Gold & Cork

About The Artist

Corissa J. S. Gold, MFA, LPC-S, ATR-BC

I am a visual storyteller. My stories are told with line, shape and color with texture and context from my extensive formal sculptural training and my experiences as a licensed Art Therapist. My artistic journey is anchored in the tactile essence of cork and the nuanced possibilities of collage. From childhood, I grew an affinity for scissors, which then turned into a bandsaw, which empowered me to manipulate materials and inject my creativity into them. I am guided by a visceral flow - my process prioritizes the unfolding narrative over a final product. Each piece, inherently personal, is crafted for sharing—a testament to my evolving artistic odyssey, a language of communication, learning, growth, and love.

I was drawn to Cork, chosen for its historical and emotional resonance, undergoing meticulous hand-cutting at specific angles, fostering visual flow. Collage becomes my medium for weaving multidimensional narratives, encouraging tactile engagement and appreciation for the beauty in material details. This technique involves assembling diverse materials like images, fabric, and found objects, creating a unified composition. Collage, a versatile storytelling tool, allows for the conveyance of complex narratives and the evocation of diverse emotions through thoughtful element arrangements and the materials used to create them. It invites viewers to explore relationships within individual components and the overall visual experience.

Cork, central to my artistic expression, symbolizes a profound connection to history, lineage, and the human condition. Whether accentuating the natural beauty of cork-wood relationships or serving as a storytelling basis, this versatile material embodies both personal history and shared narratives in my creative process.

My lived experience and family tapestry, curiosity, and exploration, shape my evolving artistic journey. As an adoptee, my lineage weaves through England, Northwestern Europe, Benin/Togo, Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon, Scotland, Norway, Wales, Ireland, and beyond. Driven by a passion for history and humanitarian causes, my artwork is a reflection of this rich and diverse heritage. Grounded in the joy of art-making, my creative process, whether expressing poignant truths or pure enjoyment, becomes an intrinsic force for healing, conversation and community building.