Cornelius, OR

Washi Shifu

Several years ago I took a class at PBI, spinning and weaving kozo paper into cloth. The use of paper in this manner intrigued me. It was some time later that I learned weaving paper for cloth is an ancient Japanese art called Shifu that is rarely practiced anymore. This demonstration book was created to define and exhibit the art of Shifu using Japanese paper.

Kozo paper, spun, woven and dyed with walnut ink; Fabriano Artistico paper in a modified concertina structure. 9 pages. 3.75 x 5.375 x 0.5 inches. 2011. Unique.

NFS

Artist Biography

Laurie Weiss began working in book arts over twenty years ago, while employed full time in the high tech industry. Calligraphy was a way to focus and wind down after hectic days.  A first foray into binding books in 1991 through a workshop with Sandy Tilcock, a book artist working out of Eugene OR, started her looking for opportunities to further her knowledge and understanding of the principles and methods for binding books. No longer working in high tech, Laurie sells journals at various events around the Portland area, works on commission to create family treasures, and creates artist books to meld the craft with a story.
Laurie is also the director of the biennial Focus on Book Arts, a 5-day event encompassing eight concurrent workshops per day (150-250 hours), a keynote address, trade show, artists’ shop, exhibit, and evening receptions. The conference is held in Forest Grove OR and draws 125 to 175 people from around the world. She has been its director since 2004.