The Hall of Papermaking Champions Committee Announces the 2022 Class of Nominees [updated]
Members of North American Hand Papermakers approved the six new Papermaking Champions for inclusion in the NAHP Hall of Papermaking Champions:
1) Tom Balbo
During his more than 40-year career as an artist working in paper, Tom has helped to establish pulp painting as a recognized art form. In the same time period, as an instructor and advocate, Tom mentored a generation of young papermakers and paper artists who carry forward his enthusiasm and sense of discovery. In 2008, Tom founded the Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Educational Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, a leading center in the US for paper-related workshops, classes, and exhibitions.
2) Lilian A. Bell
Lilian is the author of two early, significant English-language books on fibers used in hand papermaking: Plant Fibers For Papermaking published in 1981 (reissued in 1992) and Papyrus, tapa, amate & rice paper: papermaking in Africa, the Pacific, Latin America, & Southeast Asia (1983). These books were and continue to be important references for papermakers interested in fiber taxonomies and pulp-preparation recipes. After 40 years, Lillian’s books are still commonly found in papermaking classrooms and are a go-to resource for individuals with a particular interest in using both wild and cultivated species of plants to make their own papers.
3) Susan Gosin
In 1976 in New York City, Sue co-founded Dieu Donné Press & Paper, now known as Dieu Donné, an internationally respected non-profit cultural institution dedicated to the collaborative creation of contemporary art using the process of hand papermaking. In fostering an experimental art lab environment at Dieu Donné, encouraging similar work at other studios, and in her own artistic practice, Sue has contributed significantly to the development of paper art. Throughout her career, Sue has been a tireless advocate for hand papermaking and paper art in her teaching, lecturing, writing, and curatorial work including the ground-breaking exhibition “Paper/Print: American Hand Papermaking, 1960s to Today,” co-curated with Mina Takahashi and presented at International Print Center New York in 2018.
4) Helen Hiebert
Helen is the author of six instructional books on papermaking and is widely respected as a generous teacher and mentor. Working from her studio in Colorado, Helen hosts classes and retreats, and extends her outreach by teaching online. Her weekly Sunday Paper e-bulletin keeps the field up-to-date regarding a wide range of paper artists and paper-related news. Her monthly Paper Talk podcast series features recorded interviews with papermakers, paper artists, paper engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs. She will soon release her 100th podcast episode. Helen’s contributions as an artist, author, and teacher have had a significant and important impact on the papermaking community.
5) Aimee Lee
Aimee is a leading authority on the history and technique of Korean papermaking and allied crafts. In 2012, The Legacy Press published Aimee’s book Hanji Unfurled, a singular English-language reference on the subject of Korean papermaking. Aimee established the first full-size hanji studio in the US at Cleveland’s Morgan Conservatory. She has conducted workshops, given lectures, and taught extensively around the world. As a deeply committed expert and artist, Aimee has made an outsized contribution to the field, working with dedication to share her knowledge of a long-neglected papermaking tradition.
6) Paul Wong
As the artistic director of Dieu Donné for nearly forty years (from 1978 to 2017), Paul collaborated with over 1,000 artists resulting in an unparalleled body of artwork using hand papermaking as a primary artistic medium. Working with emerging to well-established artists Paul helped shepherd each of their projects through to completion. Along the way he developed many creative techniques that are now commonly used in paper-art studios and classrooms worldwide, and trained many papermakers in sheet production and in the art of collaboration. In his own artistic work, Paul created a body of work including pulp paintings, paper sculpture, artist books, and large-scale installations, many of which have been the subject of important exhibitions. As a collaborator, artist, and mentor, Paul is recognized for his significant contributions to the creation of contemporary paper art.
These six nominees were approved by the membership at the 2022 annual meeting on Sunday October 9. Only members were permitted vote.
The Hall of Papermaking Champions Committee considered 21 nominees this year, including six nominees from 2021 who were not finalists in 2021. At the October 9 business meeting, the membership approved the six finalists whose names and biographies appear above. Members of the Hall of Papermaking Champions Committee: Tim Barrett (chair), Nicole Donnelly, Mary Hark, Mina Takahashi, and Jocmarys “Joko” Viruet Feliciano.
