NELSONVILLE, OHIO, MAY 22, 2022

During the week of June 4-11, 2022, Paper Circle in Nelsonville, Ohio, will be hosting the nationally known printer and multimedia artist, Jennifer Mack-Watkins, for a paper making residency.

Ms. Mack, who is based in central New Jersey, works as a full-time artist in her Brooklyn NY studio. While in Nelsonville, she will be learning the craft of paper making at Paper Circle, whose mission is to educate the public about the creation of handmade paper. She notes, ” I am looking forward to experimenting making paper during my residency that will allow me to try new techniques to build into my printmaking practice.”

“We’re very excited and honored to have an artist of Jennifer’s stature spending time at our studio,” says Paper Circle executive director, Barbara Ery. Ery was introduced to the artist by last year’s artist-resident, Delita Martin.

Mack has been a professional artist for over 20 years, starting in 2002 with her degree from Morris Brown College in Atlanta. She has done a residency in Japan (2015) and received a grant from the Joan Mitchell Foundation, also in 2015. Ms. Mack has had her work included in curated exhibitions in NYC, Queens and Brooklyn, NY: East Orange, NJ; Hampton, VA; Miami, FL; Philadelphia, PA; and Atlanta, GA. Ms. Mack’s work explores societal conformities that isolates individuals to be confined to fit into a space. This space includes the complexities of being a woman, beauty images, relationships, body image, power, and gender roles. Images of Ms. Mack’s can be seen at http://www.mackjennifer.com/

This engagement is supported by the Arts Midwest GIG Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.

An open studio will be held on June 8^th from noon to 1pm. On June 10^th, there will be an exhibit and artist talk from 5 to 7pm. At the request of the artist, masks and proof of vaccination will be required for entry to the studio.

Paper Circle is a non-profit studio and gallery located at 35 W. Columbus Street in Nelsonville, OH. Founded by Sara Gilfert in 2002, the organization is dedicated to the creation and promotion of art using handmade paper from recycled and natural fibers. The working studio promotes public understanding through exhibits and educational programs. Its signature paper, O-Gami, is uniquely suited to origami art. Paper Circle is supported by Arts MidWest, Athens County Foundation, Athens Technical Specialists, Inc., and the Ohio Arts Council.