WASP WASHI

Installation in the lobby at the Durango Arts Center to be exhibited until mid November.  The paper squares are handmade paper (kozo fiber imported from Thailand) and wasp paper that have been
combined in the process of making the sheets.  The wasp paper has been collected from the amazing
nests that wasps make.  Wasps are indeed the first papermakers.

LAST HIKE AT EDGEMONT HIGHLANDS

For nine years I have been an artist-in-residence at Edgemont Highlands, near Durango, Colorado creating over 30 environmental art sites.  This is the last hike of the season.  And next year, Allison Anderson will be taking the job of maintaining the sites.

 Cave Rock, my conversation with a squirrel.  The squirrel did the stuffing, the artist did the rocks.

The artist at Lichen Tree.  Nesting materials for small animals and birds that has already been scavenged.  Below some of the group that took this last hike of the season.

PAPERMAKING WITH PLANTS WORKSHOP

At the Durango Arts Center, participants had fun creating paper made from a variety of fibers such as cattail, bamboo, wild iris, etc.  We also used kozo given to us by Tim Barrett of the University of Iowa who recently did presentations about Japanese papermaking at the Center.  We cooked and beat the fibers, dipped screens into the resulting pulp, and dried our creations in the sun.   A beautiful variety of papers...textured and smooth, embossed and layered, some with inclusions of flower petals and other interesting additions were the products of this one-day workshop.

WEST COAST EXHIBITS

I am heading out to Southern California soon for another showing of my Roots traveling exhibit.  It has been in Albuquerque, Durango, Telluride, and now La Jolla, California.  Plus 3 suitcases of collage are packed for a special one-day sale.   Here's the scoop!

tangling

wrapping

spreading

ROOTS

September 21-November 2, 2013

Opening Reception: 

Friday, September 20, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

an exhibit by

MARY ELLEN LONG

 Rotunda Gallery

ATHENAEUM

Music & Arts Libary

1008 Wall Street

La Jolla, CA 92037

(858) 454-5872

www.ljathenaeum.org

In addition, a “trunk sale” of Mary Ellen’s collages

 (1980-present)

on Saturday, September 28, 4:30 - 6:30 pm

Athenaeum music room (the Roots show can also be seen)

Refreshments

Athenaeum hours: Tuesday-Saturday  10am-5:30pm

                                Wednesday            10am-8:30pm

Jim Machacek: The Kincade Chronicles is also showing in the Joseph Clayes III Gallery

SIDEWALK PAPER CLOUD WORKSHOP

Here are a few shots from my workshop in front of the Durango Arts Center.  We beat kozo fiber by hand, mixed the pulp with water and formation aid, poured the pulp into stencils of cloud forms (the shapes translated photographically from real clouds),  and let the hot pavement and sun dry the papers.

 Beating the fiber by hand

 Mixing formation aid with the fiber and water

 Demonstrating pouring the pulp into the cloud stencils

NEW PUBLISHED BOOK

OFFERINGS, a photographic book that documents my floating handmade circles of handmade paper on bodies of water during my travels over a decade.  The "offerings" are meant to be a prayer for the health of the planet.  This editioned book is now being shown for the first time during the exhibit about hand papermaking at the Durango Arts Center, "Washi and Other Ephemera"

 Floating, Santa Sabina Retreat Center, San Rafael, California, 1998

 Preface with sample of handmade paper

 Floating, Pingree Park, Northern Colorado, 1997

Floating, Sogi Sui Water Spring, Gujo Hachiman, Japan, 2008