FALL ‘24 in the Library: Paper Craft and Puzzling Papers

During our Fall 2024 Puzzling with Paper and Papercut Perspectives exhibitions, visitors to the Craft in America Center can browse our library selections on display. This selection features several books, periodicals, and segments on the history of origami, papercutting, and experimental directions within the world of paper-craft. 

These books nod to the winding global history of papercraft with papyrus origins dating back to ancient Egypt (2900 BCE), to the first documented paper making process in China(206 BC), through the industrial literary book arts, popularized Origami, and global papercutting movements. Paper art enthusiasts will enjoy seeing cross-cultural examples of papercut and folded storytelling. Various books on display feature tutorials on paper cutting and folding. Center guests will also gain more insight into the work of exhibiting artists, Lorraine Bubar and Erik and Martin Demain. Puzzling with Paper and Papercut Perspectives will be on display September 14, 2024-January 4, 2025.

Craft in America’s extensive craft library features over 3000 books, exhibition catalogs,and more than 2000 periodicals dedicated to the art of craft and related topics. Craft in America’s library supports the armchair learner, art researcher, public in-house browsing, and craft library questions at large.

The library is open to the public for browsing: Tuesday–Saturday, noon to 6pm. For the list of periodicals and magazines, visit our library page & stay tuned!

侯玉梅满族剪纸集 = Yumei Hou Man nationality paper-cuts (Yumei Hou, 2005)

Red papercut designs on the book cover of "Yumei Hou Man Nationality Paper-Cuts (Hou, 2005)"
Yumei Hou Man Nationality Paper-Cuts (Hou, 2005)
Greyscale ornate papercut pastoral scene and 3 photos of artist Yumei Hou with family, doing paper-cutting
Yumei Hou Man Nationality Paper-Cuts (Hou, 2005)
Red paper-cut designs showing 3 scenes of detailed dragon, tiger, monkey, plant and lantern shapes together
Yumei Hou Man Nationality Paper-Cuts (Hou, 2005)

American Craft (June/July 2017 issue) featuring Lorraine Bubar

3 colorful paper-cut designs of Lorraine bubar, showing different ecological and animal/city dwelling creatures
“Slice of the World” article on Lorraine Bubar’s paper-cutting. From American Craft Magazine (Jun/July 2017)
two scenes of city homeless-tent encampments, and people migrating on rafts amidst big ocean waves, in a repeating pattern
More of Lorraine Bubar’s large-scale paper-cut work. From American Craft Magazine (Jun/July 2017)

The Art of Papercutting (Melichson, 2009)

Book cover for "The Art of Paper Cutting" green background with an ornate paper-cut silhouette of a tree bearing fruit
Book cover for “The Art of Paper Cutting” (Melichson, 2009)
4 photos show progression of folded piece of paper with a sketch, that gradually is cut, to reveal a symmetrical plants and mirrored chickens design
Step-by-step paper-cut techniques, from “The Art of Paper Cutting” (Melichson, 2009)
papercut designs of people inside of floral designs, and 4 girls dancing in a courtyard, with various symmetry paper-cut technique notes
Paper-cut techniques, from “The Art of Paper Cutting” (Melichson, 2009)

Surface Design – Creative Explorations of Fiber and Fabric (Paper & Books, Summer 2011 issue)

Cover of different clay and fiber collage for "Surface Design Creative Exploration of Fiber and Fabric" Magazine
Surface Design magazine:Paper & Books issue (2011)
Colorful orange, blue, grey and earth tone photo of one of Larry Schulte's 'woven painted paper pieces'
On artist Larry Schulte’s ‘woven painted paper pieces.’ From Surface Design magazine:Paper & Books issue (2011)
Photos of paper-craft artisan Michael Adashie handling plants and pulp as part of the papermaking process.
Hand Paper Making in Kumasi article. From Surface Design magazine: Paper & Books issue (2011)
4 photos of 3 people wearing aprons while pressing wet plant fibers into paper-sheets with screens amidst a green plant background.
Photos of papermaking artisans, within Hand Paper Making in Kumasi article. From Surface Design magazine: Paper & Books issue (2011)

Kiff Slemmons & Arte Papel Oaxaca (Slemmons, 2012)

red, black and brown papercut beads show layered paper textures up close
Cover of rom “Kiff Slemmons & Arte Papel Oaxaca” (Slemmons, 2012)
acknowledgments page with photo of mission-style red and white building
From “Kiff Slemmons & Arte Papel Oaxaca” (Slemmons, 2012)
a windowed house/papercraft studio in the jungle
About the plants and fibers used in paper-making from “Kiff Slemmons & Arte Papel Oaxaca” (Slemmons, 2012)
Paper pressing and drying on racks outside-process
Paper pressing and drying process from “Kiff Slemmons & Arte Papel Oaxaca” (Slemmons, 2012)
Various hands cutting paper and stringing together paper cut-outs
Various techniques from “Kiff Slemmons & Arte Papel Oaxaca” (Slemmons, 2012)
paper woven bright yellow beaded necklace amidst brown paper-ridged piece.
From “Kiff Slemmons & Arte Papel Oaxaca” (Slemmons, 2012)

New Expressions in Origami Art: Masterworks from 25 Leading Paper Artists (McArthur, 2020). Featuring artworks from innovative paper artists such as (Craft in America featured) Erik and Martin Demaine, Yuko Nishimura, Tomoko Fuse, Miri Golan, Mademoiselle Maurice, and more!

small artist photos upper right corner of Erik and Martin Demaine, and centered grey origami paper sculpture
Collaborative mixed-media works of Erik Demain & Martin Demaine. From “New Expressions in Origami Art: Masterworks from 25 Leading Paper Artists” (McArthur, 2020)
five clear glass vessels hold colorful twisted origami paper sculptures within
Erik and Martin Demaine origami and glass sculptures. From “New Expressions in Origami Art: Masterworks from 25 Leading Paper Artists” (McArthur, 2020)
origami sculptures in bottom left hand corner, with a photo of smiling origami sculptor Tomoko Fuse.
Origami sculpture of Tomoko Fuse. From From “New Expressions in Origami Art: Masterworks from 25 Leading Paper Artists” (McArthur, 2020)
Wooden room with curved ceiling, with over a dozen largescale white origami sculptures scattered around the room
Tomoko Fuse’s “Infinite Origami” installations. From From “New Expressions in Origami Art: Masterworks from 25 Leading Paper Artists” (McArthur, 2020)
Large scale origami-paper folded elephant sculpture on a wooden podium, artist Sipho Mabona sits alongside it for scale.
Sipho Mabona origami installations. From “New Expressions in Origami Art: Masterworks from 25 Leading Paper Artists” (McArthur, 2020)
Large, architectural origami archway houses 2 people in traditional Kimono drinking tea together
Yuko Nishimura’s large-scale “Kami-an Origami Tea House.” From “New Expressions in Origami Art: Masterworks from 25 Leading Paper Artists” (McArthur, 2020)
Artist Mademoiselle Maurice in a city park amidst trees, setting off various origami pinwheels in the ground
Origami city installations of Mademoiselle Maurice. From “New Expressions in Origami Art: Masterworks from 25 Leading Paper Artists” (McArthur, 2020)
Older woman in pink and black stands in front of a stone wall with various rainbow origami pieces together that collectively create the borders of a star
Origami murals of Mademoiselle Maurice. From “New Expressions in Origami Art: Masterworks from 25 Leading Paper Artists” (McArthur, 2020)

Tribute to a MatheMagician (Cipra, Demaine, et. al, 2004). This collection of essays merge STEM and metaphysical connections between empirical mathematical truths, puzzles, paradox,  and paper folding/papercraft models. This collection will offer visitors insights into the creativity and playfulness found within the great mathematician-educator Martin Gardner’s puzzles and his contributions to the world of recreational mathematics.

Colorful origami and math diagrams amidst differing 3-d shapes for "Tribute to a Mathemagician"
Cover from “Tribute to a Mathemagician” (Cipbra, Demaine, et. al, 2004)
"Fold-and-cut magic" page, showing various designs, wherein a star is drawn on diagrams of paper that is folded in different ways. From Tribute to a Mathemagician book
Fold-and-cut magic. From “Tribute to a Mathemagician” (Cipbra, Demaine, et. al, 2004)
Star Pattern and block letter origami folding templates.
Star Pattern and block letter origami templates. From “Tribute to a Mathemagician” (Cipbra, Demaine, et. al, 2004)