The Jewish Educational Alliance (JEA) is pleased to announce the current show by artist Courtney C. Trowman, aka CC Bella Collage on display in the Montag Gallery May 1-29, 2024. In the two years since her last show at the JEA, she has been exploring a “spectrum” of colors, new styles and techniques. Trowman is an expressive and whole-hearted artist on a mission to create eco-conscious pieces that move the viewer through a journey filled with magical intentions and surprise details. Her whimsical 3D collage art was born out of an inherent need for expression, a passion for art, and the discovery that her art didn’t flow through traditional forms such as painting or drawing.

“Most of my pieces feature at least 50% found, upcycled and/or recycled materials. In the last decade especially, I have developed a stronger desire to do as much as possible to reduce my carbon footprint. I love rescuing items that would otherwise go to landfill, giving them a second life in artwork. This not only fulfills a very practical and necessary purpose for our planet, but I find that these random items give new meaning and bring a special kind of energy to my work.”

Through her creations, she invites us to get curious, to open our hearts and minds to the layers within each piece, to see without needing to understand, and to embrace our own creativity without judgment. “Art doesn’t need to be understood in order to be appreciated - it’s about how a creation makes you feel.”