Tom Bennick
paper artist
On my business cards I have the short saying - “Like life, paper is taken for granted.” The utilitarian use of paper is obvious in our daily uses. Many times paper is a throw away product such as the newspaper, old computer messages, a kleenex. The practical uses for paper are endless. At one time someone estimated that there are 14,000 uses for paper. Many artists do not realize what can be done with paper other than to cover it with watercolors, prints, etchings, charcoal and other material. In all of my classes I stress the point of what can be done “with” paper rather than what can be done “on” paper. I like the creative aspect of taking a bit of pulp and forming it into something other than a flat sheet that can be written on. I want the class to use this glob of pulp to mould, shape, sculpt, and experiment with the different fibers for different effects. Paper is the substrate of civilization. Gothenburg is credited with the spreading of knowledge around the world but how often does one think about how those words got around the world, it was with paper. My goal it to spread the word about how paper is one of the most essential substances we have both artistically and utilitarian. contact

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Phone: 208/334-2119 or 800/278-3863 Fax: 208/334-2488
Mailing address: P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0008
Street address: 2410 North Old Penitentiary Rd., Boise, ID 83712
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