The Sunday Paper #445

January 29, 2023

I had the pleasure of interviewing Megan Singleton on Paper Talk. Singleton is a practicing artist, educator, and mother located in St. Louis, Missouri. The investigation of ecological relationships within society and the landscape is the basis of her work. As an interdisciplinary artist, she creates works that resonate with the materiality and rhythms of the natural world. Her creative practice intertwines sculpture, handmade paper, found objects, photography, and books arts. Singleton received her MFA in sculpture from Louisiana Sate University and her BFA in Photography from Webster University in St.Louis. She actively exhibits and was the recipient of the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission Artist Fellowship Grant, the Smelser-Vallion Visiting Artist Fellowship in Taos, NM and has participated in Artist Residencies across the US.

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This looks like a wonderful community art installation. In anticipation of the April 22, 2023 (aka earth day) opening of the new Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, contributions are sought for “Art Garden,” a community-built art installation that will shower the AMFA grounds at MacArthur Park with thousands of origami lotuses. All Arkansans are welcome to take part, but many of the 11,000 estimated participants will come from the 67 schools and community partners that have been invited to get involved.

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I’m thankful to readers who alert me to paper happenings! Origami made the cover story of the February issue of National Geographic. As far as I can tell from a sneak peak – a reader/magazine subscriber is sending me her issue – several of the items featured in the article have been featured on the blog and podcast: (such as Robert J. Lang and Airgami masks).

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Florian Weber built a full-scale McLaren F1 car constructed solely from sheets of paper. “When I started my journey as Paperlegend, I created 1:8 scale paper sculptures of legendary cars, but I had always dreamt of creating a full-scale paper sculpture of a race car.”

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Here’s the next video in my Papermaking Series: Straining Pulp.

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Check out this beautiful video of papermaking in China. You have to watch to the end for a fun plot twist!

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Paper Tidbits

• 23 Sandy Gallery is curating a juried exhibition with the theme of Dreams. Submit your work!
• The Red Cliff Paper Retreat, one of the few events I hold in my Colorado studio, is now open for registration. Join us for five days in paper heaven!
• I get a lot out of my membership in the Craft Industry Alliance, including discounts several services that I use. If you run a craft business, you might consider joining.
• Some of you contributed roots to my sculpture Mother Tree, and many of you have seen her on view, first in Portland and then as she traveled around the country. She is now at the Museum of Motherhood (yes, a museum about motherhood exists) in St. Petersburg, FL. I met the founder of the museum, Joy Rose, all the way back in 2010, right after I finished Mother Tree, and we’ve been talking ever since. They intend to purchase her to remain on site, and you can help!

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In the Studio

It is exciting to see an online class take shape. Weave Through Winter attracts beginners, as well as participants who have taken the course as many as four times! I enjoy weaving every day with the group (this is my fifth time) and will be sharing my daily weavings on Instagram.

Sarah M, who is a repeat participant says: As I wove everyday, I started seeing possibilities for paper. I like working with reclaimed papers. I shop at SCRAP, a local creative reuse store where I find maps, envelopes, discarded drawings, wallpaper, calendars, etc. I grabbed a poster from a power pole and delaminated cardboard. Experiments with all kinds of materials flowed from the daily practice. I recommend Weave Through Winter and would take it again.

Weave Through Winter begins on February 1st. You can still sign up!

One of my 2022 Weave Through Winter Weavings. Do you recognize that profile?

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