We left Detroit in the morning after a delightful breakfast at Avalon bakery and some other wanderings around, and headed out towards Cleveland. We stopped to see one of Matt’s friends in Kent (hi Jenn!) and then went on to the family home of my classmate Don Widmer. Don is a really amazing book and paper artist who is also entering his third/thesis year of the MFA program at Columbia College Chicago, and he invited us to stay the night at his parent’s house outside of Cleveland before we headed on to see the Morgan Paper Conservatory the next morning. Our group included myself, Matt, Don, and Don’s partner Steve.
We rolled into Cleveland proper by about noon, and, never having been to another papermaking studio before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect — but the Morgan definitely blew us away. One staff member, Lauren Sammon, gave us the grand tour of the space, explaining how everything has evolved and fits in with every other space at the Morgan.
left to right: Steve, Matt, Don, Lauren
Housed in a former machine shop, the Morgan, while already growing a little crowded, has everything a book artist could hope for (note that, as a previously industrial space, they are still working out some storage issues, so most things started covered while not in use):
from a gallery housing more handmade paper art than I’ve ever seen at once
Matt and Don in the gallery
Matt and handmade books
to a already large and growing letterpress set up
Don and Lauren with the letterpress section in the background
Steve and Matt in the letterpress section
to large indoor and outdoor papermaking spaces … and a growing kozo/fiber garden with an herb and dye garden to come!
The papermaking studio
Don and Lauren discussing paper
More papermaking vats & supplies
deckles & dyes
herb and future dye garden on the left, fiber garden on the right
growing kozo
to a workshop and class space.
Examples of upcoming workshops
it was fascinating to see how this non-profit has grown in just four years — I suspect it’s a lot farther on and a lot more well-tended than a lot of organizations at that age tend to be. The enthusiasm for the organization by the local community was also well evident — in our hour long plus tour, how the Morgan fits in, works with, and benefits from both the local and artistic community. I almost didn’t even have the chance to bring up the connections between making and community building because they kept community up time and time again simply when discussing the work being carried out there. Susan Kelley, another staff member of the Morgan, also talked to us about the center and its connection with the community, especially in relation to the area’s book and paper art festival, Octavofest. Susan also said something particularly enlightening: that no matter how down the economy is or how tough times are, art is always a way to create peace with yourself (and others).
Lauren and Susan, thank you so much for showing us around and talking to us. We had a delightful time, and we’ll definitely be back for the 2012 Dard Hunter conference that is hosted by the Morgan Conservatory.
