All over the country and around the world, the art and craft of hand papermaking is an evolving landscape. Every day, students, researchers, artists, and master craftspeople are breaking new ground, elevating technique, and discovering what it means to be a hand papermaker in the 21st century. For our annual gathering in 2024, NAHP invites papermakers to the Mountain West to explore the histories, traditions, and innovations that ground the work of contemporary practitioners and reveal the topography of our craft.
Join us in Denver, a city that floats at the intersection of earth and sky, the gateway between the mountains and plains. Through exhibitions, hands-on demonstrations, presentations, and discussions, New Altitudes will chase Denver’s spirit of adventure and connection to the natural world. And in Bark Rhythms, a very special exhibition featuring indigenous papermaking techniques, we will be immersed in both ancient history and contemporary practice of bark paper and bark cloth production. New Altitudes is as much about where we have always been as where we are headed.
Our hosts are the University of Denver, and they have offered us a beautiful location for both our meeting sessions and the Member’s Showcase. The deadline for proposals to give talks, panel discussions, and demos has passed.
We are delighted to announce our keynote speakers. The 2024 Anita Lynn Forgach Keynote Lecture will be delivered by the distinguished papermaking artist Helen Hiebert. (A delightful biography of Helen is part of her 2022 Papermaking Champion profile.)
The Elaine Koretsky Memorial Presentation will be delivered by Mimi Leveque, a conservator of objects and textiles at the Peabody Essex Museum. Mimi has a special interest in archaeological materials, in particular ancient Egyptian artifacts. More on her work can be found here.
We hope to see you there!
Conference Schedule
(Subject to Change - Current as of October 14, 2024)
New Altitudes
Denver, Colorado
October 17-19, 2024
*Registration and all sessions will be held at Anderson Academic Commons (Rm 290) unless otherwise noted
DAY ONE
Thursday, October 17th
12:00 - 4:00 Arrival & Registration / Pre-registration for tours, demos / Keepsake exchange drop-off
12:00 - 4:00 Pre-Conference Activities
Group Trip to the Denver Art Museum (Admission not included)
A social outing to explore downtown Denver and see select collections at DAM. Meet in the lobby of the Downtown Holiday Inn Express at 12:30 and walk 15 minutes to the museum. This is a self-guided visit, but collections of interest include Arts of Oceania, African Arts, and Weaving a Foundation.
University of Denver Special Collections, Anderson Academic Commons, Gottesfeld Room (Room 313)
View a selection from DU’s Papermaking and Book Arts collection curated by Special Collections Librarian Katherine Crowe.
3:15 - 3:30 Welcome & Introduction
3:30 - 4:50 Session 1 - Individual Talks with Group Q&A
Papermaking as a Land Management Tool - Jenn Woodward
Land, Plants and Relationships - Andrea Peterson
4:50 - 5:00 Coffee Break
5:00 - 6:20 Session 2 - Individual Talks with Group Q&A
Paper Voyages and Seeds of Craft: Polynesian Barkcloth - Maria Zytaruk
Ganpi Paper’s Radical Cultural Influence - Camille Davis
6:30 - 9:00 Opening Receptions in both levels of the Anderson Academic Commons
New Altitudes - Annual Member’s Showcase
The NAHP Members' Showcase exhibition annually features paper and paper art made by our members. This year's theme is NEW ALTITUDES, to showcase work that launches the hand papermaking discipline into new heights, enabling us to view a broader world of art and community from above.
Pulp to Pages - Curated by Alicia Bailey and Kate Crowe with Curators Walk-through from 7:00 - 7:30
A national, juried exhibition of contemporary hand-crafted book-works (editioned or unique) that utilize a form of hand made paper as primary or secondary element.
DAY TWO
Friday, October 18th
Trade Fair, 9am-5:15pm in Anderson Academic Commons, Room 290 (Main Lecture Room for the Conference)
8:00 - 12:00 Registration (University of Denver, Anderson Academic Commons)
9:00 - 10:15 Anita Lynn Forgach Memorial Keynote Address
Speaker: Helen Hiebert
In Pursuit of Wonder: Making Paper Art, Building Community, and Finding a Way to Make a Living as a Creative
10:15 - 10:30 Coffee Break
10:30 - 11:45 Session 3 - Individual Talks with Group Q&A
3D PLA Armatures for Pulp Dipping - Bonnie-Ferrill Roman
New Dimensions in Paper: Blending Handmade Paper with Projection-Mapped
Animation - Danqi Cai
11:45 - 1:30 Lunch
1:30 - 2:45 Demo 1
Demo - Collaborative Fieldwork: Explorations with Deckle Boxes - Rhiannon Alpers & Kerri Cushman (Location: Shwayder Art Printmaking Studio in the Shwayder Art Bldg, 2121 E Asbury Ave, Denver, CO 80210, Rm TBD)
Demo - Cyanotype printing on Kozo - Heather Steckler (Location: Anderson Academic Commons Rm 290)
Presentation and Conversation - Making Handmade Paper for Letterpress and Laser Printing - Peter Thomas (Location: Anderson Academic Commons, Rm TBD)
2:45 - 3:15 Coffee Break
3:15 - 4:30 Session 4 - Panel Presentation
This Won't Be Graded - Virginia Howell, Nicole Donnelly, Elysa Voshell & Lauren Pearlman
4:30 - 4:45 Coffee Break
4:45 - 5:45 Session 5 - Panel Presentation
Bark Rhythms In Conversation - Jill Powers, Lisa Miles & Guest Panelists TBD
5:45 - 7:00 Dinner Break & Travel
Bus to Niza Knoll Gallery will depart outside Anderson Academic Commons at 6pm, 6:30pm and 7pm
7:00 - 9:00 Bark Rhythms Opening Reception @ Niza Knoll Gallery
7:30-7:45 Curator walk-through and remarks
Bark Rhythms: Contemporary Innovations & Ancestral Traditions features historical examples of hand-beaten bark papers, bark cloths, and traditional beaters, paired with the work of contemporary artists from global communities who use bark fiber materials and techniques in innovative and unexpected ways.
DAY 3
Saturday, October 19th
9:15 - 10:15 Elaine Koretsky Memorial Presentation
Speaker: Mimi Leveque
Precious Things: Barkcloth Treasures from the Pacific Island Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
10:15- 10:30 Coffee Break
10:30 - 11:45 Session 6 - Individual Talks with group Q&A
Material Kinship: Possibilities in Paper and Clay - Jenna Bonistalli
Exploration of Handmade Paper Furniture - Yiran Li
Philippine Piña (Pineapple) Fiber - Maeve Leslie
11:45 - 1:30 Lunch & Keepsake Assembly
1:30 - 2:30 Session 7 - Panel Presentation
Radical Paper: Art and Invention with Colored Pulp - Lynn Sures & John Babcock
2:30 - 3:30 Annual Business Meeting
3:30 - 4:45 Demo 2
Big Paper Party - Kristen Tordella-Williams (Anderson Academic Commons, Rm TBD)
Paper Pulp Print - Al-Qawi Nanavati (Shwayder Art Printmaking Studio in the Shwayder Art Bldg, 2121 E Asbury Ave, Denver, CO 80210, Rm TBD)
Paper Lanterns - Chayna Truex (Anderson Academic Commons, Rm TBD)
4:30 - 6:00 Keepsakes Pick up (Music optional!)
6:00 - 9:00 Banquet and Annual Silent Auction
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Pre-Conference Activities
Thursday, October 17th
Snake Skin Paper with Joyce Gold
Learn an easy way to dip your fiber in paper pulp - create your screen, dip or pour pulp onto your wire mesh. Think about pulp going into the crevices, between lines, and textures. Contact Joyce for more details (send an email to NewAltitudes@nahandpapermakers.org with Subject line “SNAKE SKIN CONTACT INFO”.
Thursday, October 17th
Group Trip to the Denver Art Museum, Admission not included
Thursday 12:30 pm Meeting Time, RSVP Contact
A social outing to explore downtown Denver and see select collections at DAM. We will meet in the lobby of the Downtown Holiday Inn Express at 12:30 and walk 15 minutes to the museum. This is a self-guided visit, but collections of interest include Arts of Oceania, African Arts, and Weaving a Foundation.
University of Denver Special Collections, Gottesfeld Room (AAC 313), Free
Thursday 12-4pm, RSVP Contact
Papermaking and book arts collection material viewing, Special Collections Librarian, Kate Crowe
This collection highlights the beauty of the book-as-object with examples of fine press books that emphasize hand-printing techniques and artists' books that move beyond the traditional codex format to challenge our notions of the book.
Additional Santa Fe Third Friday Collector’s Night Events
Friday Reception: 6:00 - 9:00 pm, See gallery website for weekend hours
Bast, a two-person show by Lisa Miles and Jill Powers
D’Art Gallery, 900 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO 80204
Connecting with ancient paper-making traditions, this show explores two distinct, innovative approaches for using bast fiber to convey a deep connection with the natural world..
Friday Reception: 5:00-9:00 pm
The Colorado Paper Collective Showcase
StudioWed, 821 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, 80204 *One Evening Only*
Formed in 2017, The Colorado Paper Collective is an informal organization of Colorado artists and paper lovers who meet to promote paper inclusive artwork in Colorado. Participating Artists include: Rhiannon Alpers, John Cunningham, Shelly DeChantal, Nancy Eastman, Joyce Gold, Chris Leatherwood, Susan Mackin Dolan, Bonnie Ferrill Roman, Naomi Salzman, and Karen Eberle Smith.
Post-Conference Activities
Sunday, October 20, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
PULP FICTIONS
A retrospective show of the artwork of Ray Tomasso
Englewood Civic Center 1000 Englewood Parkway Englewood, CO 80110
Catered Reception Held in the Englewood City Hall Atrium
This memorial retrospective celebrates the work of Colorado papermaker Ray Tomasso, renowned for his monumental painted and sculptural paper artworks. Drawing on traditional papermaking techniques, Tomasso created extraordinary pieces that push the boundaries of the medium.
Monday - Wednesday, October 21-23, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Inter Ocean Studio, 2905 S Elati St, Englewood, CO 80110
Drop by any time after the conference to tour the InterOcean Studio and observe what is happening during an invitational post-conference collaborative workshop being held in remembrance of the late Ray Tomasso. The workshop, titled Colorado in the Sea of Time, is being organized by Peter Thomas and Susan Mackin Dolan. A group of Ray’s friends and colleagues will be making an edition of flag-like structured books based conceptually on the Colorado landscape and the sustainability of our connection to our natural environment.
Denver, Colorado | October 17-19, 2024
Local Travel Advisory Aug-Sep 2024:
Local Travel Update: October 2024
Our conference hotel is centrally located close to all events via public transport. Over the Spring and Summer 2024, Denver transportation was undergoing major capital improvements causing significant travel delays. As of today, many of the improvement delays have been lifted and Denver Transit stops, previously closed, have been reopened. This is a vastly improved situation, but since nothing is guaranteed, we will continue to monitor it.
Denver Transit takes tickets or Exact Fare or Credit card accepted at Ticket vending Machines at train stations. $5.50 All day pass (there & back) and $2.70 All day pass for Seniors 66+.
To keep yourself up-to-date on transit announcements, find schedules and plan your route, visit https://www.rtd-denver.com/
From the Airport to the Hotel: we suggest taking the Denver Transit A train to Union Station ($10 one-way). The Holiday Inn Express Denver Downtown is about an 11 minute walk (1 mile), or the free city bus on 17th Street to Tremont or take a cab. (From hotel to Union Station take free city bus on 15th St to Union.) We suggest estimating 40 minutes between hotel and airport.
From the Hotel to the University of Denver/Anderson Academic: To take Denver Transit to University of Denver, take the H train either from 18th & California OR 16th & California entrances. In estimating your travel time via Denver Transit, we suggest 30 minutes between hotel and conference site, plus about 7-10 minutes walking time. From Anderson Academic Commons to Niza Knoll is about 30-40 mins depending on traffic; a special bus will bring registrants from Anderson to Niza. (Cab from the hotel to the gallery is about 15-20.)
2024 Keepsake Exchange:
Our annual keepsake exchange will happen in Denver. Share examples of your work with fellow members! We need at least 110 copies and suggest keeping the work to letter size or smaller. Detailed instruction and a Keepsake Information form is here.
Silent Auction and Scholarship Fund
Have you, a student, or a friend benefited from our Scholarship Program? Our scholarships ensure that young papermakers and other interested people can attend the conference, and the program is entirely funded from the annual silent auction. Please bring something of interest to donate to the auction, and help us manage the auction by adding your item here: https://forms.gle/352nzhDpJLLdybSE7. You can also make a cash donation, we accept payments online through BetterWorld:https://nahp.betterworld.org/campaigns/scholarships-2. NAHP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and donations are deductible as charitable contributions to the extent provided by law.
Hotel Information:
NAHP has reserved a block of 40 rooms. Although no events are planned for the hotel, it will be the central pick-up and drop-off for transportation and directions. Once the block is sold-out, Holiday Inn and NAHP cannot guarantee this rate or rooms at this location.
Reservation information and Reservation:
The Holiday Inn Express Denver Downtown
1715 Tremont Pl, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 296-0400
40 room block
$169/night + state and local tax (currently 15.75%)
Cutoff Date: Reservations by attendees must be received on or before September 17, 2024
How to reserve: Reservations can be made by calling into IHG reservations at 1 (800) 315-2621 or by using the booking link: Conference Booking Link
Special Concessions
Complimentary Guest Room Internet
Complimentary Breakfast, included in the room rate
Complimentary Fitness Center Access
The hotel offers Valet Parking only.
Overnight Valet Parking - $49.00 per vehicle / per day, excluding gratuity
All reservations must be accompanied by a first night room deposit made by the attendee, or guaranteed with a major credit card.
Looking for a roommate? We have a Google Doc for people to match-up anyone seeking a roommate.
Conference Registration
Early registration is now OPEN and will close September 16th. All registration will close October 4th. To learn more and to register follow the link below.
Scholarships
NAHP offers limited scholarships for those who would not be able to attend without financial assistance. Read more about our program and requirements below. The deadline for applications is August 30th. Applicants will be notified in September before early registration closes.
Location
The conference will be held at Anderson Academic Commons on the campus of the University of Denver.