Japanese Papermaking class in October

Custom watermark moulds fabricated using Magnolia's 3-D printer
On October 4th, Carol Brighton’s popular Japanese Papermaking class returns to our recently renovated paper studio! Please reserve your spot by emailing papermagnolia@hotmail.com, and don't hesitate to pass this info on to anyone you know who might be curious about how paper is made.

• Japanese Papermaking with instructor Carol Brighton will meet on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 10 am to 4 pm:
  

  Japanese paper (washi) is world famous for its beauty and strength. Learn to make traditional washi step-by-step from cooking and beating the fibers to sheet formation and drying. We will make sheets on sugetas (Japanese moulds) and Western style moulds, learn to laminate inclusions in collage, and explore other techniques for decorative papers. Students are encouraged to bring items to use as inclusions such as dried flowers, lace, fabric, or printed papers that will not bleed when wet.
  
  Instructor Carol Brighton is an artist whose handmade paper expertise is evident in her printmaking and pulp paintings. Her latest paper works, many made during a recent visit to the Awagami Factory in Japan, can be seen in an upcoming exhibition at the UC Faculty club in September. Brighton recently retired from teaching papermaking at the Academy of Art and now conducts private workshops at Magnolia and in her own studio.

Photo by Michelle Wilson from her most recent papermaking workshop in Magnolia Editions

Classes will be limited to 8 participants each, so early reservations are recommended. Your place will be considered reserved once we have received your payment.

The fee for each workshop is $160 per person; materials will be provided at no additional cost. Each participant will also receive a free copy of Donald Farnsworth’s book A Guide To Japanese Papermaking (while supplies last).

(A note on cancelled reservations: cancellations will be refunded in full if made at least three days before the class, or if we can fill your spot. Cancellations occuring within three days before class that cannot be filled will be given a 25% refund.)
Again, to reserve a place in these workshops, please email papermagnolia@hotmail.com.

Handmade paper with custom Magnolia watermark

Works on handmade paper from Awagami Factory

Extra large sheets of washi being made at Awagami Factory in Tokushima, Japan for Chuck Close prints at Magnolia Editions; photos by Craig Anczelowitz

Proof of a watercolor print by Chuck Close on custom-made Awagami handmade paper

Detail of proof by Chuck Close on Awagami handmade paper
Recently, Magnolia received a generous offer from the Awagami Factory in Tokushima, Japan. Magnolia has been printing on Awagami paper for many years; in 2014, on the occasion of the Southern Graphics Council's 42nd annual conference here in the Bay Area, Craig Anczelowitz and Aya Fujimori of Awagami reached out to our Oakland studio about providing paper for new projects to be shown during the conference.

The Awagami paper mill has a remarkable history spanning seven generations of traditional washi papermakers; they now produce a variety of exceptional handmade papers, including washi types that are specially formulated for inkjet printing.

The mill sent samples of dozens of different kinds of washi to Magnolia, where we distributed them to interested (and interesting) artists. William T. Wiley used his samples to create new year's cards; Hung Liu hand painted a small rat in sumi ink on each sample (these irresistible miniature paintings can currently be seen at Magnolia). After Liu and other artists such as Bob Nugent, Mary Hull Webster, and Mildred Howard each made their own selection of papers with richly varying degrees of texture, weight, and opacity, Awagami generously bundled and shipped the papers to us from Tokushima, and the artists immediately set to work printing, drawing, painting, and even sewing on the sheets of handmade washi.

The resulting works are as wonderfully eclectic as the Magnolia community itself, ranging from the solid, woody naturalism of Bob Nugent's prints mounted on panel to the intimate ink painting of Buddha's hand fruits by Hung Liu to the seductive surrealism of Mary Hull Webster's ghostly, colorful portrait prints.

A 2014 print on Awagami handmade paper by Mildred Howard, published by Magnolia Editions
Mildred Howard's series of Gold Dust prints on Awagami paper incorporate black-and-white portraits of the artist into the design of an early 20th-century box of washing powder; the appealingly tactile grayscale texture of Howard's braided dreadlocks and her Miles Davis-esque stance (facing away from the viewer) introduce new elements -- arresting, unexpected, and quietly subversive -- into the archaic Gold Dust packaging, into which the artist has also embedded subtle new details including Booker T. Washington half dollars and Sacajawea dollar coins.

We encourage interested parties to visit Magnolia where you can see these works, many of which are still on display here, and can also check out samples of Awagami paper for your own projects. And of course, make sure to keep in touch with Awagami Factory via their website.

Magnolia continues to partner with Awagami on upcoming projects: currently, Awagami Factory is creating custom washi for new watercolor prints by Chuck Close, as seen in the photos above. These works incorporate custom made paper and custom ICC color profiles developed specifically for the washi being used.

To Craig, Aya, and everyone at Awagami – we sincerely thank you for your generosity in sharing your seven generations' worth of papermaking brilliance with our studio!

More art by Mildred Howard from Magnolia Editions

More art by Hung Liu from Magnolia Editions

More art by Bob Nugent from Magnolia Editions

Recent Projects exhibition at Magnolia Editions

Mixed-media work by Mary Hull Webster on Awagami paper, 2014; see more new work at our "Recent Projects" exhibition, open to the public April 1st.
We are pleased to announce an exhibition of new editions and unique works at our recently renovated gallery: "Magnolia Editions: Recent Projects" will be on view beginning April 1st here at our West Oakland warehouse location.

"Magnolia Editions: Recent Projects" features new tapestry works by Chuck Close and Kiki Smith, as well as recent editions by Inez Storer, Guy Diehl, and Masami Teraoka, and new woodcuts by Mel Ramos.

We are also pleased to feature work on handmade Japanese papers from the Awagami Factory in Tokushima, Japan. The Awagami paper mill has a rich history spanning seven generations of traditional washi papermakers; they now produce a variety of exceptional handmade papers, including washi that is specially formulated for inkjet printing.

Craig Anczelowitz and Aya Fujimori of Awagami Factory have generously supplied us with Awagami papers for this exhibition, which have been printed, drawn, painted, and even sewn on by artists including Mildred Howard, Bob Nugent, Mary Hull Webster, and Hung Liu.

"Recent Projects" coincides with the 42nd annual conference of the nation's largest and most prestigious print organization, the Southern Graphics Council Institute, which will be held in the Bay Area this Friday, March 28th.

The SGCI will award Magnolia director Donald Farnsworth an award for Innovation; Farnsworth and other award winners are featured in a show at UC Berkeley's Worth Ryder Institute, and Magnolia Editions will be hosting two tours on March 28th for registered SGCI attendees.

Registered tour attendees will be able to meet Craig and Aya of Awagami Factory at the studio during the tours on the 28th; the works on Awagami paper will remain on view as part of the "Recent Projects" show through April.

We invite you to sign up for the SGCI tours on the 28th, or else please visit us after April 1st during business hours (10 am to 6 pm) here at 2527 Magnolia Street in Oakland to see "Recent Projects" featuring work on Awagami paper.

Awagami Factory on the web

More information about the SGCI conference

Papermaking workshops in October & November

Donald Farnsworth demonstrating a Japanese washi papermaking technique (artist's rendition)
UPDATE: Due to popular demand we will hold a second session of Introduction to Papermaking with Michelle Wilson on November 16th from 10 am to 4 pm! Email papermagnolia@hotmail.com to sign up.

We are pleased to announce that Magnolia Editions will be hosting papermaking workshops in our newly renovated paper studio! Please reserve your spot by emailing papermagnolia@hotmail.com, and don't hesitate to pass this info on to anyone you know who might be curious about how paper is made:

• Introduction to Papermaking with instructor Michelle Wilson (special appearance by Donald Farnsworth!) will meet on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 am to 4 pm:
  

  Learn the basics of creating your own handmade paper in the European tradition with Cotton and Abaca fibers. From the linter and beating stage to finished sheets, you will learn the process for making paper with different moulds and in a variety of colors. Students will learn to set up vats, pigment fibers, form and embellish sheets of paper. We will begin with a brief introductory lecture and spend the rest of the day making paper. Students are encouraged to bring items to use as inclusions such as dried flowers, lace, fabric, or old printed materials that will not bleed when wet. Please note: this is a wet class – participants are encouraged to wear clothing and shoes that can get wet.
  
  Instructor Michelle Wilson is an artist in whose work handmade paper plays a central role, whether in printmaking, book arts, or installations. She teaches throughout the Bay Area, most recently at San Francisco State, the San Jose ICA Print Center, and the Kala Art Institute.

• Japanese Papermaking with instructor Carol Brighton will meet on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 am to 4 pm:
  

  Japanese paper (washi) is world famous for its beauty and strength. Learn to make traditional washi step-by-step from cooking and beating the fibers to sheet formation and drying. We will make sheets on sugetas (Japanese moulds) and Western style moulds, learn to laminate inclusions in collage, and explore other techniques for decorative papers. Students are encouraged to bring items to use as inclusions such as dried flowers, lace, fabric, or printed papers that will not bleed when wet.
  
  Instructor Carol Brighton is an artist whose handmade paper expertise can be seen in her printmaking and pulp paintings. Brighton teaches papermaking at the Academy of Art and also conducts printmaking workshops in her own studio.

The fee for each workshop is $120 per person; classes will be limited to 8 participants each, so early reservations are recommended.

Again, to reserve a place in these workshops, please email papermagnolia@hotmail.com.