The Sunday Paper #236

December 2, 2018

Paper of the Week: Crumpled Paper

Paper has been in the New York Times a couple of times recently. Here’s an article about a scientist’s research about the math behind how paper crumples (although if you read the article carefully, his experiments were with a mylar substrate rather than real paper). I’m reminded of the Japanese technique paper called momigami, a crumpled (or kneaded) paper. Traditionally, Japanese papers are coated with konnyaku paste (made from a tuberous root of the devil’s tongue plant of the Arum genus) and then crumpled and used like cloth to create book covers or clothing. This photo shows two experimental sheets I created with my own handmade sheets of abaca paper. I coated the dry sheets with konnyaku powder that I purchased from Washi Arts and crumpled them to create this leathery looking paper.
In the Studio:
I have a thing for paper trees, especially during the holiday season. Here’s a project I designed for the 2017 Twelve Months of Paper How-To Book & Calendar. I think it’s extra fun if you make it with a double-sided paper, because it is reversible! Click through to get the instructions and watch a video tutorial on how to make yourself a tree (or a forest).

Papery Tidbits:

• The 2019 Twelve Months of Paper How-To Book & Calendar makes a great holiday gift!
• Did you have a chance to listen to my podcast interview with Laurence Barker yet?

Matthew Shlian never ceases to amaze. I featured his work in the gallery section of my book Playing With Paper. Here’s some of his work on This Is Colossal. I love this statement by Shlian: “My process is extremely varied from piece to piece. Often I start without a clear goal in mind, working within a series of limitations. For example on one piece I’ll only use curved folds, or make my lines this length or that angle, etc. Other times I begin with an idea for movement and try to achieve that shape or form somehow.”

“Unholy 112”

This is a fascinating article about collage artist Sara Caswell-Pearce who is taking deaccessioned books and turning them into works of art in an artist residency she created when she heard that these books were the books were going to be discarded.

Palais Populaire is a new museum in Berlin. The World on Paper is the museum’s inaugural exhibition.

Photo: Courtesy of Palais Populaire/David von Becker

I wrote a guest blog tutorial for StencilGirl Talk this past week, showing you how to use paper cutting to turn an envelope into a light catcher.

 

SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends: