Natural Cycles:
Sustainability in the Book and Paper Arts
In assembling work for an exhibition entitled “Natural Cycles: Sustainability in the Book and Paper Arts,” curators Melissa Jay Craig and Shawn Sheehy not only included artists who use sustainable materials, but also those who consider sustainable concepts and techniques. As a result, many of the artists in this show treated this theme by either limiting their use of new materials, avoiding use of toxic substances or fossil-fuel power, or considering the theme of sustainability in the content of the work.
The exhibition includes several pieces from Craig and from Sheehy. Both create sculptural artist books based on forms and creatures of the natural world, and made largely from handmade paper. Another notable work using handmade paper is Jen Thomas’s “Forced Sustainability.” Her piece, composed of 10 handmade-paper panels, tells the story in words and images of the loss of her car to the July hailstorm and her decision to move exclusively to bike riding for transportation. Cecile Webster’s handmade sheets demonstrate the papermaking potential of many local garden plants and weeds.
Many of the pieces in this show are created from re-used/recycled/reclaimed materials and boldly explore the concept of sustainability. Scott Wolniak creates gorgeous sculptural weeds from junk mail and trash. Leah Mayers, in a piece called “Constellation Prize,” uses an umbrella pierced with star chart patterns to comment on light pollution and a longing for a more ‘natural’ world. For her series of sculptural books, Karen Hanmer pledged to use a minimum of electricity and new materials. The curators thank Ryerson Woods for the opportunity to exhibit this work and they also thank the artists for their participation and inventive treatment of the theme.
Participating Artists:
Lisa Barcy · Heather Bella · Zina Castanuela · Suzanne Cohan-Lange · Melissa Jay Craig · Erin Cramer · Marnie Galloway · Karen Hanmer · Jill Lanza · Elisabeth Long · Leah Mayers · Teresa Pankratz · Pam Paulsrud · Andrea Peterson · Shawn Sheehy · Doug Stapleton · Jen Thomas · Jamie Thome · Sarah Vogel · Cecile Webster · Scott Wolniak
Exhibition ran through December 23rd, 2011.
The exhibition includes several pieces from Craig and from Sheehy. Both create sculptural artist books based on forms and creatures of the natural world, and made largely from handmade paper. Another notable work using handmade paper is Jen Thomas’s “Forced Sustainability.” Her piece, composed of 10 handmade-paper panels, tells the story in words and images of the loss of her car to the July hailstorm and her decision to move exclusively to bike riding for transportation. Cecile Webster’s handmade sheets demonstrate the papermaking potential of many local garden plants and weeds.
Many of the pieces in this show are created from re-used/recycled/reclaimed materials and boldly explore the concept of sustainability. Scott Wolniak creates gorgeous sculptural weeds from junk mail and trash. Leah Mayers, in a piece called “Constellation Prize,” uses an umbrella pierced with star chart patterns to comment on light pollution and a longing for a more ‘natural’ world. For her series of sculptural books, Karen Hanmer pledged to use a minimum of electricity and new materials. The curators thank Ryerson Woods for the opportunity to exhibit this work and they also thank the artists for their participation and inventive treatment of the theme.
Participating Artists:
Lisa Barcy · Heather Bella · Zina Castanuela · Suzanne Cohan-Lange · Melissa Jay Craig · Erin Cramer · Marnie Galloway · Karen Hanmer · Jill Lanza · Elisabeth Long · Leah Mayers · Teresa Pankratz · Pam Paulsrud · Andrea Peterson · Shawn Sheehy · Doug Stapleton · Jen Thomas · Jamie Thome · Sarah Vogel · Cecile Webster · Scott Wolniak
Exhibition ran through December 23rd, 2011.
