Alyssa Casey - Estocástico - a collaboration with the Boneca de Ataúro Shown at the Fundação Oriente, Dili, 07/13/16 - 08/13/16 Pastel and thread on handmade kapok, pineapple, banana, snake plant, canna lilly, grass, corn, and recycled katupa paperThree works produced during residency with the Boneca de Ataúro, Vila Maumeta, Timor-leste - 05/18/16 - 08/13/16:Rama - 34 x 54 in.Mapa - 42 x 42 in.Lorosae

Estocástico - a collaboration with the Boneca de Ataúro

Shown at the Fundação Oriente, Dili, 07/13/16 - 08/13/16

Pastel and thread on handmade kapok, pineapple, banana, snake plant, canna lilly, grass, corn, and recycled katupa paper

Three works produced during residency with the Boneca de Ataúro, Vila Maumeta, Timor-leste - 05/18/16 - 08/13/16:

Rama - 34 x 54 in.

Mapa - 42 x 42 in.

Lorosae - 33 x 39 in.

Invited as an artist-in-residence by the women's cooperative, the Boneca de Ataúro, to teach handpapermaking and help develop new handmade paper products, I arrived on the island of Ataúro, Timor-leste, May 21st. A brief summary of our incredible time together follows, but please find details about the unfolding of our three months of working together on my blog. I send my deepest, heartfelt thanks to the women of the Boneca de Ataúro for making me feel completely at home.

Popcorn break one afternoon with manas Georgina, Leocaldia, and Katarina

Mana Katarina decorticating a pineapple leaf

Decorticated canna lilly, snake plant, and pineapple fiber Banana fiber cooking with lime over fire in a stainless steal pot

Manas Lydia and Katarina beating banana fiber in the white eucalyptus nesun Mana Lydia using a chain stitch to sew together a papermaking screen

Mana Katarina sewing the papermaking screen onto an embroidery hoop Tulle is sewn over the papermaking screen, completing the papermaking mold

Mana Lydia making one of our first sheets of paper from pineapple fiber Mana Katarina preparing to "couch" the paper, i.e. remove it from the mold

Mana Katarina with the freshly couched sheet of pineapple paper

Our first batch of paper hanging in the sun to dry, all made from pineapple fiber Manas Lydia and Katarina showing our first batch of dry paper

Mana Maturina sewing together sheets of paper to make the building blocks of Mapa

Manas Katarina and Igitza applying subtle layers with color pastel onto Lorosae

Entrance banner for our show, Estocástico, at Fundação Oriente, Dili Installation view showing paper samples, Mapa, and Lorosae

Installation view showing display of process photos, Rama, and paper samples Installation view showing paper samples and Mapa

Canna lilly leaf with canna lilly paper sample Banana leaf with paper samples showing different lengths of beating time

Mana Katarina designed different groupings of papers, and I arranged the composition Mana Katarina with samples of katupas and corresponding paper sample

Mapa, detail Proud Manas visiting our show one more time before the closing

After the opening of Estocástico, at Fundação Oriente, we returned to the Boneca and continued to develop various products from our handmade papers including jewelry, paintings, and books.

Necklace of handmade paper beads strung on jute twine Earrings of handmade paper beads and jute twine

Paintings of egg tempura using lime following the ancient technique of Bianco di San Giovanni on handmade papers

Handmade paper circle books

Handmade paper square books using snake plant and kapok base sheets with canna lilly fiber stencils and banana and palm leaf fiber accent pages

Interior of snake plant/kapok book with banana fiber accent page and drawn details Interior of snake plant/kapok book with canna lilly fiber stencil and sewn details

lysacasey@gmail.com