ARTIST STATEMENT
Unspoken Fragments explores grief and longing through analog collage, using unexpected juxtapositions, negative space, and fragments of song lyrics—echoes of memory and the things left unsaid.
Love came into my life like a tornado. It carried me so high I felt as if I were touching the sun, but like Icarus, the ascent—magnificent, blazing, impossible to resist—was fleeting, and the fall left me in an emotional fog that threatened to consume me.
This collection is my attempt to make sense of the wreckage—born from the raw vulnerability of love, the paralyzing despair of heartbreak, and the bittersweetness of grief.
Hand-cut from art books, independent fashion magazines, scientific journals, and my own photography, the objects I select carry symbolic weight—sometimes as private references, sometimes as intuitive flashes that emerge in the act of making. Song lyrics weave through the pieces as emotional narrators, giving voice to feelings I could not speak aloud.
Together, these elements create a rhythm between image and text, like a heartbeat that carries the tension, longing, and release of intimacy and grief.
M. Ward asked in Chinese Translation, “What do you do with the pieces of a broken heart?” My answer is this: I gather them, arrange them, and give them form, letting the fragments become something whole.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
New Orleans based artist Jaclyn McCabe starts each of her vibrant collages the same way.
Step one: Observe. She watches closely, listens intently, and lets the piece take her where she needs to go. Sometimes, it's to a place of whimsy and awe-inspiring beauty. Sometimes, it's a place of difficult emotions. It's occasionally both.
That approach makes perfect sense for Jaclyn. After all, observation has been central to every chapter of her life — first as a cultural anthropologist and photojournalist, then as a life coach and an intuitive healer (https://jaclynmccabe.com/).
Jaclyn describes her collages (and the process of creating them) as a place to "put the emotions."
They beautifully blend lyrics by her favorite musical artists and found images from books or magazines. The results are something inspirational — and open to interpretation. She wants anyone who views her art to see and feel something wholly unique to them.
When she's not in her Bywater home studio collaging or coaching, you'll find Jaclyn exploring the bayous in her little boat, riding her bike. or taking in live local music.
Event Info
When
Saturday, Sept 20, 2025 · 7:00–10:00 PM
Where
Burnt Canoe Studio
4820 Banks Street · New Orleans, LA
Admission
Free and open to the public
Parking & Arrival
Street parking only. Please do not park in our driveway.
Be mindful of neighbors and do not block gates or alleys.
Rideshare and biking encouraged; bike lock-up available inside the courtyard during the event.
Accessibility
Entry is at the Banks Street door. If you need any accessibility accommodations (seating, entry assistance, etc.), email otway@burntcanoestudio.com in advance and we’ll set you up.
House Rules
Respect the artwork and the artists—no touching art unless clearly interactive.
Photos welcome; please tag @follow.the.wonder and @burntcanoestudio
Service animals only inside the gallery.
Light refreshments while supplies last; no outside alcohol.
Questions?
Email otway@burntcanoestudio.com