Our working method is discontinuous
Some of our inventory of handmade paper objects that we draw upon when composing or putting together sculptures. As you can see, we combine the paper with other materials like shaped plywood and rope.
We're sculptors who work with handmade paper. We use it to make objects that we find visually alluring, but that we seldom think of as finished works.
Instead, these objects become part of an inventory or a stash of found objects that we just happened to have made ourselves. To create our sculptures, we put the objects together with other elements, paper or otherwise (usually wood, foam board and fencing wire).
Fabricating the flowing twisting object that appears in the sculptures shown on this page. The mold is a wire-ribbed, springy HVAC ducting that is held into position with an arrangement of ropes, hooks and clamps.
The cast removed from the mold and shows off the abaca’s translucent glow from the sunlight outside.
The objects are the actors and the sculpture is the play. The objects appear and reappear in our works like a troupe of actors recasting themselves for each new production.
We divide our time in the studio between designing and crafting new paper objects and using the current ones to make sculptures and installations. If an object never seems to fit in, we’ll put it in a pile of things to be “recalled to life” (see Tale of 2 Cities) or RTL.
Damn old work and storage units!
Artworks are thus created, exhibited or at least documented. They're then disbanded and the parts recycled into new work. If the need arises and the parts are not elsewhere in use, we'll recreate an artwork.
for more on making some of our objects, see our blog especially posts about puffers (high and low shrinkage papers combined) or blowouts (using water spray on wet paper) or casting on edge (edges being copper sheet).
To see other objects made by using HVAC ducting as a mold, go to paper objects.
To see them as part of works, see some table top pieces as well as the pieces in our show We like them like that.
LandesSullivan at gmail.com
The finished paper piece is strong and springy, known between us as “boa.”
Watching my brothers' poolside stress and strain 2018 cast cotton and abaca handmade papers, plywood with pulp 60" x 60" x 18"
Mooring 2019 handmade abaca and cotton papers, bobby pins, wood, paint 8' x 9' x 3.5'