‘Pulp Culture’ celebrates paper as medium
Art is often described as “priceless.” “Not for Sale” by the artist Cat Chow, however, is associated with a specific dollar amount: $1,000.
“Not for Sale” is a floor-length gown made of 1,000 dollar bills, which were donated to Chow by 1,000 individuals. Chow shredded the bills and crafted the dress using the paper, fishing line, and glue.
Chow, who is based in Chicago, has said that the work reflects the importance that society places on money and material goods. The installation includes the names of the 1,000 donors.
“Not for Sale” is one of more than 80 different works made primarily from paper that are on display at the Morris Museum. “Pulp Culture: Paper Is the Medium” runs through Dec. 7.
The pieces are made using a variety of techniques and products, including folded paper, recycled paper, and handmade paper pulp.
One artist, Wendy Wahl, uses pages from the Encyclopedia Britannica in her work. Another, Pam Cooper, constructs three-dimensional houses from handmade paper.
Artist Erik Demaine from Halifax and his father, Martin Demaine, use creased and folded paper to create mathematically complex sculptures. They are represented in the exhibit by a piece called “Ocean Coral.”
The common thread among all the pieces is the innovative way that artists can use one of the most common objects in everyday life, according to Angela Sergonis-Melchionne, who curated “Pulp Culture.”
“Artists and galleries are always sending in proposals and portfolios, and I had started seeing a trend of some really creative things going on with using paper as the medium,” writes Sergonis-Melchionne in an email interview.
“We wanted to showcase how versatile such a simple medium could be and feature a variety of methods and techniques,” she adds.
The versatility of paper as a medium is striking, she writes. “I wanted to feature a variety of techniques, so in selecting the works I looked for objects that fit certain categories, like cut paper, folded paper, cast pulp, recycled or reused paper, and fashion.”
Sergonis-Melchionne was able to draw from several collectors and galleries in New York and New England. The exhibit was sponsored by Paterson Papers, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and its mill partner, Mohawk Paper.
The exhibition posed its challenges, notes Linda Moore, executive director of the Morris Museum. “Some of the works are incredibly delicate, and the exhibition includes both two-dimensional works and three-dimensional sculptural pieces,” Moore writes.
Sergonis-Melchionne points out one advantage, however: In general, objects made of paper tend to be lightweight, allowing for easier transportation.
“You can really create art out of anything, even something as simple as paper,” writes Sergonis-Melchionne. “You don’t always need access to special supplies or tools to create, and I hope that this inspires people.”
“Paper has been integral to the development of the human race,” she adds. “From papyrus in Egypt to the invention of paper (as we know it today) in China, paper has been used for communication, education, and self-expression.”
“I hope that people see that three-dimensional objects can emerge from flat sheets of paper, and that art can be created from anything,” she concludes. “These artists have taken the ‘everyday’ and turned it into something spectacular.”
PULP CULTURE: PAPER IS THE MEDIUM
WHAT: More than 80 innovative pieces created from paper are on display. Items include paper jewelry, sculptures of creased paper, and a floor-length dress made out of 1,000 shredded dollar bills. The exhibit is sponsored by Paterson Papers and Mohawk Papers.
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Now through December 7
WHERE: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown
TICKETS: Free for children under age 3, $7 for children ages 3 through 12 and for seniors, $10 for all others. Pay what you wish on second and third Thursday of each month from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free for museum members.
INFORMATION: 973-971-3700 or www.morrismuseum.org