Handmade Paper in Full Bloom Exhibition

Handmade Paper in Full Bloom is a unique solo art exhibit showing over 15 visually inspiring paper art pieces. The show runs from February 1st through March 31st, 2017 at Shumei Hall Gallery, 2430 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA. The show is open 10 am - 5 pm,, Mon. - Sat., closed Sunday. A special opening is on Friday, February 3rd, 6 - 9 pm. Visit anniealexanderart.com to preview the artist's work. For more information call 626-584-8841.

Postcard Project at Mountain House Press ~ Chillicothe

You many have noticed a very special postcard arrive in your mailbox recently. Sent to you has a membership benefit, and a way to keep in touch, this was printed on an iron handpress by Dard Hunter III, Johan Solberg, and Radha Pandey at the Mountain House Press, Chillicothe, Ohio.

The paper used was made ca. 1928-1933 by Dard Hunter himself. Lime Rock Mill was Dard Hunter's attempt at commercial high quality papermaking, and his first batch came out several months after the stock market crashed. Dard Hunter made enough paper at Lime Rock, Connecticut to be the source for the paper for his own books...and apparently our postcards! Darn! That's a lotta paper! (Source: dardhunter.com)

Enjoy this short story from Radha below!  



We arrived in Chillicothe for the 4th of July weekend all set to spend the weekend printing the FDH annual postcard at the Mountain House press with Dard Hunter III.

Dard gave us a tour of his grandfather’s beautiful home and grounds. We were absolutely in awe of the library, and the precious first editions of several hand printed books written by Dard Hunter. I hadn’t realized how many books had in face been written about papermaking in different parts of the world.

We spent the first day looking through galleys of set type and ornaments trying to decide what to use for the postcards. There were too many choices, and many familiar illustrations that we had seen in books about papermaking. We decided to print three postcards. One using a plate illustrating early watermarks, and the other two using found blocks and ornaments that were designed and hand cast by Dard Hunter II.

The paper we decided to use for the postcards was made at Lime Rock by Dard Hunter, and was generously donated by Dard Hunter III for this annual mailing.

Neither Dard nor us, had printed on the iron handpress before. It was a challenge trying to get the inking and impression right. The handpress had hanging on it, a hat given to Dard Hunter by Mahatma Gandhi, which kept us company through the night as we printed.

- Radha Pandey

International Exhibition - Haiku and Handmade Paper

Priscilla Robinson's Virtual Exhibition Tour

Check out this virtual tour of artist Priscilla Robinson's exhibition on view now at Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, TX.

Seed to Sheet: Ann Kalmbach Speaks at Gomez Mill House, Sunday, July 26th, 2015

Dard Hunter Mill, Photo: Chris Panetta, Red Hook NY

Ann Kalmbach, Director and Co-Founder of Women’s Studio Workshop Speaks on Seed to Sheet– Material Sourcing for Papermaking

On Sunday, July 26, at 1pm, Ann Kalmbach will present an introduction to Seed to Sheet, a project aimed at material sourcing for handmade paper. Ann is a co-founder and Executive Director of Women’s Studio Workshop, an artists’ workspace centered on printmaking, papermaking, photography, book arts and ceramics. It is the oldest and only residency program for women artists in the country.

Bull & Branch is Arriving Soon!

Introducing the Bull & Branch with a fresh new look for 2015!

Arriving soon in your mailbox will be the most recent issue of the Bull & Branch, newsletter of the Friends of Dard Hunter. You'll find this Bull & Branch (and its handmade paper covers) worth the wait!

The Handmade Paper Workshop ~ Ohrid, Macedonia

The Handmade Paper Workshop ~ Ohrid, Macedonia
The tradition of making a paper in Macedonia begins from the second half of 16th century in the monastery of "St. Naum". It was used for internal needs in limited quantity.
The National Workshop for Handmade Paper "St. Kliment Ohridsky", Ohrid continues this tradition. It has started with work from Oct.23, 2002.
The workshop is placed in the magnificent part of the old city, next to the National Museum - Robev family house.

Classes @ Hook Pottery Paper ~ LaPorte, IN

Hook Pottery Paper ~ LaPorte, IA

JUNE 20 – 21

Clamshell box making

with Mary Uthuppru

10am – 2:30pm friday & Saturday

$165.00, includes all materials

The clamshell box, also called the solander box, is the most versatile protective enclosure for artwork, books and objects. In this two day workshop, we will construct a sturdy clamshell box using handmade paper and bookcloth that not only protects the objects inside but is a great way to present professional work. During the class, we will discuss modifying the traditional clamshell in order to accommodate unusual shapes, create divided trays, and even make secret compartments. Participants will also learn how to make their own book cloth which can be used in the workshop or saved for future projects. The clamshell box will be made to house materials that are 8 x 10 inches. If you're interested in making your clamshell box to hold materials of a different size, please say so at the time of registration.

Mary built the clam shells for the FDH Portfolio 2014.

JUNE 24 – 28

hand paper making intensive taught by Andrea Peterson

10am – 4pm tuesday - saturday

$450.00, all materials included

In beautiful northern Indiana at Hook Pottery Paper explore many possibilities of papermaking during this 4-day intensive.

Expand your artistic and technical skills to create unusual works. You may try many possibilities or focus on a few.

Demonstrations will be given daily. All level. For more info on travel, lodging, and full schedule of activities please email hookpotterypaper@comcast.net

interested please email for registration form

News from Marjorie A. Alexander...

"The Web" by Marjorie Alexander

Combat Paper Video

Jill Littlewood sent along a note that filmmaker Sara Nesson travelled with the Combat Paper/Warrior Writers project when they came through Santa Barbara last month.

"Everyone stayed with me - what a party - and then Sara and one of the veterans came back and stayed with us for two weeks," said Jill. "She made this trailer, called "Iraq ,Paper, Scissors" while she was here. It is a gem in itself - the whole documentary will be feature length but this
gives a real feel of who these guys are and what an extraordinary book and paper project this is.

"Anyone who was in DC got a feel for this when Drew Matott and Drew Cameron gave their presentation - this gives background to the project and also shows where it has gone since that time."

If you weren't in DC you may begin to understand the impact these two young men had on the Friends.

Please note, there is adult language used in the video. It may not be appropriate for young children.

Also, here is a link to a story about the Combat Paper Project in the Boston Globe.

Enjoy!

A Badger Paper Arrives

A couple of times a year, a lovely small envelope made with handmade paper arrives from Idaho. That small envelope always delivers a personal message about the changing seasons and about celebrating handmade paper. Tom Bennick has been sending his "Badger Papers" for several years now. Just after his latest arrived earlier this week, I asked Tom to put together some thoughts about Badger Papers and his journey with handmade paper:

My papermaking started about 15 or more years ago. I was taking a book arts class when the epiphany of making paper came to me. At the time I didn't realize paper would become part of my life to the degree it is.

In the book arts class, one of the guest instructors gave a very short demonstration on paper. Everyone in class made this small piece of paper made from linters that had been processed via the garbage disposal method. The one thing the instructor talked about was making paper from almost any fiber. He pointed out the window and said "one can make paper from lawn grass."

Thus my paper journey began.

I started out being dumb as a turnip about making paper. One of my first attempts at making paper was with potatoes. I didn't know I was to use the vine part of the plant but instead I used the potato. I boiled this mess for several hours, poured on a screen and waited until it hardened to the point of being road patch. I knew at this time I needed to learn more about paper.

From my first experiments I knew there was something mysterious, exciting, challenging and potential in paper. Since that first experience I have never quit with my journey with paper. I am an advocate of paper and feel that paper is the substrate for civilization. On my business card I have "paper, like life, is taken for granted." I don't know where this phrase came from but probably not something original.

I'm on the Idaho Commission on the Arts Teaching Roster. This means I have the opportunity to spread the wonderful world of paper to a variety of kids and adults in Idaho.

I wish I could remember why I started making my Badger Papers. It has been over seven years that I have been making and sending these bits of paper to people who have been kind to me or have shown an interest in paper. The list gets longer every season. The Badger Paper comes from the left over pulp and scraps of paper after a class or one of my paper projects.

The term Badger Paper is a British expression for using leftover pulp to make a different kind of paper.