Project #6: Collage + Flight
Project #6: Collage + Flight

As I thought about flying, I thought of "escape velocity", a phrase I first came across via the book Hard Love, by Ellen Wittlingler. In the book the protagonist is fascinated by a zine titled "Escape Velocity", and we soon learn that escape velocity is the minimum speed by which an object must travel to leave the gravitational pull of Earth (Wittlingler 2001). I was struck by both the medium of zines, as well as the concept that flying, and leaving earth required an actual speed in order to escape gravity. According to Bailey (2005), "Rising above the earth's heaviness is an ecstatic jump to new heights. . . an expansion of horizons and consciousness" (p.123). I wanted to create an image that spoke of our inherent ability to fly by connecting to our ethereal spirit. I initially imagined myself using my wings to fly underground, but as I challenged myself to stick to Bailey's notion of traveling to new horizons, I thought of what it'd could mean for me to embrace the above as well as the below. And then I wondered what it'd take to leave the gravitational pull I've always known, and enter a new orbit of consciousness.

Read More
Margot Terccollage, 52 projects, escape velocity, depth psychology, flying, tech + psycheComment
Project #5: Print + Poem + Essay (Dismembered No More)
Project #5: Print + Poem + Essay (Dismembered No More)

This print and short poem were created as an assignment for my class on technology & psyche. The task was to flip through our book, Psychology and Alchemy by C.G Jung, land on an image or phrase, reflect on this image for an hour, and create something in response, also within an hour. The goal wasn’t to make something great, but simply to allow ourselves to sit with an artwork or text, have a dialogue with it, ask what it wanted to convey to the collective during this time (April 201), and make from that place. I found this container to be liberating and activating. I especially loved only having an hour to create something. The project was also impactful in that it allowed me to draw from material that has made itself into my inner world, and integrate it deeper into my psyche through image-making and creation.

Read More
Margot Terc52 projects, block printing, depth psychology, anima, essay, poemComment
Project #4: Zine Inspired by Goddess Inanna

I attended a series of workshops titled “Inanna, Goddess of Heaven and Earth”, facilitated by Sonia Estrada Conrad via Joy Collage. We heard tales of Inanna, and were then prompted to create collages from the myths and images explored. A few times we were directed to flip through our magazines/images, where we’d land on an image that would then become a starting point or focus. I was craving zine-making so I went for tiny collages I could fit in a 4x6 zine.

I needed this process, of letting my unconscious guide the process and have no intention but to listen and follow whatever thread and images that resonated with me. I was also inspired by the images I recognized from recent dreams (house, stairs, door/portal).

Read More
Margot TerczineComment
Project #3: Nature and Images (for psyche)
Project #3: Nature and Images (for psyche)

This one goes to the trees, the branches, the flowers, the fractals, the sky, and the water, the river, the blues, and the pinks, that connect me to soul and myself. Project #3 became about filling up my well, and prioritizing cycles over fixed timelines. For two weeks, every project felt like a stretch, which quickly made clear that I needed to attune to my body. I’ve worked on finals, and projects for school, and I’ve made collages and other things, but none of it felt like part of this. Or maybe I just felt too tired to dive in, or possibly just wanted to make without thinking about how it’d turn out, or how I’d lay it out here. I need to just be, so I turned walking. I walk when I need grounding, when I need to sort myself out, and when I just need to breathe and exist. Last week I went to the New York Botanical Garden, and went to the places, images, and symbols that resonate with me. For years this practice has nourished me, and I am so grateful of how accessible it is to me. So this one goes to walking, and capturing the symbols and images that speak to my spirit and psyche. Thank you for all that you do.

Read More
Margot Tercphotography, natureComment
Project #2: Collages
Project #2: Collages

For my second project, I wanted to experiment with collage. I’ve been inspired by the collage work I’ve seen by fellow students at the Pacifica Graduate Institute, and the ways they’ve blended collages with soul work and depth psychology. While watching their presentations I was entranced by the colors, symbolism, and the feelings being stirred in me, even when I had no idea what exactly I was looking at.

There was a student, Holly Trent, that works with collage and maps, and I was struck by the concept that one could literally create a map to visually represent their journey or inner world. There was another student, Binyamina Bee, whose presentation blew me away. She spoke of working with feminine archetypes of shadow and darkness, and grief, and hungry ghosts that crave and yearn. All of this resonated deeply with me, and I knew I wanted to explore it more.

Read More
Margot Terc Comment
Project #1: Block Printing
Project #1: Block Printing

I’m obsessed with rubber stamps, and I have a plastic bin filled with ones I’ve collected over the past five years. My favorite ones are: a heart, a fish, a patterned square, a ‘thank you’, and a lil cloud. I go back and forth with the leaves and tiny trees. I use them on zines, notebooks and planner, and of course, stationary. For a while now I’ve wanted to make my own, and build my own collection of DIY stamps. I recently saw a few videos on Tiktok of linoleum printing that got me inspired, and a bought beginner's kit to try it out.

Project #1 goes to rubber stamps :)

The first thing I did when I opened the box was figure out how to set up the line cutters. Once I had that done, I grabbed a rubber block, and went straight into it. I knew that I’d eventually watch a tutorial or two, but I wanted to feel it out and see what could happen if I just messed with the different cutters. I wanted to see what kind of lines each would make, and how differently they’d feel. Right now #1 is my favorite. I made lines that turned into a pattern, and I used #1 to draw one of go-to’s: overlapping mountains. I drew lines below, and added more lines inside. That was one of the first ones I’ve made, and my favorite one so far.

Read More
Margot Tercblock printing, rubber stamps, 52 projects, prints Comments