Large Scale Paper Making

Away from Twitter now...I'm enjoying it too much! Can you believe two weeks have gone already, time for a day off? I think not!  Spent the day working in a Government funded paper research centre. It had the atmosphere of a sixties factory about it, (if you've seen Mon Oncle, it was like the hose production plant).  The people who worked there were a delight, really calm, careful and attentive. They were very patient with us bumbling, yet excitable, artists.  The leader of the facility, Mr Sato, was a geneal chap.  He mixed paper pulp for us all day long, in batches of white, violet, blue, brown and black.  

The main difference between this and the other paper making techniques that we have learned about, is that the pulp mixture is literally thrown over the mesh.  As you can see below, the process might look chaotic, but it produces astonishing effects, particularly when your use two contrasting colours at the same time.  I think the pictures say more than I could at this point, there are one or two more pics on Twitter too, @roamingdunn.

The Paper Research Facility

Mr Sato and the Technicians Demo the paper making technique

 

We all pat down blotting paper to soak up the moisture

Mr Sato skillfully brushes down the paper to dry

The paper is easily removed once dry

Alternative colour variations (White and Black)

(Black and 'Violet')

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

....it's off to the workshop I go.  There are some updates on the Mino A.I.R web-site; you might like to look at some of the images of myself, and the other attendees, arriving in Gifu and more images of the welcome party.g.

Latest Paper Pieces...

....utilising the paper I made yesterday at the Mino Washi Museum.g

And here's our teacher for the past three days, 
(I neglected to write down his name - sorry).  

He was a really kind, funny and PATIENT bloke, a natural Sensei.  

 

If you go out in the woods today...

...be sure of seeing a great big effing praying mantis - what a beauty!! g.

 

Birthday Parcel!

It's Klara's birthday today, her host family gave her a small parcel to share with the rest of us at lunchtime.  The beautiful 'art work' was full of small packets; these contained a sweet gooey substance, mixed together with a small bottle of thin treacle...oishi!! delicious.  

Wish me luck, a birthday party tonight and I am tired from making paper.  I have no doubt, Dutch courage will take a part in tonight's proceedings;-)
gx

 

 

Precious Paper

So, day 2 of Washi Paper making;  and once again, I have to remind myself, the reason I am here.  It's really hard to communicate the value of this paper to the people of Mino and Japan I think.  It's highly prized for it's lightness and strength.  It is used for print making as well as making Akari lamp shades.  It's also used in the construction of room dividing screens, it's just amazing stuff.  We've been given the chance to learn how to make the paper in a four day course.  We're given the basics and have been allowed to run amok in the workshop, testing new and unsusual ways of working; our approach is un-hindred by years of repeated making, so some of the results have been really interesting, both for us and the local people.  

 Mino Paper Museum and Workshop Facility

The method for making Mino, (the town) Washi, (paper) is called a 'discharge' method.  The fibres of wood are extracted form plants such as Kozo(Mulberry), Mitsumata and Gampi.  The wood goes through a lengthy process of soaking, stripping, boiling and parting, before being mixed in a large, deep sink with  a gloopy substance, (also extracted from the roots of plants).  The whole mixture is churned by hand and this suspends the fibres evenly in the water.  The next stage, is called 'scopping'.  A wooden frame, (the 'Suketa') is dipped into the liquid mixture and swing backwards and forwards; and from side to side.  These actions disperse and discharge paper fibre, evenly over the bamboo mesh at the base of the frame.  The video below shows how it should be done.  The woman performing the process is a highly respected local crafts person whom we just happened to witness today. Check out her skill and the way she sways from side to side and back and forth....I bet shes a great ballroom dancer!

 

You know, I really didn't think I would get the hang of it, but by the end of yesterday, I was producing basic sheets of paper....really.  I'm hooked too, the repetitive process, the atmosphere in the workshop, it's all so calming, meditational almost. 

 Newspaper, sandwiched between layers of washi.

We made this!!

I'll leave it there as my dinner is almost ready - can't be late:-/, will post more details and examples of work at some point soon.
gx

Being Received by the Mayor of Mino.....

Here we are, the second day of the residency, jet lagged to hell, meeting the Mayor of Gifu.  It was very formal, but genial, as I said before, I liked him, I think he liked us too.  Check out my cheesy grin, it hasn't left my face since I arrived.

Talking of paper, we've been paper making today, it deserves more than a quick mention here, especially as its the reason I'm here.  It was a great experience, really hard work.  The hard work came from disciplining oneself in the process, repeating the same mechanical movements and not deviating, in order to produce the same, finished product, over and over again. The results, even for us as beginners, were astounding, the material is beautiful, pure and humble?

Anyway, two more days of learning paper making, to come, will update you soon. Love to all of you following this, it's great to know you're there:-)
g.