Khandroling Paper Cooperative to Participate in Conway's 250th Anniversary, June 16-18, 2017

Now in its 5th year, Khandroling Paper Cooperative located in the basement of Tsegyalgar East is continuing its participation in the town of Conway's 250th Anniversary through a number of local community outreach projects.

LOTUS PROJECT

Our Lotus Origami Project currently has an exhibit in the historic Marshall Fields Library in Conway on display with hundreds of  blossoms made by our dedicated origami club under the direction of Brenda Lilly, a resident of Conway. Each blossom represents a unique manifestation of its maker.

Every Saturday from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM we are in the Conway Marshall Fields Library to make Lotus origami to add to our collection which will then be used to distribute to the public during the June 17, 2017 parade following our performing Khaita dancers.   

Learning how to make the Lotus

Saturday Lotus participant Carey holding 

her first perfect Lotus and wearing her mom's Conway Grammar School (now Tsegyalgar) sweatshirt

Distributing origami symbols of peace and harmony during parades is a tradition among New England towns, most commonly the Japanese crane. In Buddhist cultures including Tibet,  the Lotus has deep meaning as a symbol of perfection which all beings inherently possess as a potential for enlightenment. By handing these out, we are acknowledging this potential. 

Conway residents gathering to make Lotuses at our Origami Club meeting 

in the Tsegyalgar library on Thursday, May 11

Local Conway artist Rachel Moyers, also a Hatch Grant recipient like KPC, 

trying on a part of her costume made by Lauri Marder she will wear 

distributing Lotuses during the parade

CONWAY RAGS TO PAPER PROJECT

PHASE 1 of the Conway Rags to Paper project began many months ago as we collected Conway resident rags to transform into pulp to make paper for our PHASE 2. On April 29, Madeline Liebling led an Introduction to Papermaking which was attended by six individuals from  ages 13-70+ years old. 

Our first basket of Conway rags cut into postage size pieces for the Hollander Beater

Perfect Conway pulp, April 29, 2017

Amanda and Madeline making paper, April 29, 2017

Amanda and Marie at the Vats, April 29

Couching a sheet of paper dyed with onion skins, April 29

Preparing to wet press the couched sheets, April 29

Low tech pressing, April 29

Pressed paper drying, April 29

COMING SOON PICTURES OF THE FINAL PAPERS WE MADE

PHASE 2 of The Conway Rags to Paper Project hosted by Khandroling Paper Cooperative will take place on Saturdays from 2 PM-5:00 PM thru June 3 in the former Conway Grammar School now called Tsegyalgar.  We have already collected, processed, and beaten in our Hollander beater cotton rags collected from Conway residents to create pulp, which is used to make handmade paper specifically for the 250th anniversary of Conway

Khandroling Paper Cooperative's Conway Rags to Paper Project received a HATCH Grant from the Greater Shelburne Falls Business Association and Massachusetts Cultural Council. 

An 1817 note from Edward Hitchcock who lived on Pumpkin Hollow Road in Conway

This paper will become the base to contain writing and art by participants and artist members related to the history, stories and personal connection to the town of Conway, which will then be mounted in a variety of formats (ex: scrolls, collage, mural, or folding books,) using various printing methods (stamping, stencil, calligraphy, printing) for exhibition during the three-day anniversary. 

WHERE: Tsegyalgar East at 18 Schoolhouse Road, Conway in the Khandroling Paper Studio 

WHEN/TIMES:  Saturdays, 2:00 PM-5:00 PM thru June 3^rd following Lotus Making (11:00 AM-2:00 PM) in the Marshall Fields Library, Conway, MA 

PLEASE NOTE WE HAVE EXTENDED OUR DATES TO SATURDAY OPEN STUDIOS FROM OUR ORIGINAL DATE OF May 13, 2017

FREE to all participants. To R.S.V.P. contact Jacqueline 
at jacqueline.gens@gmail.com 
or 413-522-1125

COME Make paper and art with us in celebration of the town

http://www.khandrolingpapers.blogspot.com

KHANDROLING PAPER COOPERATIVE EXHIBITS 

KPC will participate in the Open House at Tsegyalgar East during the three-day event (June 16-17, 2017) with a small show of artist members' work in the back foyer of the Yellow schoolhouse building. Our Conway Rag to Paper works will be on exhibit in the Conway Elementary School gym with other town art projects.  Details TBA.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

• Following last summer's successful participation in the first Summer celebration, we will once again provide an optional lunch time activity (Noon-3:00 PM onJune 18-19, 2017 to make paper from natural fibers on our Khandroling retreat land led by Sheryl Jaffe

Paper made on Lower Khandroling, 2016

• In the Fall  KPC member, Dara Juels will return for another calligraphy workshop on sacred seed syllables along with new programs in Quilling and other paper arts; making sacred paper; printmaking; nd our regular Open Studios