Indestructible Artifact #33 (Verbs), 2020. “Stockings,” above, with Bengala (before, left, and after.) 10” x 8”.

#33 consists of collages made first by me and stamped with instructions on the back. “Accept or Add, Alter, Amend, Circulate, Collaborate, Cut, Distribute, Double, Excise, Increase, Modify, Mutate, Participate, Paste, Recreate, Reduce, Subtract, Transform or Return.”

Indestructible Artifact #33 (Verbs), 2020. “Face Painting,” with Sterling Allen, above. This is after I sent a collage to him, he worked on it, and then mailed it back. 8” x 9”.

Reverse of “Face Painting,” with Sterling Allen.

“Legs,”10” x 14”, left, and “Volume,” 10.5 x 8, right.

These are “stage 1” collages that I considered finished and ready to be mailed. I scanned them before mailing and never got them back. I can only imagine where they are, what they are doing now.

“Tut Tut Tuttle,”10” x 8”, left, and “Soft and Chewy,” 11 x 6, right.

“Butt,” 11” x 9”, child’s drawing on vintage magazine page, left, and “Frontal,” 12” x 10”, vintage book and magazine pages.

“Interiors,” 8” x 13”

Three compositions, asymmetrical and ahistorical. Far left, approx. 15”H, center, approx. 8”H

“Astronomy,” 10” x 15”, including pages from vintage NASA history book, African art history and small souvenir book about Vermeer.

Three vintage collages circa 1994, each approx. 10” x 8”.

I found these while cleaning my studio and was pleasantly surprised to see themes and technique consistent across decades. That’s Phish in the middle and Saddam Hussein on the right.

Brunette, 2011
Gallery, film, and museum posters,
44 x 70 inches

John & Richard, 2011
Gallery, film, and museum posters,
52 x 40 inches

FE, 2011
Gallery, film, and museum posters,
36 x 54 inches

Fischl, Like Rabbits, 2011
Gallery, film, and museum posters,
70 x 46 inches

Black & White, 2011
Gallery, film, and museum posters,
54 x 46 inches

Greenwich Village Book Desecration League, 2015–ongoing
Aaron Krach and INVISIBLE-EXPORTS

GVBDL celebrates the power of creative destruction, community, and collaboration. A rotating group of artists, writers, musicians, etc. meet to breathe new life into old literature through cut-and-paste methods. Maybe some ink or watercolor, glue or glitter. The result is a communal rejuvenation of book parts. A periodical party rife with production.

The Rules: Each piece will be worked on by at least two collaborators. A third person must decide if a piece is finished. No signatures. Ever. The artworks are communally owned and have been featured at book fairs and stores in New York and Los Angeles. Each piece will be packaged and sold with a certificate that lists the names of all participants as the collective maker of the piece.

Process and aftermath