Shelburne Museum - Paperwork in 3D

Recently I visited Shelburne Museum in Vermont to see an exhibit titled Paperwork in 3D. Twenty three contemporary paper artists are featured, including well-known names such as Brian Dettmer, Hunter Stabler, and Robert Lang. What a thrill to come face to face with so many creative works I'd seen only in photos. Perhaps you remember a previous post about Nava Lubelski and her shredded Tax Files series. The very first pieces encountered inside beautiful Round Barn were Nava's! They were so much larger than I'd envisioned - nearly two feet in diameter, definitely giving the impression of ringed tree trunk slices as intended.

 

1999 Tax File, Nava Lubelski, shredded paper and glue, 2007

 

A bit about Shelburne... it's an unconventional museum, comprised of thirty nine exhibition spaces dotting forty five acres. (Considering the quantity of Vermont-made Ben and Jerry's consumed that weekend, it was good to walk a lot!) Other spaces utilized by the exhibit are a lighthouse and Kalkin House, a most unusual abode crafted from - believe it or not - a corrugated steel shipping container. 

 

Wall Sconce, Riki Moss and Robert Ostermeyer of studio-glow, handmade abaca paper, embedded with monofilament, 2011

 

A phone camera doesn't do nearly enough justice to the art, but I'm happy to share with you at least this small fraction of what was on display. You might also check out Paperwork in 3D, an article in HandEye Magazine, which delves more deeply into the content of the exhibit. 

 

Schism Chasm Cataclysm, Lauren Clay, acrylic on cut paper, paper maché, acrylic, wire, wood, 2011

 

The Butterfly Gown V, Bovey Lee, Chinese rice paper on silk, hand cut, 2010 

 

Heart Rage, Michael Velliquette, paper, gator board, glue, 2010

 

This next beauty glowed in the dark!

Radiant Flux, Nami Yamamoto, handmade paper - abaca with phosphorescent powder, 2009

 

Alamo Stallion, Robert Lang, one uncut square of Origamido, 2002 Bull Moose, Robert Lang, two uncut squares of Korean hanji, 2003 

 

 

Slice, Jacqueline Rush Lee, manipulated book assemblage, date unknown

 

Chaos City, Béatrice Coron, cut Tyvek, 2010 

 

Poetic Justice, Robert Thé, altered book, 2003 

 

I loved Robert Thé's process explanation... the books he recovers from dumpsters and thrift stores are "lovingly vandalized back to life."

 

Shaker Style, Robert Thé, altered book, 2003

 

I've saved pictures of perhaps my most favorite part of the exhibit for another day, so stay tuned for that. One last thing for now... sorry, make that two: The afternoon I was there, a drop-in class on paper quilling was available to families - how about that?! 

 

If you happen to be a fan of the TV show, Project Runway (like me), a gown by Season 4 winner Christian Siriano is the very first one you'll see upon entering In Fashion: High Style 1690-2011, another popular exhibit that's on display until October 30th when Shelburne closes for the season.