Hunterdon Art Museum

Hunterdon Art Museum Member Highlight

The Paper Boat Projects

7 Lower Center St. Clinton, NJ 08809

March 11-April 30, 2023

OPENING RECEPTION AND ARTIST TALK (2nd floor)

Saturday March 11, 2PM-4PM

The Paper Boat Projects story:

​The last three years have been interesting to say the least. At the beginning of 2021 I worked to find a way to maintain a focus in my studio as chaos clamored and the virus forced us into a shelter-in-place mode. With so much uncertainty, I needed an element in my practice that would engage me and keep my mind and hands working.

​I decided to create boats made from paper. For several years, the boat form had been moving in and out of my visual vernacular. I planned to keep making boats until I was able to create a public launch when the virus had dissipated and I could bring friends and family together..

​The boats were made using both craft paper and collage (opaque) and Japanese Kozo paper (translucent). They are varnished to make them waterproof and trimmed with linen twine.

​The first of the Paper Boat Projects took place in April 2022 on Earth Day weekend. I released the boats on Angele and Brant Switzler's farm pond in Stockton NJ with friends and family around to celebrate the day.

​Being together and the quiet drift of the paper boats was good medicine for all of us.

The Paper Boat Projects installation will be on view at the Hunterdon Museum of Art March 30 - April 30, 2023. The opening reception is on March 11, 2pm-4pm with an artist talk w/Q&A in the River Gallery (2nd floor)

​​Liz Mitchell

2023

Lead Us Not into Temptation, Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton, NJ

In September, 2021 my work was included in the member exhibition at the Hunterdon Art Museum. Lead Us Not Into Temptation is a paper sculpture installation that speaks to the thousands of children sexually abused by the clergy and laity within organized religion. Three hair shirt made from hand sewn and printed Japanese Kozo paper have been waxed and threaded, knotted with horse hair. Hair shirts were worn by religious ascetics as a way to create physical pain to remind them of their religious commitment and for acts of contrition. In this case the hair is worn to the outside of the shirt antithetical to the original intent and a costume of pretense. This piece was selected by juror Kristen Owens for the Hunterdon Art Museum Solo Show Award. My solo show will take place in the spring of 2023 in the River Gallery at the Hunterdon Museum of Art.

Liz Mitchell, Lead Us Not into Temptation, Hunterdon Art Museum recipient of the 2023 Solo Show Award.

Influences Nippones, Moulin du Got Paper Mill, St. Leonard de Noblat, France

In March 2020 I participated in Influences Nippones, du kimono au manga, une culture du paper at the Moulin du Got Paper Mill in St. Leonard du Noblat, France. I was able to travel to the paper mill with my husband and install the work. There was a fabulous opening reception on March 13 (my birthday) followed by a shared dinner with all of the artists who were able to attend. The very next day the paper mill closed due to the pandemic. They have since reopened. The exhibition will remain ongoing through the end of 2021.

The Butterfly Kimono, Moulin du Got Paper Mill, St. Leonard de Noblat, France