Have you ever wanted to work with handmade papers? This class, taught by local artist Jan Wutkowski, teaches an Asian paper sculpting technique, called Joomchi, to create unique jewelry. Joomchi is the traditional Korean method of creating textured and colored paper using Hanji (Korean mulberry paper), water, and hand processes. Many layers of Hanji are made from mulberry fiber, fused together with water, by rubbing, squeezing, and agitating with the hands, causing the fibers to tangle and adhere firmly to each other, similar to the felting process. This ‘felted’ paper product, called Joomchi, is both beautiful and strong and will be used in the class to create unique jewelry.

Paper jewelry? Yes, it is extremely tear-proof and can be stitched, painted, beaded, and cut into shapes for numerous styles. We will be making earrings, and showing examples of necklaces as another way to use Joomchi for personal adornment.

This is a class for students of all levels and is not a paper-making class. All supplies are included in cost of tuition.

About Jan Wutowski
Jan Wutowski has taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (TN), Peters Valley School of Craft (NJ), Mendocino (CA) Art Center, New Orleans Opera, Spruill Center for the Arts (GA), Southwest School of Art (TX) Brookfield Craft Center (CT), Art League School (VA), and numerous ateliers in the USA, Ireland, Australia, France, England. She has been creating Joomchi for around 8 years.

“My artistic path is a circuitous one. While I consider myself a self-taught artist, I take great inspiration from the many workshops and classes I’ve attended over several decades. I started my journey at the knees of my Grandmothers, but they would be very curious seeing how those first textile projects have changed and included media they would never have known about. Because of them I have been creating all my life.

Over the years my artistic interests have evolved and grown to include many techniques and mediums, with the vast majority of those remaining in the textiles and fibers lane. Millinery, paper crafts such as Joomchi and Momigami, eco printing, and zen stitching are a few.”—Jan Wutowski

• Date: Saturday, February 7th & Sunday, February 8th
• Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
• Location: Art in Bloom Gallery classroom
• Instructor: Jan Wutowski