An introduction to making handmade paper from flax fiber in the Western tradition

Flax is among the oldest fiber crops in the world, the use of flax for linen going back nearly 10,000 years. Short fibers called tow are a byproduct of flax processing, and can be used in papermaking. We will learn how the fiber is prepared for making paper — from its harvest to the workshop — as well as how to form our own sheets of handmade paper using a mold and deckle, and how to press and dry our papers.

The class is limited to 15 students, and will take place at the beautiful Fibershed Learning Center at Black Mountain Ranch near Point Reyes Station, CA. (Address provided upon registration.)

Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/291110458217

Students will be taking home wet sheets of paper to dry at home. Please bring a roll of paper towels to carry your wet sheets of paper home on.

This will be a wet class, please wear clothing and shoes that can get wet. The class will include some lifting.

Fibershed Scholarship Program
Fibershed is offering two scholarships to most workshops; one scholarship if it’s a small class. If you would not otherwise be able to attend, and would like to be considered as a scholarship recipient, please answer a few brief questions on this Google Form. Responses will be reviewed by Learning Center staff and kept strictly confidential.

Michelle Wilson is an artist living in Oakland CA, whose work explores hand papermaking traditions from all over the world. Her practice includes frequent collaborations with other artists; in particular her ongoing projects Book Bombs (with Mary Tasillo) and the Rhinoceros Project (with Anne Beck). She has been making paper since 2002. Wilson has an MFA in Book Arts and Printmaking from the University of the Arts, and a BFA from Moore College of Art and Design. She lectures and teaches widely, including places such as Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Magnolia Editions, the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art Print Center, the Kala Art Institute, and currently teaches printmaking and seminars at San Jose State University and Stanford University.