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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Atlanta, GA | Posted: May 29, 2014
Museum exhibit coordinator Juan Chevere and education curator Virginia Howell traveled to Fabriano, Italy, in July to participate in the 2014 International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA) World Congress. IAPMA holds a global conference every two years to discuss and share developments in the hand papermaking field.
The conference was hosted by the Museo della Carta e Filligrana. This museum is housed in a former monastery, and provides an extensive history and continuing development of papermaking in Italy. For over a decade, the Museo della Carta e Filligrana and the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking have been “sister” museums, visiting, sharing ideas and research, and encouraging cross-cultural experiences. Fabriano was the first place in Italy to make paper, and thirteenth-century papermakers there are credited with several innovations in papermaking. One of them was the chiaroscuro watermark, or “light and shade” mark. Many beautiful examples are on view in the museum.
One of the highlights of the conference was the gala dinner held on the final night at the Marchese del Grillo. In addition to a large contingency from across the United States, there were paper makers from the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Peru, Spain, Germany, and of course Italy. Many people at the Congress were familiar with the work of the Williams museum, and had visited in the past.
At the end of the Congress, Juan participated in the post-congress tour, a four-day bus journey around the Marche, visiting numerous hand paper mills and printing studios and a Venetian mask-maker’s workshop.
Participation in the Congress provided Juan and Virginia with opportunities to meet many well-known people in the hand papermaking community. Additionally, both returned with numerous ideas for programs, exhibits, and other ways in which the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking can further develop relationships with others interested in hand papermaking.
Participation in the Congress provided Juan and Virginia with opportunities to meet many well-known people in the hand papermaking community. Additionally, both returned with numerous ideas for programs, exhibits, and other ways in which the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking can further develop relationships with others interested in hand papermaking.