Foraged seaweeds are laminated between transparent pulp sheets during the wet hand papermaking process. They are pressed and dried together, resulting in an extraordinarily detailed preservation of the aquatic species, layered within a natural, organic, tactile, imperfect, handmade paper complete with authentic, feathery 'deckled edges.'
This is an ongoing series that started as an innovative identification method while exploring invasive and indicator aquatic plant and algae species for paper fiber in Rhode Island waterways.
These were collected from Moonstone Beach in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The seaweed species to the best of my knowledge are stringy acid kelp (Desmarestia viridis), rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum), and red seaweed (Heterosiphonia japonica).
My artwork acts as witness to poignant evidence of human activity, while celebrating the beauty found in natural forms.