Pamella O'Connor

Wind Two

Hanji paper flower lamp

“I express my love and appreciation for beautiful, ambient light by creating these flower lamps. During a two-year stay in South Korea, I discovered the ancient tradition of Hanji (handmade paper) and its multitude of applications both historically and today. I appreciate the fact that the paper I am working with is made in essentially the same way it was made 1200 years ago. I enjoy utilizing this ancient tradition in a contemporary way… I strive to have some action and emotion in each of my pieces. This piece was to create the feeling of the flowers being blown by the wind. But they are holding their own! It is a short story in one image."

— Pamella O'Connor

About the artist

Pamella O'Connor

American

I spent 30 years of my professional life as a theater artist. Over the course of that career I acted, directed and produced traditional as well as puppet theater. My move to Asheville, NC was precipitated by my desire to be a self-generating artist, creating my own work and stories through puppetry. My performances were seen at The Kennedy Center, Duke University, The Center for Puppetry Arts, UCLA, Dartmouth and many more.

The financial debacle of 2008 seriously affected grant giving and presenters' budgets, and I decided to take a break from that work and accepted a teaching job in South Korea. While there, I fell in love with their handmade paper and one particular application - flower lamps. I sought out a Master of this craft and studied with her for 9 months.

Upon returning to the States, my work was accepted into the New Morning Gallery, Asheville, the Wickwire Gallery, Hendersonville, and Seven Sisters Gallery, Black Mountain. In 2012, I received a Merit Award and Emerging Artist grant to attend the Buyer's Market of American Craft in Philadelphia. Twenty five galleries placed orders while there and Hanji Home was launched nationwide.

My craft is very labor intensive and establishing a studio/gallery in the River Arts District of Asheville allowed me to slowly let go of most of the gallery work and sell directly to the art consumer. I have been in the River Arts District for 13 years. My work is shown there and at the Grovewood Gallery.