Timothy Barrett

Address1302 Ginter Ave
CityIowa City
State/ProvinceIA
Postal Code52240
CountryUSA
Phone Number319-621-2493
E-mail Addresstimothy-barrett@uiowa.edu
Websitenull

First interest in hand papermaking process: 1967

First piece of handmade paper: 1969

First handmade paper artwork: 1988

Beginning of active practice: 1973

Images

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Lantern #1

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Timothy's Work in Hand Papermaking:

  1. Educator or researcher who lectures about hand papermaking
  2. Educator who teaches hand papermaking (any facet)
  3. Production hand papermaker
  4. Researcher making handmade paper
  5. Writer on topics related to hand papermaking
  6. Other :

Timothy's Introduction to Hand Papermaking:

  1. Other : An article by Henry Morris in The Papermaker

Influences on Timothy's Work in Hand Papermaking:

Publications initially important to Timothy:

  1. Papermaking- History and Technique of an Ancient Craft : Hunter
  2. "Hand Papermaking as a Hobby" in The Papermaker : Henry Morris

Publications eventually important to Timothy:

  1. Papermaking- History and Technique of an Ancient Craft : Hunter
  2. Pulp Technology and Treatment for Paper : James d'A. Clark
  3. The Art of Papermaking : de LaLande

Countries where Timothy's studied:

  1. Japan : Katsu Tadahiko, Kubota Yasuichi
    1. other : Fulbright fellowship; 2 years of research and travel

Raw materials used by Timothy in Hand Papermaking:

Chemicals used by Timothy for cooking fibers in Hand Papermaking:

Used Routinely
  1. lime (calcium hydroxide)
  2. soda ash (sodium carbonate)
  3. other : alkaline lye solutions made from vegetable ashes, usually ash from burning various hardwoods
Used Sometimes

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

Used Sometimes
  1. hand beating
Used Rarely

Style of sheet forming used by Timothy in Hand Papermaking:

Years teaching hand papermaking: 1978 to Present

Teaching formats used by Timothy:

Used Routinely
  1. classes
  2. demonstrations
  3. lectures
  4. other : Instructional or documentary videos have proven very helpful in my teaching
Used Rarely
  1. workshops

Timothy's Income Contribution from Hand Papermaking:

  1. a lot

Narrative:

I have been fortunate to be able to pursue a career in handpapermaking that has included science, history, aesthetics, craft and art. The downside is I often feel I am spread a bit too thin, moving constantly back and forth between research, production and teaching. But this path has been the only one that has allowed me to uncover details about historical materials and techniques that have led to particularly attractive aesthetic properties in some historical papers. Many 15th C European papers are still supple, light in color and possessed of an authenticity and integrity I find missing in most modern handmades. The most successful Japanese style sheets, for me, exhibit a curious combination of softness and crispness, and a distinctive luster and shine. More recently I have become interested in how the best historical Islamic style papers were made, but this is an area I hope my students will be able to explore as I am busy with other tasks. My hope is to write a book about Western papermaking materials and techniques sometime before 2018 or so. in the meantime my research website at paper.lib.uiowa.edu may be of interest. if you go to "Background" and then "European Papermaking Techniques- 1300-1800" you'll find my current thinking on the topic. I welcome queries from fellow researchers, artists and craftspeople but the best way to find out what my students and I are up to is to visit the University of Iowa Center for the Book here in Iowa City, IA. Thanks to everyone who worked to establish this survey!!! T. Barrett

Questions:

Love the scroll bar showing progress at the bottom!!!