The Sunday Paper #103

Paper of the Week: Moon Paper

Last week I had the pleasure of seeing my friend Andrea Peterson, who runs Hook Pottery Paper with her husband in Northern Indiana. She and I worked together in 1995/96 in New York City at Dieu Donné Papermill. Over the years, she has experimented with and refined a variety of image-making techniques utilizing pigmented paper pulp. These incredible papers look textured and have the illusion of being three-dimensional – with tiny craters dotting it like the surface of the moon – but they are absolutely flat to the touch. The 18″ x 24″ sheets are worth every penny! Hook Pottery Paper sells a swatch book of all of their handmade papers, and orders can be placed by e-mail or phone. 

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In the Studio:

I’ve started listening to podcasts when I’m in the studio, and I find that I stay a bit longer when my ears (and mind) are entertained more than just visually. Is it like that for you? I usually have a goal or two when I’m in the studio. Today I had two:

1. to locate a piece that will be in a show next month, which almost gave me a panic attack. I couldn’t find it – anywhere. I went through all of these thoughts – what am I going to tell the gallery… this is a gallery I’ve wanted to work with forever… and I’ve told them I have the piece… and I’ve already sent in an image for the catalog. Luckily, I thought of one more place to look, and low and behold, there it was!

2. I am making the covers for my retrospective catalog 10 sheets at a time, so I made my quota for the day. It takes about 2 hours, which includes making the 2-layered sheets, pressing them, loading them into the drying system and then brushing the felts and hanging them to dry.

And then, because I wanted to finish listening to the podcast (David Whyte with Krista Tippett) I decided to do a little cutting and stitching, which you see below. I’ve long been intrigued with the idea of stitching in space and think there is some potential for a book here. I’ve been saving these circular papers (waste paper from another project) for about 4 years now. I think it is time to use them!

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I love reading about companies like Log On Firewood (cute name)! Julia Pandeni is determined to help keep Namibia clean by providing the entire country with her product, which is made from newspapers or paper and water. She’s got big ideas: even though they are still a small company, she believes they hold an enormous amount of potential for creating self employment opportunities, as well as making a significant contribution to reducing land degradation through recycling waste paper and reducing the cutting down of trees. This seems like a business model that could grow and serve other countries as well. Go Julia!

I’ve written about Paper for Water before. Fair warning: you might need a kleenex when you watch this video about one of the families these two young girls have helped. Isabelle and Katherine Kei Adams started their nonprofit Paper for Water when they were just eight and five years old, making and selling origami Christmas ornaments. In the four years since, the siblings have raised $800,000 to deliver clean water to 100 communities in 12 countries.

I always enjoy reading Ann Martin’s blog, All Things Paper, which comes out twice a week and always has something I’ve never even heard about in the world of paper! Check out the extraordinary collection of layered paper athletes by Raya Sader Bujana that was recently featured on All Things Paper blog.

This is practically pure advertising, but I couldn’t resist posting these origami style lampshades. Screen-printed on a vintage press, each crease and pleat is folded by hand to create a stylish and contemporary lampshade, adding bold color, stunning geometry and a soft warm light to your favorite room. Does anyone know who makes these? There’s also a green lamp in a different shape.

I received a lovely card this week from a friend who went to New Zealand and discovered a unique paper studio: The Papermill is a fun, creative and safe environment where artists with disabilities craft beautiful products from natural and recycled materials. Another fabulous business model!

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