Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Combat Papermaker & Pulp Pedaling

I met Drew Cameron with the Combat Paper Project at the LA Printer's Fair a couple of weeks ago while he was doing a papermaking demo. I kept missing connecting paths with the Drews (Cameron and Matott) for the past several years. These guys have a really interesting project.

The Combat Paper Project uses papermaking workshops to assist veterans in reconciling and sharing their personal experiences as well as broadening the traditional narrative surrounding service and the military culture. Through papermaking workshops veterans use their uniforms worn in combat to create cathartic works of art. The uniforms are cut up, beaten into a pulp and formed into sheets of paper. Veterans use the transformative process of papermaking to reclaim their uniform as art and begin to embrace their experiences in the military.

Drew was demonstrating basic papermaking for folks at the printer's fair. He had the most amazing set up for beating pulp utilizing bicycle pedal power to beat the fiber.
Could this be a greenest method of energy? And it keeps you fit, how awesome!
Having a portable beater is really fabulous especially for these guys who work with veterans all over the country and travel all over the world.
The Combat Paper Project does lectures, exhibitions and workshops across the country. Check our their tour schedule and go see them in person!