During 89 yrs young Ayako Yoshizumi’s tough schedule of teaching, lecturing and doing demonstrations while visiting lil’ ol’Rhode Island , (please read previous blog post), I was so grateful to have several incredibly hard-working volunteers helping, who also maintain a great appreciation of hand papermaking and tradtional crafts.
Here is a wonderful blog post by one of our favorite supporters: “Ms. Noriko Crasso”, who is a talented local artist in many mediums.
This is Noriko’s original blog post in Japanese: https://www.hamaguri.net/chatting/art-annex-papermakin
The English version is below here.
Thank you Noriko! I am so happy that you were inspired to write this post. Lauren
“Art Annex” Papermaking Workshop
I went to a paper-making workshop hosted by Lauren from Paper Connection, who is helping out with the Tanabata Festival.
Lauren’s papermaking teachers, Ayako Sensei and her daughter Tomo WASHI YOSHI, were visiting from Japan.
Ayako-sensei is now 89 years old, but she is still in good health! With her spine straight, her eyes were drawn to the image of her mixing water with kozo.
The American participants in the workshop communicated with each other through gestures, which made me happy as well.
The plant “Kouzo”, which is the raw material for paper, is mixed with water along with “neri” or “yam”, which acts as “glue”, and then filtered in a sieve.
Shake the screen back and forth to drain the water and distribute the kozo evenly.
Carefully remove the paper from the screen, dry it in the sun, and it’s done.
At the “WASHI YOSHI” workshop held in Japan, we deliberately sand the mulberry to make it uneven in the bamboo basket, layer colored mulberry on top of each other, and create small holes in the mulberry. It seems that each participant is enjoying the original art.
In addition to paper making, I also learned how to make Kinkarakami paper. You can make such wonderful things! I was so impressed!
(My son loves gold, so he was overjoyed when I brought it home.)
We use paper casually on a daily basis, but when you think about how each sheet of paper used to go through many processes in the past, it makes you think, “Thank you so much,” even for paper made with machines today. ” It seems that the feeling will grow!
Ayako-sensei carefully checking the drying paper was illuminated by the sunlight and looked very impressive.
Thank you very much Lauren-san, Ayako-sensei, and Tomo-san! Thank you for your hard work!
● “WASHI YOSHI” Instagram
You can see the workshop held in Rhode Island and creative works using various handmade washi papers.
● “Art Annex” Instagram This is the studio of LAUREN PEARLMAN SUGITA and SUZI BALLENGER
in Pawtucket . Various interesting workshops are held here. ● “Paper Connection” website Lauren’s company sells Japanese paper and Japanese paper accessories.