Description

Join Jai and Ana for a day at Arcosanti learning to make paper from fibers of abundant native plants, invasive plants and old paper scraps. You’ll also have the opportunity to get to know the land that is home to the Arcosanti project and learn about the harvesting and processing methods of the fibers used in the paper.

• Jai is a multidisciplinary artist and approaches paper making as a closed loop, identifying this as the“large intestine” of their practice. Jai has lived in the southwest for several years, collecting and sorting their own paper waste and transforming into both 2d and 3d works of art. They have extended this process to a community ritual and educational workshop, “Recycling Center”, inviting people to bring their old notebooks, letters, and lists and transform it with intention. This feels akin to the metaphysical transmutation of unhealthy patterns with conscious awareness. Paper has historically been created with what is most abundant in a place, and so Jai comments on the abundance of paper waste within the systems and thoughts.
• Ana is the land stewardship coordinator for The Cosanti Foundation. Her work at Arcosanti revolves around building and sharing a deeper understanding and love for the ecosystems of which we are a part. She believes finding small or big ways to re-integrate the tending of natural environments into our personal and community lives has the revolutionary potential to not only restore land, but also transform culture.

About the paper making process:

We aim to bring new life to materials traditionally regarded as waste or a nuisance – we’ll mostly work with paper waste and invasive plant material. The water used will be returned to the land.

• During the workshop we’ll be working on making the covers for an Arco-Ecology publication (to be released later this year- stay tuned!). The publication will allows us to share some of the wisdom and abundance of the land that is host to Arcosanti with a wider audience. Additionally, the money raised through the publication sales will help to fund our ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts.
• Each workshop participant will be able to take some paper home.

Ecology hike:

After making paper we’ll take a walk along the Agua Fria, a mostly ephemeral river that runs through our site. We’ll learn a bit about the riparian habitat the river sustains, its inhabitants, and our efforts help care for it.

Planning your visit :

• The Arcosanti Cafe will be serving lunch from 11:30am-2pm. Workshop participants can arrive prior to the start of the workshop to purchase a lunch and enjoy our beautiful Cafe space. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.
• If you wish to stay for the ecology hike bring a water bottle and snacks. There are gas stations and dollar stores before entering site, 2 miles on a dirt road from Arcosanti.
• We’ll be sizing (finishing) the paper the following day (Sunday). Anyone staying overnight can help size and take a finished piece home. Otherwise- instructions on how to size (finish) your paper at home will be provided.
• Dispersed camping (a short walk from the parking lot) and car camping are available (prices are listed below). When registering let us know if you’ll be staying overnight. Please note that our Cafe is only open for breakfast and lunch, so you’ll have to bring, make, or go off site for dinner.

When

Saturday, May 27th 2023

Paper making: 12-4pm

Ecology hike (optional): 4:30-5:30pm

Where

Arcosanti, Arizona

13555 South Cross L Rd, Mayer AZ 86333

(We’re along the I-17: 1 hour north of Phoenix, 1.5 hours south of Flagstaff, 45 minutes from Prescott)

Workshop Cost

Sliding scale: $30-75

Optional Lodging

Camp in tent $15/person,

Camp in vehicle (under 22 feet) $30/person

Please follow camping location directions

For more information, email workshop@arcosanti.org