Mina Takahashi

Addressnull
Citynull
State/Provincenull
Postal Codenull
CountryUSA
Phone Number607.843.5699
E-mail Addressmina@handpapermaking.org
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First interest in hand papermaking process: 1984

First piece of handmade paper: 1985

First handmade paper artwork: 1987

Beginning of active practice: 1987

Images

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Mina's Work in Hand Papermaking:

  1. Other : Editor, Hand Papermaking

Mina's Introduction to Hand Papermaking:

  1. Field research (visiting papermaking workshops or studios)

Influences on Mina's Work in Hand Papermaking:

Publications initially important to Mina:

  1. Japanese Papermaking : Tim Barrett
  2. Tesukiwashi Taikan : Mainichi Newspaper
  3. Papermaking: History and Technique of an Ancient Craft : Dard Hunter
  4. Hand Papermaking : magazine
  5. Handmade Paper Today : Turner/Skiold

Publications eventually important to Mina:

  1. Hand Papermaking : magazine
  2. Papermaking: History and Technique of an Ancient Craft : Dard Hunter

Countries where Mina's studied:

  1. Japan : Kochi, Yoshino, Shimane-ken, Niigata, Mino, Imadate
    1. hands-on workshop
    2. visit to mill or artist studio
    3. other : apprenticeships (2 yrs in 6 different regions)
  2. Korea : near Andong (small factory that made Japanese-style paper but also had a few Korean moulds kicking around)
    1. visit to mill or artist studio
    2. other : one-week intensive learning
  3. Thailand : small town between Changmai and Bangkok that made handmade paper for hospital gowns!
    1. visit to mill or artist studio
  4. null : null

Raw materials used by Mina in Hand Papermaking:

Chemicals used by Mina for cooking fibers in Hand Papermaking:

Used Sometimes
Used Rarely

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

Used Sometimes
Used Rarely

Style of sheet forming used by Mina in Hand Papermaking:

Years teaching hand papermaking: 1989 to present

Teaching formats used by Mina:

Mina's Income Contribution from Hand Papermaking:

  1. some

Narrative:

My first contact with a noted person in the field was with Elaine Koretsky. She was giving a lecture at Cleveland's (men-only) Rowfant Club when I was a senior at Oberlin College. I was invited to attend by the director of the Oberlin College Library. Elaine and I might have been the only two women in the room. In filling out the survey, and thinking about whom i learned from most, I was tempted to write in names of artists whom I collaborated with while I was at Dieu Donné even though they were not paper artists per se. Artists such as Jane Hammond, Richard Tuttle, William Kentridge, and Mel Bochner asked us at Dieu Donné to push boundaries of what we know about making paper, and stretch the ways in which we work with the medium. Through these challenges, I learned a lot about hand papermaking.

Questions:

congratulations on launching this terrific project!