Aimée Kligman / Victoria Paper

Above: On the Queensboro Bridge heading towards Manhattan, New York

VICTORIA PAPER UPDATE

2008 - When I joined this industry in 1978, I never imagined that I would spend thirty years of my life in pursuit of handmade paper and all of its ramifications. The journey was thrilling and became more so when I hit the "jackpot" in Viet Nam, uncovering the only handpapermaking operation North of Ha Noi. As with all markets, the paper industry changed rapidly in the last decade, and fine art began to merge with fine craft, a joining that many of us embraced and others resisted.

Events and convictions have made it evident that my passion for paper needs to step aside to make room for new passions. In fact, I have been already indulging in this new passion since March of 2007 until now, where it has begun to consume most of my waking hours. However, there have been many doors opened by Victoria Paper in this paper market, and many first acts that have been followed or imitated. Thirty years have also translated into an archive that grew into its own treasure which must now be cared for and tended to by another in our paper family.

With this in mind, I have already began dialogue with an American Institution which will take over the "Victoria Paper" story and put it in the hands of fans and visitors to the trade. When all of the files and archives have been transferred, I will have a formal announcement on this website. I am convinced that there is no better place for this material, and that our impact on the fine paper industry will be immortalized.

Until such time, Victoria Paper is doing very little direct business with a few of its best customers and is not taking on any new projects. We can still be reached by email, but have removed the mailing address from the website, as well as the telephone number. We are proud to have been part of your choice for paper for many years and thank you for your support.

Washington, D.C. has an incredible concentration of art in a very small area. No matter how many times one visits, it is hard to say that one has seen it all, as new installations appear, and special attention is given to certain themes.

A recent visit took me to the National Museum of Women in the Arts; I went with no particular purpose, other than to pay homage to the women whose talents I admired, and perhaps to find one or two new genres I could admire. I was certainly not prepared for the surprise that the entire second floor was dedicated to an exhibition on Book Arts (closed on February 4, 2007). Below, I have chosen 4 of my favorite works.

For those interested in Women in the Arts, you can receive sign up for their e-newsletter.

ART MAKING THE HEADLINES

Part of the paper passion is the discovery of interesting and unusual happenings surrounding arts. Though we have a page dedicated to "news" which is automatically fed, sometimes, I do find articles that have eluded the international headlines. So, I've created this corner to share my finds with you and hope you'll agree that some fascinate, while others educate. Either way, enjoy!

For More News on the Arts and Traveling the world, turn to our News Feed Page.

                                                                                                                                      

ABACA MARBLES

There is an exceptional characteristic of these marbles which earned them a place, not only on our home page, but in the Filipino section of our website. It is not very often that I come across marbleized papers in a cover weight. As you probably know, the majority of marbled papers on the market use a text weight Ingres - type sheet, or some other suitable text stock. The paper is thin enough and strong enough to bind, stretch and fold around corners without tearing.
In this case however, we have marbles which are thick enough to stand on their own. Additionally, they are hand marbleized on 100% pure abaca paper, which give them incredible strength and longevity. The design is simple, but elegant and the line incorporates the latest trendy colors. Gold and silver are used in the most complementary combinations. Air drying lends the papers a subtle texture; folding is quite easy. All colors seen on this page.

These 25 gsm sheets are screenprinted with some of the loveliest designs and themes you can find on the market. The Unryu is machinemade in Thailand, and is then printed with the various designs shown on this page. The selection is unusual in that it does not rely on the customary and usual. The Kanji print to the right is subtle, but decorative enough to serve as a wrapping paper, liven up a collage, or undergo "reprinting" as part of a chine collé print.
When coupled with solid colored sheets, they can serve as linings for invitations or envelopes; in book arts, they can create festive inside cover designs. Let's not forget home decor and the shoji screen. And if you still remember how to make lampshades, there is no better paper suited than printed Unryu.

I have a special weakness for Lokta paper, and that weakness is intensified when the papers are naturally dyed with earth pigments. Until recently, most earth dyed Lokta was available in toned and soft beige colors. Now, we are thrilled to see that indigo, chocolate brown, forest greens and terra cottas are coming our way. Just look at the spectrum of colors on this page.
Lokta is one of those papers that seems to satisfy any kind of artist or project. It uses one of the longest and toughest bast fibers found in Nepal from the Daphne plant. We want to caution you, however, that in recent years, because of demand exceeding supply, manufacturers have been using fillers in the sheet, rather than 100% daphne. If you notice that your sheet has a "fuzzier" than normal feeling, it may contain cotton or other extraneous materials.

What you see on the right is proof that I have way too much fun with papers. Not only do I get to see new, wonderful handmade creations from papermakers around the world, but I also have fun with my Google photo program, Picasa. It can create a collage out of anything you choose. Or if you have more time on your hands, you can pick the photos you want to appear in the collage. I now count over 17,500 photos in the program, so hand picking is out of the question.

PAPER FIT FOR A KING

Imagine if you lived in a country where the gross national product was measured in happiness? Well, such a place exists, and it's called Bhutan. Until recently, the country was practically sealed and shielded from outside influences. They produce some of the most stunning papers handmade from daphne and edgeworthia fibers. Have a look to the right, and then click on this link for more.

If you wish to receive our newsletter or our special offers for paper related products, please  fill the form below. We have also started offering web hosting packages. Just indicate your interest with the form, or send me a detailed email message.

Thank you.