When I tell strangers what I do, it usually includes some sentiment about how small the field of paper art is. But even though it is small, I had no trouble coming up with this list of 10 of my favorite paper organizations. Here goes:

Hand Papermaking Magazine is a bi-annual publication, the journal in the field. In addition to publishing two magazines a year with actual paper samples in each issue, they publish a quarterly newsletter full of listings for national and international exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and more. Every two years, Hand Papermaking publishes a limited edition portfolio featuring a papermaking technique (fibers, watermarks, calligraphy, …) that includes samples by 20-30 paper artists. The most current portfolio is called Fiber Exposed!

Okay, I’m biased, because I’ve had the opportunity to work at some of these organizations: Dieu Donné Papermill is an amazing paper studio in NYC. Dieu Donné has a gallery, offers artists residencies, workshops, and internships, produceds collaborative, custom paper, and publishing projects. The mill also has a membership program and a subscription series.
 

I met my friend Andrea Peterson when I was working at Dieu Donné and registered with her husband Jon who made my wedding pottery. The two of them run Hook Pottery Paper in LaPorte, Indiana. He makes incredible wood-fired pots and she does wonders with paper. I’ll be teaching a workshop at their farm on August 3rd  & 4th (details coming soon).

I first got into sculptural papermaking during a class with Jennifer Morrow at the Penland School in North Carolina. Every summer they offer a selection of classes in their indoor/outdoor papermaking studio. Penland is a magical place, with all sorts of studios, from weaving to glassblowing, book arts to woodworking and everything in between. I teach there every few years.

I have also taught at the Haystack Mountain School, a smaller version of Penland located in Deer Isle, Maine, where the summers are usually cool (and if not, you can jump into the ocean from the bottom of these steps). This coming summer, Matt Shlian, whose work is featured in Playing With Paper is teaching a workshop there.
The Friends of Dard Hunter is a national membership organization that has an annual meeting in a different city every October. Last year we convened in Cleveland, Ohio and this next fall we’ll meet in St. Louis. The organization originally formed to find a secure home for the huge collection of paper and artifacts collected by Dard Hunter. The collection is now housed at the Robert C. Williams American Museum of Papermaking (another amazing paper place).
IAPMA is the International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (I’m currently serving as Vice President). This is also a membership organization that meets every two years in a different country. The next meeting will take place in Fabriano, Italy, home of the ancient papermill which has made Fabriano paper for centuries.

Kozo Fine Art Materials in Denver has a nice selection of papers and the closest place for me to go shopping (a 2-hour drive)!

When you visit Cave Paper in Minneapolis, you go down to the basement of a city building and soon you feel like you are in a real cave. Amanda Degener and Bridget O’Malley are the proprietors, and they make a fine selection of durable handmade papers using flax as their primary raw material.

Hiromi Paper in Santa Monica, CA specializes in importing papers from Japan, but they also carry papers from other parts of the world. The company is devoted to the creation of a greater rapport between Japanese papermakers, printers, artists, conservators, designers and bookmakers, while developing new directions and a deeper understanding of Japanese papers or Washi.
I could go on, but I’ll stop with ten. What are your top paper picks? Please share them with us by leaving a comment below.