McLaughlin, Julie (USA)
Sprout
highly commended
Julie was a first time finalist in Paper on Skin™ 2024, but had previously exhibited in Paper on Skin’s sister project – Paper off Skin – in 2022.
Julie is an experienced papermaker, but rarely leaves the sheets she makes in a two-dimensional form. Her Artist’s Statement explains: “Once I discovered the sculptural potential of handmade paper and discounted the notion that it was fragile and weak my artistic world expanded in a wonderous way. I spent many years working as a costume designer in a professional theatre where designs came from the collaboration of the production team. I now feel I collaborate with the fiber and the papers made from these fibers as I work on each piece. The sheets I make for my wearable garments are all made from Kozo which is the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree. These sheets are thin, yet strong and fluid, much like a woven textile. Interesting surface textures are created using various dye, felting, drying and stitching techniques. The conversations I have with the paper during these processes provide the impetus for my work. I enjoy this dialogue as I am working with each sheet (whether wet or dry) and how it connects with a structural form.
This garment is inspired by growth, a vintage Vogue pattern and design works by Tomoko Nakamichi.
A previous garment I made for the Hanji Paper Festival was designed using this Vogue pattern as inspiration. It is perfect for a show of this type as it can be easily put on and adjusted for several different model sizes.
The title of this garment Sprout and the design concept comes from my years of gardening, hiking and trying to be one with Mother Earth.
Kozo fibres have long been my choice when I am working on wearable garments. With Kozo I can create large sheets that are thin and easily manipulated to emulate a woven textile. For this piece, I have chosen to dye my papers, collage and felt them to a base sheet using Joomchi techniques. This allows me to add texture and manipulate the paper as I work on the garment. It also adds strength to the finished piece. Kozo lace and Kami-ito (spun paper) will also be incorporated into the final piece. …surface textures are created using various dye, felting, drying and stitching techniques.”
See the Work on Film
Photos Credit: Grant Wells Photo