5 Contemporary Sculptural TechniquesTraditional papermaking is form of «casting, The flat, rectangular shapes formed on the mold are usually bound in books or covered with an image. But the Papermaker’s craft and materials offer today’s artists fertile ground for ex pPerimentation. Fach pulp has its own in- herent texture, color, and transparency, Which can be used as is or pigmented or dyed. Sizing and adhesives can be added to change further its character. Its alle able nature makes ita much soughteatter material With some water removed, pulp ean bbe manipulated by hand much like clay Found objects can act as armatures to Support the image or can be addled for texture. The wet pulp ean be formed in ‘and easily removed from conventional Plaster or rubber molds. It can be sprayed from modified air guns, and shaped molds can be dipped into a vat of Pulp to form thin translucent, three-i- ‘mensional objects Many artists have invented new ‘methods and equipment for working With the materials to express their ideas ‘These inventions and the contemporary paper act object itself will undoubtediy stand as our contribution to paper's ever-expanding history Hand Manipulation Hand manipulation is simple, inexpen sive, and quick in comparison with more traditional papermaking techniques. It can be used to create large forms or sheets since traditional molds are not re ured. A beaten pulp can be strained to Femove excess water and handled much 4s clay is handled. It ean be pushed into Lin Fife apes ctored pulp oars oft forms or around them. Different colored nage of her piece Interrupted Carpe, (ea lps can be lad next to each other to. shot wor in calor scion.) ‘reate imagery viewable from both the front and the back. If viewing from only fone side is intended, additional layers of Palp can be used to enclose an armature or hanging device or to create additional thickness and bulk Contemprery Sutra Tchriqus 1‘The fibers inthis procedure do not in terweave as they would ina traditional, vvatformed sheet. Although the sheer balk of the work may hold it together, binders (methylcellulose or other high- grade archival adhesives) are generally added to the wet pulp to give the work added or necessary strength. On some thin pieces, the back of the work can be coated with gesso for additional strength, The drying time for thick pieces can be reduced by pressing them with Felt can sponges to remove excess wat be pressed on fat pieces to smooth the surface. Ifthe work is flat but too large fora conventional press, improvised presses can be made using building blocks as weights. fan and heat lamp will speed drying As this kind of work dries, it may be ‘ome distorted, but this effect can be ‘minimized by using a love shrinkage Palp such as cotton linter or abaca or by adding a filer such as clay, The work should be dried slowly and evenly and ‘may be weighted in areas as it dries When wor certain precautions need to be taken. AS the water evaporates from the work, any dissolved materials in the pulp will be carried with itand deposited on the high spots ofthe casting. This contamination appears as brown stains, It can be elimi nated by filtering the water system. If the water is filtered and stains stil ap pear, the contamination may come from atmospheric particles, pigments, or the leaching of color from a wooden form or element in the work itself. This ean be ‘minimized by sealing all wood with polyurethane or Thompson's Water Sealer and by using strainers, storage buckets, fasteners, and screens made only of noncorrosive materials such as Plastic, aluminum, oF brass Jing in such a free method, temporary Sculpt Tel With some of the ater neon, Dai Mere is coton pulp 1 peste gi overt wil pls wind sero uth ofthese rate oe roy. Iumberars. (The pst grids used es dif son gating for Reoresent ighig fsteres | Ths les rest a a support fre hat aon i is the deainage of tops beneath he ork Ths ere ps To cones ofthe fame hve be hinged. The the eo ve jon ith ah ad eve ‘The mol has ny disassembled een sect forming i completed. The some ml can Be sed Inmedity fr the not sie. hand oon fame 00 saa ate 1p tapped the rl A smoot sur face wel orm om ke sid in sont withthe Th tp side cam be manipulate or ded A large fan suse to pod drying. By using a lowsrinkage pu Intra at, these sects weil ary la ih ie dsorton,