Traditions features a sample of the collages made upon recycled coffee cup lids for an international open call. The Kanyer Art Collection received over 500 collages sent from 25 countries, and 25 states in the USA. Most of the artists used both sides of the lids resulting in over 900 collages. 

In the later phases of the COVID pandemic, and in celebration of “International Be an Angel Day” (August 22), The Kanyer Art Collection issued its eighth (8th) international open call for collage. This call had an emphasis on the theme of Mail Art and recycling. Artists were asked to be artistic angels by creating their collage masterpieces using a discarded, disposable coffee cup lid as the substrate. 

The Mail Art aspect of the call invited artists to mail their masterpieces to The Collection. This open call was specifically conducted with the intent of aligning collage with the conservation of the earth as a way to illustrate its long relationship with recycling. People all over the world made fine artworks from trash and sent them to The Collection which resides in Central Washington, USA.

All the Coffee Cup Collages were exhibited in spring 2023 at The Boxx Gallery in Tieton, Washington, USA. The exhibition featured all the Coffee Cup Collages received by The Collection. Founder of Mighty Tieton, Ed Marquand, hung all the Coffee Cup Collages precisely on tailor pins. There were so many Coffee Cup Collages they had to be displayed on tables and in the window vitrine of the gallery. 

The mission of The Kanyer Art Collection focuses on collecting collage and other activities with the goal to elevate, amplify, and magnify collage and its importance in art history. One way to achieve this mission is to hold international open calls for collages.