2/28/07 Comissioned Artwork
Today I am delivering an 8″ X 10″ canvas to the City of Kalamazoo / Sister City/ Numuzu Committee. They commissioned a handmade paper and canvas piece with a ghinko leaf design. They specifically wanted me to use City of Kalamazoo trees for the symbolism involved.
The interest in my work stems from the Japanease cultures revereance for handmade paper. The Japanese have a very early and long tradition of hand papermaking. I have also made several sales previously of handmade papers, and handpainted tissues papers to persons traveling to Japan. One woman bought 12 packets of tissue papers to give as “house gifts.” She said she wrapped them inside of her clothing and said that they were so lightweight and flexible that she easily stayed within the weight restrictions.
The ”Sister City” committee criteria included;
- The final cost to stay under $200.00
- Utilize a canvas small enough that it can be packed in a suitcase for travel
- Use the City of Kalamazoo tree leaves (for the symbolism involved)
- Created with artist-made, handmade papers
Actually, I created three similar canvas pieces and am allowing them to choose the one they like. Hopefully that will give them enough laditude to make them happy and satisfied.
I would have preferred to make a 12″ X 28″ piece as I think it would have been more visually interesting but I did need to meet their size specifications.
I feel that it will be quite a “feather in my cap” to have work in the collection of the City of Numuzu, Japan!
My only regret was due to the short timeline I did not get professional quality photographs of the artwork taken.
