New work

I am very excited to announce that I will have three new pieces, in addition to a set of prints from my thesis, showing at the Abecedarian Gallery in Denver, Colorado.

Modest x 4: Han, Kowynia, Paulson, & Voss
Abecedarian Gallery
Denver, CO
November 1 - December 14, 2013
Opening Reception: Friday, November 1st, 6 - 8 pm

Here is a small preview of the new works! 

two thousand light-years away

in the forever cold a dying star

I'm greatly looking forward to attending the opening reception and meeting the other artists. If you're in the Denver area please come and view the show! 

Never Contented Things

Just writing to share that I am having a paper jewelry sale, with the goal of raising money to afford materials to begin producing jewelry again. 

Here's some background, from the profile description for the Etsy store:

Never Contented Things was created in 2009 by Erin (yours truly) and Zoë, best friends and former roommates from Chicago, based on designs found in some of my fine art work. At the time it was a side business for both of us artists, who met while we were earning BFAs in photography from Columbia College Chicago. 

In 2010 I began graduate school to earn my MFA, and ultimately moved to Philadelphia to earn an MFA in Book Arts and Printmaking from the University of the Arts, forcing the company to go on hiatus. Zoë stayed in Chicago where she works as a photographer for an auction house, and still creates her own artwork (often printmaking). We miss each other terribly. Be sure to take a look at her fabulous photography, which can be found on her website.

in May of 2013 I graduated with my MFA, and am now excited to return to Never Contented Things as a solo venture, joining the wonderful craft community here in Philadelphia. 

Never Contented Things consists of handmade works, predominantly paper jewelry. Some of the aesthetic is shared with my own fine art work. I am willing to do custom work, so if you like the work but don't find what you're looking for, let me know! 

Also, please follow the Never Contented Things blog. Don't forget to look at Zoë's amazing artwork and drop her a line as well! 

Below is a photo of my beautiful sister Shannon from her wedding, showing the custom hairpiece I made for her.

Thesis and after...

This post is well overdue; my apologies!

Below are some images from my thesis show at Rosenwald Wolf Gallery at the University of the Arts. The closing reception was April 26th, and we had an excellent turnout (thanks again, everyone!). My friends and classmates Karen Hardy and Sarah Hulsey were in the gallery with me (be sure to check out their work, it is amazing). Below are some photos taken during the opening; unless otherwise stated, the photos are by my classmate Mou Zhu. 

 Callie looking at one of Karen's books.

Behind these 11 ft. tall black felt curtains, installed with the help of gallery exhibition coordinator Michael Ciervo, were my animations.

A group in conversation. Sarah's work is on the left and Karen's on the right.

My friends Erin and Allen looking at one of Karen's amazing paper pieces.

Me talking with Meghann Hickson in front of some of Karen's work. 

Photo by Aubrey DiDonato. 

Sarah, Karen, and I standing in front of my light boxes and one of my pressure prints. 

This photo by Karen's mom.

Below are some installation images.  

I took these.

...and now, I have graduated, school is done, and I am back in reality. Fortunately I am also back working part-time at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, as a conservation technician, and I couldn't be happier about this! Philly, and the wonderful people I have met so far in it, have been wonderful to me.

animations

As my thesis show came down today, I figured it was time to share my thesis animations online! You may find them on my website. Let me know what you think.

Thanks to all of my friends, family, classmates, faculty, and my wonderful thesis committee. Couldn't have done it without you.

Some photos from the thesis exhibition to come soon. 

platen press workshop

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking a platen press workshop with Philadelphia artist Donna Globus. I had never printed on a platen press before, and it was a lot of fun! The workshop yielded roughly 100 business cards - it was a 2 color, 2-up process, with hand-set type. The fonts were Goudy Openface and Baskerville.

Thanks to Donna I finally have a hand-printed business card, and not a moment too soon. The platen press requires a lot of hand-eye coordination, and with both hands. Yet another time when I was grateful for my skills driving a stick shift; it really wasn't too different!
(also, please excuse my quick images... I just shot these really fast at my work bench.)

Pressure prints: the plate

These are a few images of the paper I have been using for my pressure plate to make the prints for Once the wondrous vastness filled us (Comet of Coggia, 1874). The paper is handmade kozo from Jang Ji Bang outside Seoul, South Korea. You can see the transition in the embroidery over time - growing as the image is embroidered, and vanishing as I cut the embroidery away. Also notice the crease that has formed in the paper, due to the impact from the pressure of the Vandercook.

 I am happy to report that yesterday I finally finished printing the pressure prints for this project! I don't know the exact count yet, but I have something like 500 pressure prints for the two animations. Also we will have the postcards for our thesis shows soon; if you'd like me to mail you one, email me your address at epaulson.photo@gmail.com .

Once the wondrous vastness filled us

A still from Once the wondrous vastness filled us (Comet of Coggia, 1874)

From part one of my thesis animation. Getting closer!