Papermaking Workshop

Since this post few hours ago the workshop is now full! But you can still sign up for the waitlist, only 12 spots, will be first come first serve basis. Thank you!

My next workshop is the papermaking workshop with recycled cotton pulp. The participants will get to forage wild plant materials to blend with the cotton paper. I will be teaching the basic foundation of papermaking. The cotton pulp is the easiest fibre to work with and also most versatile. The pulp is already “sized”, that means the paper won’t bleed ink when you draw or print on it.

Sign up here, if it is full then sign up for the waitlist: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/papermaking-with-wild-plants-in-2-days-tickets-342502372817

DAY 1:

The workshop will start with an introduction of myself, land acknowledgement, and how my art practice is related to the importance of decolonization and environmental impacts in our contemporary time. I will also introduce Ian Lai the director of Urban Bounty to speak about their work in food security and education programming. I’ll lead the participants on a walk around the park to identify plants that may be useful in blending with the cotton pulp. Participants are welcomed to bring their own plant materials as well.

We will spent the next 1.5 hours to make paper. Each participant will be expected to create a minimum of 10 sheets of paper, though varied in size and weight. We will spent the last 30 minutes to clean up and hang the papers to dry overnight.

DAY 2:

Participants will return to reveal their hung dried paper from the previous day. We will flatten the paper if some are wrinkled with the “blotting” technique. Plant-based ink will be provided for everyone to draw, write, paint, or dye the paper. I will also demonstrate the technique of ink extraction for the class, though this will be limited to 1 or 2 plants. Everyone is welcome to take notes and use the ink paste.

The workshop will end with a group discussion to reflect on the experience. My goal is to help us modern human to connect with the land just as everyone’s ancestors did. Some may have already practiced this, and I hope the workshop reinforce it even more.