At the Central Library in February, artist Justin Canja says collaborators on his large-scale collage are only given one directive: to work from left to right. The rest of the decision-making process – selecting colors, materials, and placement – will be up to them.  

“With layers that go left to right, it will show the path of everyone giving themselves permission in all sorts of different colors, texts, and daisy chains,” explains Canja. “Physical depiction of a randomized encounter. That’s what collage is. It’s removing something that was whole and then reconstituting it into something (else).” 

Collage Co-Lab workshops from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 8, Feb. 15, and Feb. 22, in the Mountain Gallery, are tied to Canja’s new exhibition of multi-media works called Yes & … on view through March 29.  

During the first Saturday session, dozens of patrons and Canja pasted and layered collage materials onto the collaborative canvas, hiding the upside-down black cursive text: “Why oh why can’t I?” 

Over the next few weeks, more layers will be added, and the final work will be folded into the exhibition.  

The artist placed the canvas on the floor, at times, to accommodate participants of all ages. 

“I think collage is all interpretation,” Canja says, encouraging patron Kelly Von Lunen. “If this is a line to you, then it’s a line, right? There’s no wrong.” 

Von Lunen visited the Library on Saturday to play games with her 8-year-old, Thornton, who goes by “Thor.” 

“I thought we would just stop in briefly, but this ended up being super cool, and it was exciting to participate,” she says. “I don’t consider myself an artist, but I think we all create in some way. I forgot how much I miss being a part of that.” 

Boxes of materials, such as old magazines, discarded books, stickers, stamps, and more, fill several tables in the gallery during the workshop. Patrons are invited to create a collage to take home and work on the collaborative project.

“I’ve always been really interested in how people hold brushes, too,” Canja says, as Thor waves a paintbrush. “So, see how it’s like a conductor wand? It’s great. It’s kind of a tell-all from the originator.”  

Thor adds strips of gray (their favorite color) to the collaborative canvas with glue and then sands it down. “It’s fun,” they say with a smile. "It makes me feel good.”  

Therapist Kate Nienhaus, from St. Louis, was in Kansas City for a concert and popped in to explore the Central Library. 

Nienhaus says she uses an art-based approach in her work with kids and teens and enjoys artistic collaboration. 

“It’s being able to enmesh your ideas and make the creative endeavor happen,” she says, “and it turns out to be this beautiful little process that you did together.” 

The Library’s exhibitions coordinator Craig Auge, who’s also a collage artist, calls the Collage Co-Lab workshops an “iterative” experience.  

“Yes, we want to try to get people to come back for further sessions to participate but also just to come and see how it’s evolving,” Auge says. “Because depending on when you come to the gallery, you’re going to see a different piece until it’s at its stopping point, which is totally improvisational.”  

Canja echoes this near the end of the first session, as he steps back to reflect on the changes to the canvas.  

“So, the original intent when we were planning it out was greens and/or purples,” he says. “And now it’s greens, blues, shades of indigos, purples, a block of orange, back in the green.” 

Canja adds, “It’s fluidity, it’s going with the flow. Improvisation really wakes up somebody’s subconscious and makes them play, which is awesome.”