It was heartwarming to greet so many friends and family that came out to support my show at Packer Schopf Gallery in Chicago. I had an amazing time that whole week planning the artworks in the intimate space along with the masterful eye of Aron Packer. The space was perfect with the raw and cave like sensibility, perfect for displaying historic materials.
I have been exploring the use of ancient papers and created 48 small works on Bhutan paper, a form of papyri in addition to the larger papyrus works mounted on wood panels. All of the materials I utilize are from the earth; utilized for centuries : Clay, Papyrus, Inks, and graphite. A very important part of Bhutanese culture and tradition is handmade paper making. Historically paper has been made to provide Buddhist monasteries with paper for woodblock and manuscript books, and for writing prayers and mantras. Today handmade paper making continues to preserve and promote this age-old tradition, as well as to create many other products, such as stationery and greeting cards. One by one, Bhutanese paper is created by hand beginning with a wooden frame and bamboo screen filter, then dipped into a vat of pulp and starch mixture, which is whisked around to allow a thin layer of the mixture to spread out evenly over the screen, and then transferred to a table to dry whereby the screen is carefully removed to result in a single sheet of Bhutanese paper. I love the sensibility of these papers which take on a three dimensional feeling with added clay and inks.
Each one I made was a response to an event in my life, creating a visual journal in a large grid. This one below was inspired by a fascinating essay I had read by art historian Dr. Marianne Berardi on the Dutch flower painter Rachel Ruysch.
There are still a few Available at Packer Schopf Gallery in Chicago
