Paper, fiber and string
by Frances Fisher Smith
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF APPLIED
ART
Montana State University
© Copyright by Frances Fisher Smith (1978)
Abstract:
My current work is the result of a long term interest in paper; first as surface, next as image and,
finally, as medium itself. Paper pulp provides me with a plastic, expressive and sensuous medium. I am
especially attracted Jto the way pulp looks and feels and to the way it can be manipulated.
The work in the exhibition is a type of papermaking in which the mold remains a part of the piece. I
pour the pulp over a string and rope "net" until sufficient pulp is captured and adheres to it. The
open/closed relationships within the net vary according to the amount of pulp I allow the net to retain.
Each net sheet is planned for a certain position within the layered stack with more open webs in front
and more closed in the back. The very same cellulose fibers that are uniformly interwoven in traditional
papermaking to produce a smooth, fine quality sheet of handmade paper, appear in my work to cling
precariously in an uneven and Irregular pattern. However, the textural variety in the natural state of the
pulp is an important consideration to me, and it is my intention to intuitively exploit it's inherent
character. STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO COPY
In p r e s e n t i n g t h i s
thesis
in p a r t i a l
f u l f i l l m e n t o f the re q u ir e ­
ments f o r an advanced d e g r e e a t Montana S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y ,
t h a t t h e L i b r a r y s h a l l make i t
fre e ly a vailab le fo r
I agr ee
in spection.
f u r t h e r agree t h a t p e rm is s io n f o r e x te n s iv e copying o f t h i s
thesis
f o r s c h o l a r l y p u r po s es may be g r a n t e d by my m a j o r p r o f e s s o r , o r ,
h i s a b s e n c e , by t h e - D i r e c t o r o f L i b r a r i e s . .
any c o p y i n g o r p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h i s
n o t be a l l o w e d w i t h o u t my w r i t t e n
S ignature
Date
IJ
f
f Si
I
It
in
is understood t h a t
thesis f o r fin a n c ia l
perm ission.
I
gain shall
PAPER, FIBER AND STRING
by
FRANCES FISHER SMITH
A t h e s i s s u b m itte d in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t
o f t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e d eg re e
of
MASTER OF APPLIED ART
Approved:
Ctya i r p e r s o n , G ra d u a t e Comfni t t e e
Head, M a j o r Dep art men t
Gr aduat e^Dean
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bozeman, Montana
December 1978
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
My c u r r e n t w o r k i s , t h e
firs t
r e s u l t o f a long term i n t e r e s t . i n
paper;,
as s u r f a c e , n e x t as image a n d , f i n a l I y , . as medium i t s e l f .
Paper p u l p p r o v i d e s me w i t h a p l a s t i c ,
medium.
e x p r e s s i v e and sensuous
I am e s p e c i a l l y a t t r a c t e d Jto t h e way p u l p l o o k s and f e e l s
and t o t h e way i t
can be m a n i p u l a t e d .
The w o r k i n t h e e x h i b i t i o n
i s a t y p e o f pap er ma ki ng
mold r e m a i n s a p a r t o f t h e p i e c e .
in whic h the
I pour th e pulp o v e r a s t r i n g
■ i
•
and ro p e " n e t " u n t i l
s u f f i c i e n t pulp
The o p e n / c l o s e d r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h i n
amount o f p u l p
i s c a p t u r e d and a d h e r e s t o
it.
the net vary a ccordin g to the
I a llo w the net t o r e t a i n .
Each n e t s h e e t
is p la n -
ned f o r a c e r t a i n p o s i t i o n w i t h i n , t h e l a y e r e d s t a c k w i t h more open
webs in" f r o n t and more c l o s e d
fib e rs
th a t are u n ifo rm ly
in th e back.
in terwoven
The v e r y same c e l l u l o s e
in t r a d i t i o n a l
papermaking t o
p r o d u c e a s mo ot h, f i n e q u a l i t y s h e e t o f handmade p a p e r , a p p e a r i n
my w o r k t o c l i n g
p re ca rio u sly
However , t h e t e x t u r a l
v a rie ty
an i m p o r t a n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n
tiv e ly e x p lo it
it's
i n an uneven and i r r e g u l a r p a t t e r n .
in th e n a t u r a l
t o me, and i t
inherent character.
s ta te o f the pulp
i s my i n t e n t i o n
to
is
in tu i­
rv
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MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES