Artist Statement

My collage work reflects struggle due to political, social, religious, gender and environmental discourse. Through the collage process of “putting to paper” the situations that I find difficult to reconcile, I can, layer by layer, in content, color, form, and balance, build a cohesive and visual editorial.

My goal in creating collage is to stir an emotional response and to open a thoughtful process for me to consider my place in the struggles that we contend with daily.  All is not painful. It is intensely important to embrace joy, hope, humor, and to celebrate with laughter.  There is opportunity in my art to note simple pleasures or to laugh out loud.

Artist Joan Sindler

Bio

I was born in Lamar, Colorado and grew up on the family farm on the banks of the Arkansas River.

While in school, I learned about and made collages. Having recreated the collage process learned years ago, I continue to explore and refine the process. I do most of my work in my studio in Florence, Colorado at the Bell Tower Arts Center where I can sit amongst old books, various publications, found objects, and photographs and think and cut and paste.

My work has been recognized for originality, fine attention to detail and thought provoking content. In 2021, I received the Colorado State Fair Professional Artist Award and was invited to have a solo show at Sangre de Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo, Colorado, November 2022 - February 2023.

I have received awards at local, regional, and state levels. I’ve had solo shows in my community, Canon City, Colorado. I am represented at the Blue Spruce Gallery in Florence, Colorado and in private collections throughout the United States.

CV

2025

Midnight Watch, Honorable Mention, Creations of the Night Group Show, Bell Tower Cultural Center, Florence, Colorado

2024

Foyer Solo Show for Mary Poppins Musical, Rialto Theatre, Florence, Colorado

Gallo del Cielo, Honorable Mention, Western Group Show, Bell Tower Cultural Center, Florence, Colorado

The Letter Carrier, 3rd place, Portrait Show Group Show, Blue Spruce Gallery, Florence, Colorado 

Magpie Moon, 2nd Place People's Choice Award, Group Show, Blue Spruce Gallery, Florence, Colorado 

2023

The Letter Carrier, 2nd Place, Professional Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

Red Dress, 3rd Place, Professional Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

2022

Tight Wires and Loose Ends, Solo Show, Sangre de Cristo Art Center, November 2022-February 2023, Pueblo, Colorado

They Just Kept Watching, 2nd Place, Professional Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

New Hope, Honorable Mention, Professional Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

New Hope, Honorable Mention, Blossom Group Show, Fremont Center for the Arts, Cañon City, Colorado

2021

Crane Keeper, 3rd Place, Fremont Center for the Arts, Cañon City, Colorado

Interrupted, Special Award from the Sangre de Cristo Art Center for a Solo Show, Professional Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

8 Second Dream, Honorable Mention, Midsummer’s Night Dream group show, Fremont Center for the Arts, Cañon City, Colorado

Inside Out, 3rd Place, Blossom Group Show, Fremont Center for the Arts, Cañon City, Colorado

Presta Bicycle Brawl, 3rd Place, Themed Group Show, Blue Spruce Gallery, Florence, Colorado

Inside Out, 3rd Place, Group Show, Blue Spruce Gallery, Florence, Colorado

2020

Fiesta Forever, 3rd Place, Group Show, Bell Tower Arts Center, Florence, Colorado

2019

Dream Weaver, 3rd Place, Spoke Art Show, Fremont Center for the Arts, Cañon City, Colorado

8 Second Dream, 1st Place, Professional Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

Meet You Halfway, 3rd Place, Professional Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

2018

Stretching it Out - A Collage Exploration, Solo Show, Cañon Framing, Cañon City, Colorado

2017

The Chicken and Princess Grace, 2nd Place, Professional Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

2016

Three Golden Rings, 1st Place, Professional Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

Three Golden Rings, 2nd Place, Group Show, Blue Spruce Gallery, Florence, Colorado

St. Charlotte of the Sea, 1st Place, Group Show, Blue Spruce Gallery, Florence, Colorado

2015

Bird in Hand, Jurors Choice, Professional Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

2014

Bird in Hand, 2nd Place, Zonta of Royal Gorge's Annual Artful Women Exhibition, Canon City, Colorado

Eclipse, Jurors Choice, Emerging Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

2013

Eclipse, 3rd Place, Zonta of Royal Gorge's Annual Artful Women Exhibition, Canon City, Colorado

2012

1943, 2nd Place, Zonta of Royal Gorge's Annual Artful Women Exhibition, Canon City, Colorado

Adoration of St. Eudora, 3rd Place, Emerging Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

2011

Dead Men Lie, 2nd Place, Emerging Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

Our Lady, Jurors Choice, Emerging Mixed Media, Colorado State Fair Juried Art Show, Pueblo, Colorado

Dead Men Lie, Best of Show, Zonta of Royal Gorge's Annual Artful Women Exhibition, Canon City, Colorado

2010

Our Lady, 2nd Place, Zonta of Royal Gorge's Annual Artful Women Exhibition, Canon City, Colorado