Keijo Tapanainen, an artist member of Propeller Gallery, a prominent collective gallery on Queen Street where the action is, called last week to say he has rounded up 12 artist members who’d like to show work for the Summit. Strange as it seems to us who have been so focused on Japanese paper for over 25 years in Toronto, many of them have never used washi before. Seven came in today for a briefing and left half dazed, half inspired by looking at the varied work of other artists who have persevered with washi over the years.

A sample of encaustic monoprint by Milt Jewell. Image links to enlarged photo.

In that group were an encaustic painter, cyanotype printer, oil painter, Chinese calligrapher, watercolourist, drawer and industrial materials sculptor. All of them left with samples of washi to play with – some different weights and colours, but mostly with the deceptively plain-looking paper that holds such potential for creative types: kozo, and a little gampi. Exciting to see the possibility in their eyes and know that this will be the beginning of new and interesting paths for some.

Do you have digital paper?

A question we get a lot. Not our favourite because it is so hard to answer though the short answer is “Yes.” It’s such a BIG question and depends on so many expectations of the inquirer. Washi isn’t meant to compete with Epson paper, and truly if you want bright colour exactly as on the monitor, and perfectly clean crisp edges, why not use what is made for that purpose? But we have seen beautiful digital prints on toned gampi and fibrous kozo that speak on other levels – of quiet, of softness, of agelessness, of inner beauty and strength. So we are thrilled that Marilyn Lightstone has hung in there, after asking the question herself, to come up with some serenely energetic contemporary “scrolls” which combine her painting and her stunning photographs in digital print on gampi. Have a peek:

Detail of Marilyn Lightstone’s “Bush”. Image links to enlarged photo.

Washi slippers anyone?

Sara Fradkin who we know from years ago when she worked wonders with Japanese papers in over-the-top hats for our store window has re-surfaced and will offer a workshop at the Bata Shoe Museum on June 8. If you are coming to the Summit, or to Toronto anytime, you have to visit this specialized gem of a museum. “Wearable Washi Slippers” will be the title and she’ll put students through their paces to produce long-wearing, individually embellished kozo slippers. She is a creative genius I think. Wouldn’t it be fun if one of our guest papermakers took the workshop??

Lennox Contemporary Gallery

John Petcoff who owns this nice big gallery which will show several artists’ work in June, is also the generous half owner of Oyster Boy – a restaurant (again, on Queen Street West) known by all oyster lovers far and wide. (Mark that on your list too!) He has a tiny theatre in his back space complete with theatre seats he scored at some point. We are dying to use this space. One night we will hold a salon for artists, “What IS it about washi?” so that washiphiles can share their discoveries (and frustrations). And at another theatre night there last week, he met a couple from a theatre company who specialize in paper. That made the wheels dance. Now we have to meet them and organize a washi theatre event. Seems impossible with the time that’s left, but you and I know that NOTHING is. This is what I mean about how exciting it all gets.

Funding

Did I mention that we had hoped for some corporate funding to realize this dream the way we really wanted, but it didn’t happen? Well what seems to be happening maybe because of this, is that people are engaged by it, that we are doing it anyway. Many of the interesting smaller businesses in town are taking ads in our brochure and offering support in many ways. The galleries couldn’t be more keen and helpful.
Gorgeous chiyogami, also known as yuzen, comes in thousands of pattern and colour variations.Volunteers like Judith Fielder are amazing. She came in today with a replica of the exhibition space at The Japan Foundation for her part of the “Washi Over Time” exhibit.

This will be a tour of Japanese stencil patterning and how it migrated from textile to paper, culminating with a wallful of chiyogami and katazome-shi delights from people we know around the world. Know anyone who has something really unique they’ve done with chiyogami? There is always room for more. Judith showed us today this perfect “game” she invented to help people see how Japanese patterns work so well when they are placed together. It’s brilliant. You’ll have to come and see it at the Japan Foundation which will open the last weekend in May for the Doors Open weekend but of course will be featured during the Summit.