Ephemera & Mixed Media Quandary

If you've visited here very often you know how much I love vintage ephemera.  Old labels, dictionary pages, sheet music, map paper, and so much more all find their way into my art in one form or another.  Sometimes it irritates my guys (both the one I married and the two I gave birth to) that I use these vintage items in my art.  My reply is that I appreciate and preserve it in my own way.

 

That being said I am having such a difficult time with some mixed media artists incorporate vintage ephemera in their art.  Before I go any further, I'm not criticizing anyone or anyone's art...  I know it's all a personal thing but I just wanted to share my own personal thoughts on ephemera in mixed media art.

 

What got me to thinking about it was a blog post on a company web site.  The blog post was demonstrating the steps of creating a mixed media canvas...   The first photo is how the canvas started out....  I have to say I was tickled to see all of the beautiful labels ~ I have a few of those myself so it was nice to see someone else appreciated them.

And after many varied steps this is how the canvas turned out.... 

I know art is subjective but I was surprised to say the least...you can't even tell the labels are under all the various mediums.

 

In my mind, what is the purpose of using those darling vintage labels if they are going to be obliterated.  If the hint of text (which I can't see) is the point, copy the labels and use the copies... If texture is the point, then use either textured papers or layers of lesser bits of contemporary ephemera, pattern paper, magazine ads, junk mail, etc. 

 

The ephemera lover in my just shutters when I stop and think of all of the beautiful bits of vintage goodness that are getting covered up and forgotten under all the layers of paint, ink, gesso, collage mediums and more. 

 

Again, not criticizing anyone or anyone's art...

Just something that has been bugging me that I needed to share.

 

What do you think?

Do you use vintage ephemera in your art?

If so, what are your thoughts of completely covering it?

 

I'm anxious to hear what you think!