“Torn”

Much of the pleasure of “Torn” is optical: these artists know how to tickle the retina with interesting shapes, tones, and strict visual rhythms. If they’re going to put a hole in a sheet of paper, they’re going to make sure it’s where it needs to be in order to maximize tension and intrigue.

That means command over negative space as well as dominion over the mark. When the media is mixed in mixed-media pieces, nothing goes into the Mixmaster without spending time in the measuring cup first.