Alex Borgen

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Citynull
State/Provincenull
Postal Codenull
CountryUSA
Phone Number5072068454
E-mail AddressAlex.borgen@gmail.com
Websitewww.alexborgen.com

First interest in hand papermaking process: 2011

First piece of handmade paper: 2011

First handmade paper artwork: 2011

Beginning of active practice: 2011

Images

Click on an image for the full view.

Alex's Work in Hand Papermaking:

  1. Artist who uses handmade paper for book arts
  2. Artist who uses papermaking for three-dimensional work
  3. Artist who uses papermaking for two-dimensional work
  4. Researcher making handmade paper
  5. Other : Interactive installations with paper & garden research

Alex's Introduction to Hand Papermaking:

  1. Other : MFA program

Influences on Alex's Work in Hand Papermaking:

Publications initially important to Alex:

  1. Hand papermaking : null
  2. History of Paper : Dard Hunter
  3. Paper making plants? : Lillian Bell

Publications eventually important to Alex:

  1. Hand papermaking : null

Countries where Alex's studied:

Raw materials used by Alex in Hand Papermaking:

Chemicals used by Alex for cooking fibers in Hand Papermaking:

Used Routinely
Used Sometimes

Tools and methods used by Alex for beating in Hand Papermaking:

Used Routinely
  1. Hollander beater
Used Sometimes
Used Rarely
  1. hand beating

Style of sheet forming used by Alex in Hand Papermaking:

Years teaching hand papermaking: 2011-2013

Teaching formats used by Alex:

Used Routinely
  1. classes
  2. demonstrations
Used Rarely

Alex's Income Contribution from Hand Papermaking:

  1. no comment

Narrative:

I started the Columbia College chicago's interdisciplinary arts MFA program in book and paper arts in 2011, with Melissa Potter as my advisor. It opened my eyes to the art of handmade paper, and my art practice were forever changed. In 2012, I founded the CCC Papermakers Garden in Chicago with on emphasis on sustainability in the urban environment to incorporate the art of paper to an interdisciplinary space for education, research, and alternative art making/showing for students and community engagement. My art practice also involves large sheets of paper, mostly made from recycled fabric scraps, the paper becomes interactive installations for viewers, as well as paper as a performance tool/venue/prop. I also am experimenting with paper as it relates to multimedia arts; by embedding electronics, I have made paper speaker sculptures and am using the paper as abstracted screens for video. My love for paper is about the tactility, physicality, and fully cyclical lifespan (composition/decomposition). Through my work with the Papermakers Garden, I met Steve kostell and Eric Benson of Fresh Press and been to their studio to work. I am excited by their ventures as well.

Questions:

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