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creative explorations

RECLAIM Exhibition & the Underpaper Papermaking Workshop

This was my favorite paper-making experience ever. Awakenings hosted a workshop by Margaret Sheppard and a group exhibition of the work made by the participants.

Photographs show the paper-making process above examples of the torn fabric, a screen for collecting paper pulp, and some finished handmade paper.
Entrance to the RECLAIM exhibition.

This was my favorite paper-making experience ever. Awakenings hosted a workshop by Margaret Sheppard and a group exhibition of the work made by the participants.

"The Underpaper project is inspiring and provocative. The materials themselves become the message, and the symbols of pain, shame, and the taboo can be processed (literally) into something new and beautiful. Margaret Sheppard creates an environment where individuals freely create personal work within the rhythm and collaboration of a group project."

Scenes from processing undergarments into paper.

The project is about turning trauma into healing, utilizing the direct physical re-making of a personal item that has complex emotions of shame, embarrassment, and trauma into something of beauty that is transformed by the owner of the item. It is not only brilliant symbolism, but actual transformation of a physical object. Margaret Sheppard is also a wonderful teacher who gave the clearest, most engaging, supportive, and fun direction in paper-making. Thank you to Awakenings for hosting the project, and Raeleen Kao (co-host and curator) for bringing the event to my attention.

Standing with my contributions to the exhibit.

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