Paper Art: History & Practice

Catalog description

How does the production of a material influence the art forms developed from it? How does a material’s accessibility determine who its artisans are? How does a material’s affordability influence the traditions formed around it? This course addresses these questions through a practice-based focus on the materiality and production of paper and paper crafting as a global art form. Beginning with the invention of paper, the papercraft movement has traditions and roots on all continents that have been openly shared and handed down through generations. This course is divided into several subject areas: the history of paper and paper making, paper folding, paper cutting, paper engineering, paper automata, and contemporary DIY electronics, fabrication, and paper craft movements. It will also include field trips to local artist studios and paper mills. Each subject area has associated readings, hands-on exercises, and a final creative work that addresses the forms explored. This course will be offered in January-Term 2026.