The Paper Boat Projects:

In 2021, as Covid forced us to stay at home, I had a difficult time focusing in my studio. I needed to create a project that would engage me and keep my mind and hands at work. I needed a challenge. I decided to focus on an idea that I had for quite some time. I would figure out how to make paper boats. After all, for a number of years the boat form had been moving in and out of my work. The problem solving would keep me engaged.

As part of the project I would plan a boat launch as soon as the virus dissipated. I would bring friends and family together and release the boats in a body of water. Friends and family brought together after being apart for so long.

The boats are made of many layers of torn paper shaped over a wooden form. I use water soaked paper and glue collaged together to create the shell of the boat. The forms are made with both butcher paper (opaque) and Japanese Kozo paper (translucent). The boats are varnished and trimmed with linen twine.

Recently the day came when the threat of Covid had dropped a bit. The first Paper Boat Projects release took place in April 2022 Earth Day weekend. I released the boats on a local farm pond with friends and family around celebrating the day. The quiet drift of the paper boats was good medicine for all of us.