foraging for papermaking plants

It's been a summer-to-fall of finding solace and healing in the face of loss. So I've spent much-needed time with nature-y places and rivers here in New England, and holding onto art-making.

I wanted to share with you some pics of nature + papermaking, so that you have something creative and joyful to hold onto, too.

Getting to know rivers

I've been kayaking and biking along New England rivers, thinking about how:

• They are sensitive to too much rain or not enough.

• Rivers say a lot about the surrounding lands—their health or illness.

• When I visit sites, I'm always side-eyeing plants for their papermaking-potential,

• and looking for sediments to use as natural pigments.

My art creates a cultural connection with places through material use, evoking the psychological experience of being there.

In some new work I've started, I'm using foraged river plants as fiber for papermaking, in preparation for making pulp paintings (paintings made of all paper).

Canada rush (Juncus canadensis)

Canada rush experiments

Canada rush is widespread in the eastern United States, and is found growing abundantly in marshes, wetlands, and along the shorelines of ponds, rivers, and lakes.

You've probably seen it before if it grows in your area. I've observed it many times over the years, with tons and tons of it growing at specific locations.

And like the plant nerd you know I am, I've done research on its prevalence, habitats, ecological functions, and histories before deciding to collect a bit to try for papermaking.

You can see these fibers in action in my River Reverence pulp painting series >>>