The Sunday Paper #463

June 4, 2023

Paper inspires me to no end, but every so often, I get truly blown away by the power of this amazing material. Drew Matott, founder of Peace Paper, visited the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee a few years ago, where he performed an art therapy workshop. An attendee, Professor Raoul Deal, was inspired to start a community collaboration with survivors of gun violence, who transform clothing of victims into pulp and turn it into sheets of paper and works of art. I hope you will watch this video featuring several survivors: spouses, mothers and a child who tell it like it is. It is so evident that this work changes lives. Thanks Drew, thank you Professor Raoul Deal. May your circle continue to grow and make effective change. 

Drew Matott and Gretchen L. Miller feature the work of Professor Raoul Deal, along with many others who have used papermaking in transformative ways, in a new book that’s coming out soon: The Art & Art Therapy of Papermaking: Materials, Methods and Applications, available for pre-order now.

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Speaking of new books about papermaking, Kelsey Pike of Sustainable Papercraft has a new book coming out too. Modern Papermaking is also available for pre-order. I love that the book will include tips and practical advice on selling your one-of-a-kind paper collections for other makers to use in their 2D work.

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Happy Pride Month! The Guild of American Papercutters is hosting a paper doll workshop on June 25th with Tori Wright (at a nice price, I might add). Check it out!

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I had a lovely interview with Peter Thomas on Paper Talk, a book artist, and a hand papermaker with a special interest in production papermaking. He has been making fine press and artist books in collaboration with his wife Donna Thomas since 1977. All of the books they make use their own handmade paper, and some of their books relate to papermaking. Thomas has written books and articles about papermaking and the book arts, produced a documentary/educational video titled The Ergonomics of Hand Papermaking, and has been active in the leadership of IAPMA, and the Friends of Dard Hunter (now North American Hand Papermakers). Enjoy our conversation!

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If you are near Nelsonville, OH, make sure you visit Paper Circle’s 20th Anniversary Exhibition: Founder’s Exhibit Featuring Sara Gilfert. In 2003, Gilfert founded Paper Circle, a nonprofit papermaking studio, dedicated to the art and craft of papermaking, in Nelsonville.

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Paper Tidbits

• Learn how to make Japanese paper in San Francisco next Saturday, June 10th, with John Sullivan via Hand Bookbinders of California.
• InterOcean Studio in Denver has a range of summer workshops in book arts and papermaking.
• One day only – Friday, June 9th: 10am – 3pm. If you’re in Santa Fe, check out The Life Cycle of the Book featuring 10 “exploded” books by Santa Fe Book Arts Group members at the New Mexico Museum of Art.

Papermaking Series: Blender Papermaking

Here’s the latest in my series of papermaking videos.

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