What do these two have in Common?
The Ancient Art of Hand Made Paper
An Invite to the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas
Many years ago I was invited to The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas (NAGB) to give a workshop on the ancient art of hand made paper. The NAGB is well known for their commitment to inform the community of the wide and diverse scope of art forms available in our country and I was delighted to have the opportunity to share my passion, the ancient art of hand made paper and my resolve to find solutions to the mounds of paper waste we all produce.
The Audience
Educators, students, adults and teens gathered at NAGB for the opportunity to experience this ancient art form. I not only shared the history, the environmentally friendly aspect of this art form, how to bring this art form into their classroom, but also how this ancient art translates into solutions for today’s environmental challenges. The fun part for the workshop participants was the hands-on opportunity for them to make their own hand made paper masterpiece to take home.
The 3 R’s
My artistry in handmade paper came as a result of my belief in the saying “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.” I felt driven to adopt the philosophy of “reduce, reuse, recycle” in my personal and professional life. I wanted to do something about the paper waste produced by my family and corporate career.
Friends and family donate their paper discards as they too want to support sustainable activities. Hand made paper is an excellent example of recycling at work. I’m fortunate to have entered this broad field that for over hundreds of years was a closely guarded secret. The opportunity to reuse materials and items that served us well the first time and create unique works of art brings great satisfaction to me and others. This art form speaks to my creative soul.
I believe that we all have a responsibility to honor the philosophy of the 3 R’s and turn the waste of our consumed pleasures into new, innovative items that not only please, but also reduce our carbon footprint.
Making Paper
Many materials such as wood, stone, cloth and leaves have been used as a writing surface at one time or another. Then came PAPER. Although the word paper was derived from "papyrus," a plant found in Egypt, paper, as we know it today, was invented in China, around 105 AD and this technique spread around the world as a result of the silk trade.
My hand made paper process is similar. It is simple yet complex, physically demanding, labor intensive and very rewarding. As an artist I had worked in many mediums but it wasn’t until I started making my own paper to use as my canvas and medium, did I feel my creativity truly develop.
At my Adagio Papermaking Studios, local vegetation is gathered and mixed with the collected paper waste. Barrels of water are used to transform plants and paper into pulp by soaking, shredding, cooking, straining, washing, and beating the collected material. The pulp is poured into a large vat (sink) of water, collected on a screen frame, drained, couched (pressed) and reversed onto large boards that are placed in the sun to dry.
When dry, sheets of paper become my medium and canvas, ready for “Artistry in Handmade Paper.” By making and feeling the pulp and using my hand made paper for the entire artistic process I found that I had more sensibility to the artistic process and a freedom to experiment with size, shape, thickness, texture and color, giving me more unique art pieces.
Often I allow my handmade paper to dry in such a manner that there is a feeling, a movement that reminds one of the patterns and textures when walking the beach picking up shells, driftwood, glass and other treasures.
Sharing My Passion
As a Paper Sculptor, marrying the eons-old techniques and procedures of hand paper making with the magic of today’s technology is not only exciting but it has also enhanced my artistic journey.
I am delighted that in my small way, I not only lessen my carbon footprint while indulging my passion for making beautiful paper for my wall structures, but that I also have the opportunity to share my passion with a new generation of young artists.
JOIN US
I am pleased to have found a community through art associations in the Bahamas, Canada and Florida. I am also an active member of the Bahamas National Trust, a true guardian of the environment that provides many opportunities to present my environmentally friendly artistry to an interested audience. I attempt with my artworks to bring pleasure and a feeling that all is well with the world. This may not be the reality but just the process of making the paper artistry and being in the moment makes it so for me. And, I want to share that feeling through my art.
The emergence of this fine art medium has been welcomed by art galleries that are interested in art that acknowledges the debt we owe the earth that sustains us. We hope our process and creations inspire others in the art world to imagine themselves and their work as solutions to the paper waste challenge of our time. I invite like-minded people to share in my journey by visiting one of our Adagio Art Gallery locations or online at delfoxton.com…we look forward to connecting with you.
