MEETING ART ADMIRERS: Antonio Bond chats with people attending the reception for ‘Collage Dropout’ at the Plough Gallery. Over his shoulder is ‘At the Onset.’

TIFTON — Antonio Bond found himself at home in 2020. Like many around the world, he found a hobby while stuck inside during the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike most, Bond’s creative outlet has turned into something more.

“Collage Dropout” opened at the Tifton’s Plough Gallery on Sept. 2 and will remain on display through Nov. 11. Bond’s exhibit mixes all kinds of images into motifs on solid backgrounds of different colors.

“I started the first week of covid,” said Bond, an Austin, Texas, native, who attended a reception in his honor at the Plough on its opening afternoon. He was working as a florist when the pandemic began. “All my jobs stopped,” he said. While home, he wanted to keep up the creativity. “I was sick of watching TV, so I just got a book and started cutting it out.” Inspiration comes from everywhere, but certain things stand out more than others. Religious imagery shows up often.

“I have always been drawn to religious imagery,” Bond said. “It’s just so classic, so iconic, really.” Their use also allows for different interpretations. “You get your own meaning from something,” he said.

Bond said nature has inspired him, even before he began collaging his background as a florist had an impact in his everyday creativity. In that that line, he said he worked with color and texture. Through that, “Things talk to each other,” Bond said. He’s brought that thinking and feeling to his collages. “I try to listen and watch the things for, like, to move almost.” If it feels right, he’ll continue.

Some of that covid television viewing has inspired as well. Bond said he’s watched the iconic Texas show, “King of the Hill” while working.

Bond uses a variety of sources for his images. Public domain art online, old magazines and books. The covid television watching figured in a bit, too, in putting things together.

Pieces shown at Bond’s exhibit can be purchased, in person at the Plough Gallery, or online at ploughgallery.com.

“Collage Dropout” is not the only exhibition at the Plough Gallery. River City Tintype will be at there Sept. 15-16. The artist, Rudy Salgado, uses a mobile darkroom to make tintypes, which was an early photographic technique.

The Plough Gallery is located at 216 8th Street West in Tifton. It is open Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.