Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities of Origami is currently on exhibit at the Bellevue Arts Museum, May 16 – September 21, 2014.

Richard Sweeney, (Partial Shell), 2012 Watercolor paper, 300 gsm. 8 ½ x 12 x 10 in

In case you didn’t see his work on Colossal this week, Peter Gentenaar is a paper maestro, making huge flat sheets of paper in his studio in the Netherlands that transform into sculptures like these as they dry. I had the honor of meeting Peter in Korea a few years ago.

Check out this self folding 3-D paper designed by Ata Sina, a master’s student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Special thermoplastic polymers are strategically placed onto pre-cut and pre-creased sheets of paper, and when heat is applied the paper folds itself. Since paper is light, strong and inexpensive, Sina thinks there are applications for his paper in the packaging industry.

If you find yourself in Mombai between now and June 15th, visit my friend Jenny Pinto’s exhibition, Lightness. Jenny spent a few weeks with me in the studio about 14 years ago and she’s taken her work to the next level and beyond.  

Do you know about the Book Arts Newsletter published by Sarah Bodman in the UK? It is a wonderful free resource. Check it out!

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About The Sunday Paper: They keep saying that paper will become obsolete, yet artists, craftspeople, designers and creatives are keeping it alive and well. A healthy number of people are even making paper by hand (in some cultures they are still using age-old traditions). How cool is that? The Sunday PAPER is a resource for ideas and inspiration, all having to do with this amazing material. Each Sunday, starting with this edition, I’ll bring you stories and examples of people doing exciting, innovative, and beautiful things with paper, as well as links to interesting paperfacts I’ve unearthed from around the globe. I hope you’ll enjoy reading this paper, Papier, papel, хартия, Papir,紙, Papper, פּאַפּיר… and don’t hesitate to leave your comments and suggestions below!