Plant-Based Papermaking Family Workshop

August, late summer, drying, blooming high-growth plants. What can we do with them? Join us for a family workshop during which we will make paper from hay and straw.

The workshop is not only a meeting with traditional handicraft, but also a sensory experience. Each step of the papermaking process engages different senses, allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in this creative and relaxing activity.

The process of papermaking begins with the preparation of hay and straw pulp. The participants will have an opportunity to feel the raw texture of these materials and their subsequent transformation into a soft, moist mass. They will be able to see how the colour and texture of the materials change, as well as how the first sheets of paper are made. Touch is the key element of this stage, as each participant will scoop paper with their own hands. The sounds accompanying the papermaking process, such as the rustling of hay and straw and gentle sloshing of the pulp, create a relaxing atmosphere. It will be enhanced by the aromas of hay and straw evoking memories of summer days spent in the countryside.

The workshop inspires reflection and conversations on the transformation of nature, sustainability, highlighting the value of recycling, circulation of matter and the use of natural, renewable resources.

At the end of the workshop, the participants will walk away not only with the knowledge and new skills, but also with their handmade sheets of paper.

Practical Information

The event is part of the public programme Progress and Seasons that aims to reflect on strategies for living in times of climate crisis. During a variety of meetings, we will collectively practice adaptation to a reality in which variability is a fundamental feature of seasons. 

About the tutor:

MAJA DOKUDOWICZ – graduate of Graphic Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław and of Cultural Studies at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań; student of interdisciplinary doctoral studies at Wrocław’s Academy; winner of the Rector’s grant for best students and Mayor of Wrocław’s art scholarship. She makes monumental prints, small graphic forms and artistic books. She co-founded the Misprint studio, where unique books and handmade papers are created, and where you can take part in workshops on bookbinding and traditional printing techniques. 

Subsidised by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the special-purpose state Promotion of Culture Fund.