Plant Paper Research - 2019 - Taleamor Park Artist Residency, Indiana, USA
Exploration of processing plants into handmade paper during a 5-month artist residency surrounded by cornfields and prairie plants in Indiana. Plants suitable for papermaking were identified, collected, cut down, and soaked overnight. The plants were then cooked in an alkaline solution using wood ash, rinsed, and blended. Sheets were formed, pressed, and dried.
Plants include: foxtail, smartweed, sumac (young stems), pondweed, iris leaf, velvet leaf, and cornleaf. 2 books were made to document the results, detailing the process of preparation for each plant.
References that greatly guided research: Timothy Barrett - Japanese Papermaking: Traditions, Tools, and Techniques; Andrea Peterson - In the Field: A study guide for processing natural fibers for hand papermaking
