Don Widmer
Steel no. 3

Media: cotton pulp painting on denim/bamboo/daylily paper

Artist Statement:
This artwork is inspired by a historical photo of a steel yard near Pittsburgh, nicknamed the "Steel City."  Capturing such a harsh image within the delicate fibers of handmade paper creates a paradox often found in my work. The softness of paper, its imprecise delineations and blurred lines, contrast with the severity of the steel structures I seek to represent, creating a dreamlike quality. Although most of the mills are gone or abandoned, these images evoke memories, reminding us that our built environments become integral to our personal histories.

Biography

Don Widmer is a book and paper artist whose work incorporates papermaking, letterpress printing, and artist bookbinding. His papermaking utilizes a process called pulp painting, where pigmented plant material (pulp) is used as a painting medium.  Don has exhibited throughout the Midwest, most recently at The Morgan Conservatory and Kalamazoo Book Arts Center.  His book Fanny and the Doll Corpse, inspired by Chicagoan Frances Glessner Lee, was recently added to the Smithsonian's artist book collection.