest series Metamorphosis 2.0....the first time was at Art Works on 7th in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland in August of last year.

In addition to the 8 original works in the series I have added two more for this show!

Below is a portion of my Artist's Statement about this series:

"Metamorphosis 2.0 is both a return and a renewal—an artistic dialogue with my earlier series of butterfly collages and mixed media works created a decade ago. In revisiting this symbolic journey, I found myself reflecting deeply on the path of personal transformation, spiritual awakening, and the resilience required to bloom in challenging times.

Much has changed—both within me and in the world around us. Yet, the butterfly remains a powerful symbol in my work: a quiet, persistent emblem of hope, faith, and beauty, even amid uncertainty. Its metamorphosis mirrors my own creative and spiritual evolution over the last ten years, serving as a reminder that growth often requires surrender, patience, and resilience."

The art center is located in Smallwood State Park in St. Charles County, Maryland and has scenic views of Mattawoman Creek, tidal wetlands, and forests.

The gallery is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am - 4 pm. I will be sharing more about a "Meet the Artist" day before the show closes on May 30th.

I invite you to come out and experience this colorful ode to personal and collective blooming!