WATERMARKS CONFERENCE ~ Part II: Aimee Lee

Wedding Chamber Pot

Thanks to Pinterest and my PAPER PAPER PAPER board there, I learned about Korean paper weaving from other papermakers via the internet before going to the conference. Which is where I first happened upon Aimee Lee's website. Aimee is a visual artist and papermaker who is working to revive the ancient techniques of Korean papermaking. So you can imagine my delight at learning she would be doing one of the workshops this year at the Morgan Conservatory: "Useful Miracles: The Practice of Noyeokgae Korean Paper Weaving."

Aimee Lee's work examines the nature of being human, and ways that people create personal realities based on constructs of family and culture. [Her] tools include papermaking, book arts, installation, performance art, and writing, and [her] recent focus is on making and working with hanji, Korean handmade paper... "Through my study of hanji, I became interested in how certain craft forms have survived in the face of mass production and a culture of cheap and fast excess. Seeing this clash between past and present production values, I have adapted ancient techniques and materials in my art to revive and update tradition, and encourage the survival and evolution of the old ways, while adding layers of meaning to my practice," her artist statement reads.

During her workshop showed us the follow video:

And, we learned the interesting history of the Wedding chamber pots, like the one shown above. Which a bride would carry with her as she made the long journey from her village to that of her future husband. We concluded the workshop with hands on practice at making the paper cords to weave with. (A process I must admit to still not getting the hang of).

One of Aimee's students making paper yarn for weaving

Aimee setting Korean style on a table during her workshop, demonstrating how Noyeokgae is done. (An image of her is being projected via her laptop into an overhead screen (click image for larger view))  

Aimee has sent in the following message to FDH Blog from the conference along with a list of her upcoming workshops, for those of you who were not able to make the conference or her workshop. Perhaps you can join her at one of these venues. Also, listed below is a link to purchase her fascinating book: Hanji Unfurled: One Journey into Korean Papermaking which recounts her process into learning Hanji from master craftsmen in Korea:

AIMEE'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Thanks to those of you who already bought copies of my book, Hanji Unfurled: One Journey into Korean Papermaking. It is an account of my hanji journey, from first hearing about Korean paper when I was 20 to heading to Korea for a year of research when I was 30, and includes chapters on hanji history and traditional sheet formation, joomchi, jiseung, natural dyeing, calligraphy, and building a hanji studio in Cleveland at the Morgan Conservatory.

Aimee's book cover

I am pleased to announce that the book is officially available for sale by the Legacy Press. The information is here (click  n the bottom to order online).

1. Hanji workshop in Boston!
Paper like leather, bark like thread: Korean paper techniques
Sat, Nov 10, 12 - 4pm
The Boston Paper Collective, Boston, MA

2. Hanji artist talk, demo, and book signing near Providence!
Sustaining a Life in Paper
The Artists Loop event: artist talk, hanji demo, and book signing
Wed, Nov 14, 6 - 8pm
Pawtucket Public Library, Pawtucket, RI
Partner organization: Paper Connection, Providence, RI

3. Hanji demo at Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair in Silver Spring!
Korean Paper Magic
Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair
Nov 16 - 18, 2012 (demo on Sat, Nov 17, 3-3:45pm)
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Washington Printmakers Gallery (2nd floor)
8230 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD

The easiest way to access more information for the above is to visit my site: http://aimeelee.net/updates/. I hope to meet more of you in the coming weeks!