with Bridget O’Malley
Saturday, October 14; 10am–4pm CT
Fall is the time of abundance for papermakers. This workshop will focus on harvesting and preparing plants from the garden to make unique and beautiful papers. Grasses, leaves, stalks, and bast can be used cooked or raw, beaten by hand, beaten by machine, combined with other plants, and more. Let’s see how many different results can be achieved by trying as many options as time permits. Bring plenty of plant material for experimentation. Hostas, daylily leaves, grasses, straw, cattail, yarrow, milkweed stalks and seed fibers, corn husks, and hollyhocks are all plants that make great paper.
In addition to plants, please bring a cutting board, chopping knife, pruners (or other cutting tools), and rubber gloves. Wear clothing that can get dirty and shoes that can get wet (i.e. rubber boots, garden clogs, etc.). Participants need to return to pick up their paper on Saturday, 10/21, or later in The Shop at MCBA to allow the wet sheets of paper time to dry while pressed flat for a few days.
This workshop introduces participants to the papermaking process with a focus on using plants. Participation in European Papermaking is needed in order to attend Papermaking Labs to make paper independently in MCBA’s studios.
Please note that papermaking is a wet and physical process that involves repeated lifting and bending. Accommodations can be made for individuals with specific needs (please share these when registering) and we encourage all abilities to participate in ways that feel safe and comfortable.
All skill levels welcome
Certificate: 6 hours, Category B or D
$147/participant (10% discount for MCBA members) + $40 materials fee
$74 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members) + $40 materials fee
MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.
Masks are strongly recommended for program participants working close to others in MCBA’s studios. See our Covid Safety Guidelines for more information.
Please note: Registration closes 10/9 at midnight (CT).
