Artist and papermaker Amanda Degener joined patrons of the American Craft Council Library Salon Series on March 11 for a look into contemporary bookmaking in China; Degener was instrumental in the establishment of a paper art studio at Tsing’hua University. The presentation also included a look at the work of Bridget O’Malley and James Kleiner from Cave Paper’s 2015 “Paper as Memory” exhibition as well as Degener's own work, which is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tai Chi.

Amanda Degener’s interest in hand-papermaking originated during her time as a graduate student at Yale. Degener eventually moved her studio to Minneapolis to pursue her interest in papermaking as the first artist-in-residence at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) in 1985. During her time as a resident artist at MCBA, Degener met woodblock printer Bridget O’Malley, eventually joining forces with her to begin Cave Paper in 1994.
 

The American Craft Council Library Salon Series features public conversations about craft, making, and art in the American Craft Council Library, which is located on the second floor of the historic Grain Belt Brewhouse in northeast Minneapolis.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.