Tom Bennick artist statement: 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.
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