SAFFORD — The Safford City-Graham County Library announced it will host American Pop Artist Michael Albert.
Albert is the author of an artist autobiography titled, “An Artist’s America,” has been conducting this art enrichment program for nearly two decades, bringing it to more than 1,000 libraries, museums, arts events and schools in 48 states.
He is nationally known for making collage artworks from cereal boxes and other printed cardboard consumer brand packages. His work has been described as a cross between Pop Art, Cubism and recycling with a wide range of subjects he explores including many text-based works.
He told Gila Valley Central he wasn’t formally-trained in art, but rather took inspiration from his visits to New York museums.
“I guess, learning about Vincent Van Gogh was really my initial inspiration,” Albert said. “Seeing his paintings at the Met, seeing ‘Starry Night’ at the MOMA, I started learning about Vincent Van Gogh. I started reading his letters that he wrote to his brother, I started learning his life story, how he was not a trained artist, how he didn’t start making art until he was in his late 20s.”
He said he transitioned from drawing his art to collage when he realized how much waste there is in America.
“One day I decided — I don’t know what it was — to me it was a really magical moment, where I decided that a cereal box wasn’t trash; it was this cool, iconic thing. Tony the Tiger, I realized, he’s classic; he’s iconic,” Albert said.
He will be bringing his nationally-renowned Modern Pop Art Experience programs to more than 75 cities in 12 states this summer, including Arizona. He starts at the Duncan Library on June 1 from 2-4 p.m., followed by the Clifton Library from 6-8 p.m. He then heads to the Children’s Museum in Tucson on June 2 before his program takes place at the Safford Library on June 3, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. This event will kick off the annual Summer Reading Program.
The program will include a chance to meet the artist, a short artist talk, and a hands-on collage workshop, and a free poster giveaway and signing. The program is free and open to all ages. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
Examples of Albert’s art will be on display in the library for the month of May, during regular library hours.
For more information about the Pop Art Experience or other library programs, contact the Safford City-Graham County Library at 928-432-4165.
