From a Burton-but not Tim.
It’s Maria Burton’s work. And it’s quite stunning. With a mix of paper, fabric, and found objects, she creates detailed images that make you look twice.
B for Burton
My genius friend, Ms. Reiko Tanaka made me this incredible origami dragon. It took her close to 4 hours to make! She used a a piece of metallic, wrapping paper from a box a sweets measuring approximately 50cmx50cm. The pattern came from the book “Genuine Origami and instructions by Mr. Jun Maekawa. Reiko says Mr. Maekawa is a genius, but I say she is a genius for just figuring out how to fold this 9-inch long beast.
I named her “Delia”- which I thought was a friendly-sounding name for a dragon who would reside near my paper “castle”.
If you’re up for the challenge, try folding your own dragon for 2012: the Year of Dragon. Reiko recommends thin and strong washi. I’m sure there are at least a few choices at Paper Connection.
Yes, attached they ARE- by artist Ealish Wilson, who created these beautiful pieces over the summer.
The strings in question are mizuhiki-wound paper ties. Thanks Ealish for sharing your work!
Paper Connection has a vintage stock of mizuhiki- as shown in this photo below. Not shown in the website, so don’t hesitate to call if you’re interested.
Tenugui is a “handy-wipe”, which Japanese carry with them for daily use. But, as you can see here, they are used in a variety of different ways; like as part of a costume for parade performers, as giftwrap for presents, as wall art, as a sash or scarf.
These pretty little textiles we’re neatly tied around the heads of the dancers during the Koenji Festival parade, which I attended last month.
A natural progression from paper is of course, textiles. As a collector of affordable art or folk arts, I’ve taken on tenugui as my new obsession. Tenugui are now for sale on papernado.com.
Just in these last 2 months, I’ve learned more details about how tenuguis are made….will explain in a future blog.
Other scenes in the town of Koenji.
Traditional Clothing Store Selling Tenugui
Devil Roof Tile of Temple in Koenji
Here’s a little video to enjoy, recorded in Japan. Just click on link below, taking you to our new vimeo account:
In mid-November, I attended the Kokeshi Festival in Koenji (southwestern Tokyo). Many vintage doll collections were for sale, as well as modern items with kokeshi doll designs, such as, tenugui, letter sets, pochi bukuro (mini envelopes), t-shirts, etc.
So many cute products are now produced with kokeshi designs; of course, paper goods, like stationery sets, but even washi tape with a kokeshi pattern is now available.
I probably received my first kokeshi in the 1970′s…so perhaps my collection is already considered vintage!?
Kokeshi and wooden, lathe toys are a big part of my personal collection. I am so tickled to see that there has been a resurgence of interest in the world of kokeshi-another traditional folk art of Japan like paper.
The major tradtional kokeshi production area is Tohoku; North East Japan; This is the center where the major disasters occurred on March 11th. By supporting these lathe artists they will be deterred from abandoning their home and craft passed down from previous generations. The kokeshi makers need our encouragement and support to continue producing these special, wooden toys.
This map below shows 6 Prefectures of Tohoku, the North East region of Japan; Fukushima Prefecture on the left and Aomori Prefecture on the top right.
After my friend Rie went to visit the studio of Kazuki Yamane I was inspired to investigate further into the origata world. I came upon the Origata Design Institute in Minami-Aoyama in Tokyo. The Origata Design Institute, managed by Ms. Sugihara was established in an old-style shop.
(An “old-school” tradition taught in an old…school or rather old building). They offer origata workshops, upon the tatami platform, publish and sell books on the subject, and most of all, provide an inspirational place for folding enthusiasts to learn and meet other folders, and of course, a place for artists to spawn ideas for collaboration.
During my short visit to Origata Design Institute, I met a paper folding artist Ms. Yuko Nishimura, who has shown at the Fuller Craft Museum, in Brockton, MA, not far from Paper Connection. I also met a young wire artist, Mr. Yujin Hataguchi, who created these postcards on left below from photos of his work.
Photos of goods at Origata Design Institute below.
Just two datys ago, I saw another display of origata as soon as you enter the shop at the Origami Kaikan, which is located in another section of Tokyo.
Looks like interest in this ancient art is having a revival; it seems to be back in style. It really is encouraging to see others promoting traditional arts as we do at Paper Connection. We teach in order to bring history to the present; so the new generation will adopt ideas invented in the past, re-interpret them with fresh eyes, and then incorporate them in their creative endeavors.
My friend Ms. Rie Someya went to a special display of origata at the studio of Kazuki Yamane and wrote this blog (click here) on my behalf….love that girl!
One can always bookmark more webpages concerning paper, but now there’s a new webshop where you can find classic and even vintage, Japanese papers, but even more importantly, there are fun, kitschy, gifty items right at your fingertips. I for one can never get enough!
Check out the newly launched webshop: www.papernado.com.
Here you’ll have direct access to Paper Connection‘s hundreds of papers, papers from Aiko‘s (formerly in Chicago) and other goodies from Japan. Sweetxxooxx one-of-kind gifts…yes, I’m already thinking about those holidays after Halloween and Thanksgiving.
If you like these popular Serizawa desk calendars, reserve your 2012 version soon at info@papernado.com.
2012 Serizawa Desk Calendar
No, you are not looking at a watercolor painting…..Look more closely at the images….don’t be fooled by a first glance….
Artist Aleksandra Domanovic took three stacks of paper; each with 7,500 sheets!, and used an inkjet printer to achieve this wonderful effect. Pretty profound, I think.
found via illusion scene 360
Early in July, I had the pleasure of visiting Leni Fried and Mike Augspurger. Their headquarters, where they both work and live, is a 150- year old barn, in beautiful Berkshire country, Massachusetts.
Refreshing, inspiring, motivating, are just some of the positive words that come to my mind when I think of what Leni and Mike do, what they represent, and who they are.
Leni is an established printmaker; her works included in collections of the MOMA, and the Library of Congress.
Her latest prints, mounted on Chinese scrolls, truly astounded me.
As I soaked in her protest art, her works for social justice, I recalled a shared moment with Leni, at the Southern Graphics Council back in Washington DC in 2005, which was during the height of the war in Iraq and when injured soldiers started to come “home” to the USA.
These buttons are part of a bigger project Leni came up with during those years and when Bush was re-elected. 
Mike’s Titanium Arts is truly a fascinating international company, which builds handcycles, especially for those without legs.
All terrain
Both of these talented folk are all about giving back to the community and doing something meaningful for the world. A couple of days with an inspiring couple, in a small, inspiring community. Being with them is truly a moving experience. I am happy to call them friends.
Leni's Contagious Smile
Neighborhood "Lawn Mower"
Berkshire Moonscape
More about Leni and her progressive, self-sustaining community in a future blog.
