Our congratulations go out to Madison Pearson, a studio major at Truman, who has received a grant to conduct research this summer.  Here is her description of her project:

Over the summer I will be making handmade paper from natural fibers. Traditionally mixed handmade paper for printmaking uses abaca, a species of banana which is used in the papermaking industry for its strong natural fibers. For many printmaking papers abaca is used as a strengthening agent in a paper blend. It is primarily grown in the Philippines, Ecuador and Costa Rica. For my research I want to replace the abaca fiber with a fiber that can be locally grown, Flax. Many handmade papers are often a medley of fibers. In my research I have chosen 3 plant-based fibers, alfalfa, kenaf, and hemp to mix with my flax base. My project will be funded by the Office of Student Research as part of their Grant in Aid of Scholarship and Research summer program.

Photo courtesy of Laura Bigger