The Sunday Paper #156, April 30

Paper of the Week: Withdrawn Book Paper

You have to look up to see this, and thankfully it caught my eye as I walked through the University of Iowa library last week. From the label: “Since 1988, Barbuzza has explored the use of books as sculptural objects. She gathers found books either by transforming their conventional format or by adding new elements to the original materials…. Barbuzza worked with withdrawn books from the UI Libraries, using the books as metaphors for the transition from the book object to digital information and for the shifts on reading spaces.” This last sentence is really apropos. My 15 yo daughter and I were in two libraries last week, and she noticed that she didn’t see a single book… just computers, cafés and reading spaces!

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In the Studio:

I find it extremely fun yet super stressful to pick papers for projects! I’ve pretty much finalized the selection for the 2018 Twelve Months of Paper Calendar, and now I’m busy photographing the projects. Here’s a sneak peak of next April’s project, a star lantern, which features a fibrous Japanese paper.

• There’s a new podcast featuring Mary Heebner on Paper Talk. Listen to my interview with Mary and consider signing up for the series on ITunes so that you’ll be notified every time a new episode is published. I like to download podcasts to my phone and listen to them when I’m working in the studio. Do you have a favorite podcast series?

• I’m in New Bern, NC this weekend teaching a workshop. Hello from the East Coast!

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For the past 4 years, Green Field Paper has created 100% recycled, plantable die cut airplanes that were given out to the lucky Delta passengers on Earth Day.

I used to follow Galbraith & Paul when they made lamps with paper shades years and years ago. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they’re still going strong, with a slight shift in gears. They’re still make lamps (although not with handmade paper) and in addition, they making gorgeous wallpapers, fabrics and more.

South Florida middle schoolers are folding paper to teach their communities about Florida’s River of Grass. Origami Everglades is an art project creating life-sized sculptures of the region’s endangered species using modular origami.

These paper boxes by Elisa Mearelli have depth! I like what she says: “The shadow and the light areas inside them will change during the day as it changes the sunlight that seeps inside.”

Here’s a lovely story about D’Banana Craft, a paper company in Malaysia, that was awarded a grant for their innovative work with banana fiber.

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