When formatting this collage, I wanted to create something that had a personal resonance for me. While the “Transcendentalist Movement” was the culture that I picked, it was not just the movement itself that I wanted to encapsulate, but the philosophy. The philosophies and values from Transcendentalism are ideas that I try to apply to myself every day. I wanted my project to convey a sense of innate connection with the natural universe and the fruition of inner, spiritual awareness. I tried to focus on textural elements that would generally be considered woodsy and rustic. I really enjoy decorating and accessorizing my space, so I had an abundance of fake greenery and foliage to use for the project. Initially, there was consideration of actually going outside to gather materials; however, I opted out of it. I printed out photos of key figures of the social movement, as well as environmental photos such as Walden Pond, where Henry David Thoreau wrote his piece Walden. As part of the collage, there was a cutout of a figure with the head of an eyeball that had significance to Transcendentalism. Writer Christopher Pearse Cranch, another figurehead of this movement, drew this lanky figure as a metaphor pertaining to Emerson’s essay Nature. The quote, as well as the drawing, for me, was such a cool and fun discovery. The quote goes: “Standing on the bare ground—my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space—all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent Eyeball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God. The name of the nearest friend sounds then foreign and accidental: to be brothers, to be acquaintances—master or servant—is then a trifle and a disturbance. I am the lover of uncontained and immortal beauty. In the wilderness, I find something more dear and connate than in streets or villages. In the tranquil landscape, and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature.” (Emerson, 1836) The collage consisted of other materials, such as fabrics and vintage sheet paper, that I already had at home. I actually have a small collection of candelabras and candlestick holders, so I used some spare tapers lying around for the melted candle wax in my project. Of course, the Walt Whitman quote was typed on a typewriter and then glued onto a piece of cardboard to prevent warping and burned on the edges for the aesthetic of timelessness. Tarot cards were printed out because I felt that the art of tarot was a good link to some of the values the transcendental philosophy emphasized, which were introspection and trust in oneself. Personally, I use the Cat’s Eye Tarot deck; however, I picked the Rider-Waite tarot deck due to its high popularity and influence. Finally, the main challenge that I encountered was the portrait of Emerson and the frame. I did not exactly like how the proportion turned out for Emerson’s face, but I did try to compensate by using moss to balance things out. I deemed the frame a challenge simply due to acquisition. It was surprisingly hard to find a frame that I wanted, so I ended up hopping around to five different thrift stores to find the perfect one. Overall, the collage was fun to make. It felt very personal, and I thoroughly appreciate everyone’s feedback. I tried really hard to be intentional about all of the details I incorporated. I am just glad that I was able to convey the philosophy and ideas that are deeply impactful and relevant to my life.