The paper making process is a long one, as it starts in the fall with the gathering of the native grasses. All of the details would be a little long for our purposes but let's just say there is a lot of curiosity around
the neighborhood as huge kettles are boiling at all hours of the night throughout the winter.
After the boiling
process is completed, the grasses are put through large blenders cutting them into even smaller pieces and then mixed in water vats and pulled up on wooden screens. The grass mixture is then removed from the screens
and placed on felt pads to be taken to Mr. Downes' handmade paper
press. This process extracts the water and compresses the mixture
into smooth sheets which are then hung to dry. Finally, the paper
is ready for the painting of ancient symbols and patterns which add
a touch of realism to the piece.
Along with
the paints used for these research pieces, which are actually made
from plants grown by the artist, and the beautiful hand made frames
these pieces represent the artistry and spirit of the Native American history.
