Date of event: June 2, 2012, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Scott St. John (aka Tofu) takes on mixed media!

Taking inspiration from traditional art forms, including using repetitive patterns in quilting, pottery, weaving, basketry and traditional tile work, Tofu began creating his mixed media and collage paintings with what he called ‘map quilts’ – small artworks which resembled patchwork and other quilt patterns. The map quilts led to a continuing experimentation with color and pattern until he was eventually working on a new project entirely with maps.

Eureka! The success resulted in a shift in the direction of his work. Tofu spent the entire year on the 2011 Project , working each day on a different piece until finally there were 365 small 4″x4″ (10×10 cm) canvases, each mixed media and acrylic. Some of the elements used include old maps, vintage postcards, photographs, stamps, sand paper, wax, candy wrappers, origami paper, dried sage, ground coffee, googly eyes, Joshua Tree leaves, puzzle pieces, dice, sheet music and old MUNI Fast Passes.

In many ways the 2011 Project was also his sketchbook for future work. He experimented with new materials and subject matter for many of the 365 pieces. Tofu feels those ideas are beginning to play out. Currently he is creating work for a solo show of travel-themed, mixed media work in the fall of 2012. For more information about Tofu, follow his blog or visit his website .