Khandroling Paper Cooperative's Conway Rags to Paper Project Receives a Greater Shelburne Falls Business Association Grant and Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant

Our winning proposal was accepted with an award of $400 towards the lead artists Jacqueline Gens and Madeleine Liebling (KPC Members) who will oversee the Rags to Paper Project at Khandroling Paper Cooperative, as part of Tsegyalgar East's participation in the 250th Anniversary of the Town of Conway, MA. 


This unique project invites residents of the town to make paper from their 100% recycled cotton rags collected from drop off sites in town FROM JANUARY-MAY, 2017 and processed in our hollander beater, affectionately called the "Critter" among international handmade papermakers.

{Jennifer, from the Shang Shung School of Tibetan Medicine making speciality pulp}

The hand-made paper will be the base for writing stories and poems significant to the personal transformative experiences of participants of all ages in relation to the town of Conway, whether of place, historical, personal, or mythic. This event will take place in two workshop segments led by the lead artists consisting of:

1) April 29, 2016 An Introduction to the Art of Handmade Paper with lead artist Madeline Liebling who will direct individuals into creating dynamic sheets of paper for their literary works from the Conway Rags.

2) May 1, 2017 Literary Workshop with Jacqueline Gens who will introduce writing exercises to stimulate original writing in a variety of forms onto the previously made paper either via, calligraphy, stamping or digital transfer.

Artist members of the cooperative will then assemble in Open Studios, the completed works on scrolls, in accordion books and mounted paper mural to exhibit during the three-day celebration in the yellow schoolhouse and/or another venue in town currently being researched (TBA) during the June 16, 17, 18, 2017 Conway event. Writers may elect to read their works as part of this exhibit during the three-day event.

This project seeks to bring together the transformative power of place, materials and personal evolution over time through the medium of papermaking and storytelling within the context of an important cultural event. Our presence in the historic yellow schoolhouse at the top of the hill will bridge together past, present and future educational and artistic aspirations for those involved in the making and in the viewing of our final works.

We invite local residents to participate in this collectively transformative event.
For further information contact Jacqueline at jacqueline.gens@gmail.com

To experience a preview, the Greater Shelburne Falls H.A.T.C.H. Program will host a public celebration on February 11, 2017 at the Shelburne Falls Community Center to present the creativity of the winning proposals. (Time TBA).

For further information about Tsegyalgar East's participation in the town of Conway's 250th Anniversary, visit here.