silk-storied

New works in progress! I’ve been hard at work during my fellowship at Dieu Donne. I feel incredibly lucky to have access to a high end papermaking facility and to be working alongside master papermakers and guest artists! In this exploration, I continue to use the language/structure of the multi-tiered, elongated palm leaf manuscript. Here,

lace like water

Lace Like Water I, 2019, Cyanotype on artist-made Thai mulberry paper, 55”x45” UPDATE! This work has been acquired by the Yuko Nii Foundation and is part of the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center’s Permanent Collection I made this paper by boiling Thai mulberry fiber, pounding it with mallets, and drying it on a screen in

bones to skin

The latest studio babies were born in spontaneity and joy! I found some bramble scraps on my way to making paper and I decided to experiment with them as armatures. As a papermaker, what is unique to the process is that beaten pulps have a short shelf life. There is a limited window of time

root to rise

So much gratitude for teachers that have planted seeds, provided encouragement, asked complex questions and shown interest artists, weirdos, outliers, misfits, wallflowers, wild cards communities that help with feeling seen and heard studio space & studio practice friends and neighbors that come to shows and stay connected discovering the magic of one’s own hidden mysteries,

pale pink papermaking

My latest joy in the studio has been making paper with a new handmade sugeta mould. The mould consists of 2 parts – an interior flexible bamboo-splint mat, and an exterior framework which houses it. My main goal is creating consistent sheets – in color, texture and weight. I aim to make a good number

clouds in a sheet of paper

As one of the simplest forms of human technology, it could be argued that paper has had the most impact on the proliferation and preservation of knowledge worldwide. When I work with paper as a medium and/or as a support, some of the questions that provoke my research are: How do paper and books operate within social,

Homage to the Ancients

A Place to Rest One’s Palms, 2019 Cyanotype on handmade paper from Thai Kozo (mulberry), Mitsumata, Philippine Gampi, Soapnut natural dye, Handmade rope and covers from Thai Kozo Dimensions variable (can be open or closed as a folded book) when open 88 in. x 42 in. x 1.5 in. The sewn structure is based on

All Things Inter-are

If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there will be no rain; without rain, the trees cannot grow: and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If the cloud is not

the book as sculpture

In Signatures, Version II, no text is present, there are no discernible pictures. It is the pure form and gesture of the earthen material to be read, which echo signs of human touch, providing textural information, and having a memory of its own. Each signature has unique punctures along its spine, traces of its disembodiment.

paper sculpture

an open book

These pieces were recently exhibited at City Hall in celebration of Women’s History Month. Book pages are selected poetry by women from Immortal Poems of the English Language.

elevate / emanate

As I did laundry tonight, one of my neighbors sang. He had to share with me his story about singing in church and how powerful it was today, and how moved he was. And so, I imagine myself here, at the Church of Saint Riquier in Northern France, listening to his song, and gazing up at

understated impressions

Subtle and sketchy swatches of terrain by May Babcock explore the psychology of place. Refreshing approaches to print and papermaking.

new work

A couple of my new handmade paper pieces are in a group show @ Woolpunk Studios in Jersey City. Check it out!

gangly

What does one do while hiding indoors from a hurricane? Dip wire forms into flax! Hang them to dry in the shower! My army of gangly monsters is growing…

basket sculpture #1

My time at WSW was incredibly productive and restorative. The community of artists, instructors, staff and interns were all insightful and warm. Amazing things go on at WSW! I was honored to have Kirstin Demer, a handpapermaker and bookbinder, as my instructor. I learned how to make paper from abaca, flax and thai kozo. Exploring

escape

This week I am preparing for my escape into the woods. I was awarded a class scholarship at Women’s Studio Workshop in upstate NY.  So I will spend a week living in a tent and biking back and forth to my Sculptural Papermaking class!! Should be a good time unless I get eaten by wild