Greetings from Khandroling Paper Cooperative, now in our 7th year of operation at Tsegyalgar East, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Conway, MA 01370.
Since our last post here in February 2018 ( about our duo Sheryl Jaffee and Brenda Lilly's Lantern Workshop) Amanda and Madeline each held workshops for special interest groups.
Some of our origami Lanterns
Madeline (left) and Amanda cleaning the studio
In April while I was on a writers retreat with KPC member Ingmar Pema Dechen in Mississippi to work on our 60 Losar poetry/illustration collaboration, Madeline led a workshop for the dynamic local artist and writers group Exploded View.
You can read about them here.
Greenfield Recorder article here.
Trish Crapo one of the members of Exploaded View wrote a long article on the paper cooperative at Tsegyalgar East during our Japanese Binding workshop two years ago. At that time we talked about making paper from ephemera such as old love letters. On a chilly day this April Trish initiated her writing group to do a session of papermaking for projects they create for their upcoming Fall exhibit at the Great Falls Discovery Center in September 2018. Madeline will also participate in leading a papermaking workshop open to the public. The Great Falls Discovery center is a jewel of a venue in our region.
Here are a few pictures of the ladies from Exploaded View at work:
From making pulp to pressing and drying finished papers
We do everything low tech
NEW Packers Corner 50th Anniversary in Guilford, VT
This summer we will participate in the 50th Anniversary of Packers Corner Farm in Guilford, VT where I lived from 1976-1982 before heading out to Naropa Institute (now University) to study Tibetan Buddhism. In the early 1990's, The "Farm" hosted many of us from Tara Mandala attending Chogyal Namkhai Norbu retreats at Tsegyalgar. One year in 1994 we all took the Base SMS exam, the first at Tsegyalgar. The farm served as refuge for many of us. While there I attended the Ada Comstock Scholars program at Smith College in its early years.
View from top of the old peach Orchard
towards the farm
The full schedule of the 50th Anniversary is here.
Our papermaking session will begin at 1:30 PM on Saturday, June 23, 2018
but we will be there from late morning thru evening. A private event, participants arriving from all over the country will walk away with a portfolio of fine papers for calligraphy, painting, collage and lantern making. Led by Madeline, Sheryl and Amanda. I'll be there too with the aim of making paper lanterns.
Amanda Pollock will lead the 3rd Annual Khandroling Retreat Papermaking and Calligraphy workshop from Saturday, July 21 - Sunday, July 29, 2018. Full description forthcoming.
Works from last Summer's Khandroling retreat
using sacred substances led by Sheryl
Shelburne Falls 250th Anniversary -June 23/24, 2018
Details TBA. KPC was gifted a thousand origami cranes so these will be distributed to the public and a paper demo scheduled.
Highland Village Day of the Dead Installation -October 31, 2018
Come join us at Beautiful Highland Village Public Housing in Shelburne Falls (my home) to view a traditional Day of the Dead shrine created by residents for departed family, friends, and pets. Refreshments provided.
KPC Studio Day of the Dead Shrine, 2016
in the basement of Tsegyalgar East
Every week some of us make art which requires concentration and the great joy of stepping out of one's usual mental ruminations and worries. These days I am working on creating "Talking Sticks," a native American tradition for residents to use at their meetings as a conduit for deep listening.
Future Workshops in the at Khandroling Paper Cooperative in the works--
- A Workshop in printing slogans and posters on our etching press
- More Mindful Origami
- Adventures in Collage and Paper weaving
In some sense all art-making is stealing from the sacred source. To make amends we share our art in a spirit of generosity to benefit others and in good cheer to promote well-being. Come visit us! If you would like us to host an event for your group, contact Jacqueline at jacqueline.gens@gmail.com or call 413-522-1125.
