Worden's threadbare collages are the result of scavenging for inexpensive materials. They are exquisitely composed compositions and derived from a wide variety of material and sources. He was able to combine funky Beat aesthetics with the utopian visions of the Hippie culture. One of the most distinctive features of his collages are their diminutive size, the smallest of which are affixed to business cards and measure a mere 3 1/2 x 2 inches. Worden also produced complete sets of collaged playing cards. As supports for his pasted papers and fabric, he used cut up cardboard, game boards, masonite, and wall paneling. His largest collage works are still modestly scaled, averaging 24 x 15 inches and fashioned from day-glo papers salvaged from billboards and fireworks stands. Worden tended to work in sets or series of related subjects or compositions. These include framed collages that feature apocalyptic visions, such as goddesses and bodhisattvas confronting characters from popular culture sources. Visual poetry fashioned from the common and the extraordinary. Exhibition held in the Street Level Gallery space.
Subjects
popular culture, apocalyptic art, bodhisattva, found objects, Salt Lake Art Center, collages
