Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Current News and theThe Best of Our Past Decade--We are happening again!

Dear Paper Lovers and Friends of Khandroling Papers, 

We are now functioning independently from the Dzogchen Community with the primary mission of continuing in our Sacred paper commitment after an absence of a  number of years due to personal health and Covid restrictions.

These papers are made with the permission of Choegyal Namkhai Norbu as an alternative to burning text fragments in the Tibetan lineages. I was also inspired by the Jewish tradition of storing scraps of the Torah in a special room--genizah, also spelled geniza (Hebrew: “hiding place”), plural genizot, genizoth, or genizahs, in Judaism, a repository for timeworn sacred manuscripts and ritual objects, generally located in the attic or cellar of a synagogue.

Over the years we began to add sacred substances to our burnable texts  including the following amazing gifts from Choegyal Namkhai Norbu, Lama Wangdor via Barbara and Woody Paprazzo, Lama Tsultrim Allione, Constance Wilkinson, Dr, Trogawa Rinpoche, my self and others.  

Substances included: COMING SOON!

A number of projects  emerged from the Sacred papermaking process including mantra pendants, Unique prayer wheels, Calligraphic inspired painting, wood block prints and inspired uses in the works.

Some of our Highlights from 2012-2019:

Milan Rei - onsite Butterfly installation--Nepali Peace activist

Tashi Mannox - Tibetan Calligraphy course with foremost Western Calligrapher

Nepali and other Asian Papermaking techniques with Sheryl Jaffee
 
250th Conway Anniversary Lotus Project with Brenda Lilly
 
Kinder School Residency with Khandroling Team with Amanda Pollock
 
2014 Tsegyalgar East Anniversary
 
 
More to come about our winter production work.....
 
Much appreciation for your past support--Jacqueline 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Forthcoming Summer of 2012


Japanese Kozo in various forms after handbeating

Although absent from the Khandroling (Land of the Dakinis) Paper Cooperative after a successful bout with chemo and a Covid 19 lockdown, I am looking forward to renew my interest in  low-tech paper making this summer --especially as it relates to traditional forms of hand made paper indigenous to Tibetan and other world cultures. 

The former Khandroling Paper Cooperative remains under the direction of the Dzogchen Community of America, founded by Tibetan master Choegyal Namkhai Norbu. For further information contact Amanda Pollock, the present director at amandamaze13@gmail.com and the new website at www.khandrolingpapercooperative.org

While retired and living in public senior housing in Shelburne Falls, MA,  I enjoy poetry, calligraphy and looking forward to making paper again for various projects during the warmer months. 

To be continued as soon as my 2nd vaccine is safe....


Jacqueline Gens, ex officio founder 2012-2019




Monday, January 14, 2019

Sacred Paper for Mantra Pendants


Our newest project -- Nick B. commissioned KPC to make blue  paper containing sacred substances to produce these gorgeous Mantra pendants. We will continue to experiment. 



Best Wishes for New Year



YEAR OF THE FEMALE EARTH PIG

My darling Earth Pig
I bow to your 
beneficent bounty
Amid toils of duty and servitude
To further your brood 
In all that need manifest 
As we sow the seed of generosity
Its fecund curve of elegant hoof
And flow of  nurturance
Sustains multitudes
Lady of the Spheres your grunt 
nuzzles to earth amid lofty intents
as you burrow deep your cosmic purpose
none other than sublime awakening
from ignorance at every moment

Poem by Jacqueline Gens in collaboration 
with visionary artist Ingmar Pema Dechen, 2019

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Interview with Sheryl Jaffe in the Mirror


Sheryl on Upper Khandroling during Summer 2017 Retreat


Recently Naomi Zeitz interviewed Sheryl Jaffe, a founding member of Khandroling Paper Cooperative in the international newspaper of  the Dzogchen Community, The Mirror



Sheryl's joyful presence as our lead faculty and artist member has graced our many events since our inception in 2012. 




Sunday, October 21, 2018

November 2018 Holiday Papermaking Workshops


Amanda and Madeline in the studio. Photo by Jacqueline Gens

Khandroling Paper Cooperative will will offer Holiday cardmaking with handmade paper on the following Saturdays in November:

November 3
November 10
November 17
November 24


Paper-making for Holiday Cards and Gifts
Khandroling Paper Cooperative (KPC)


Dates: Every Saturday in November
Time: 2:00pm-5:00pm
Fee: $20 Suggested Donation

Location: Basement of the Yellow Schoolhouse, Tsegyalgar East, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Conway, MA
For questions contact Amanda at: amandamaze13@gmail.com



Friday, May 18, 2018

Summer 2018 Papermaking Events



Work on Hand made paper by Naomi Zeitz, 2018

Greetings from Khandroling Paper Cooperative, now in our 7th year of operation at Tsegyalgar East, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Conway, MA 01370.


Since our last post here in February 2018 ( about our duo Sheryl Jaffee and Brenda Lilly's Lantern Workshop)  Amanda and Madeline each held workshops for special interest groups.



Some of our origami Lanterns inspired by Brenda Lilly


Madeline (left) and Amanda cleaning the studio

In April while I was on a writers retreat with KPC member Ingmar Pema Dechen in Mississippi to work on our 60 Losar poetry/illustration collaboration, Madeline led a workshop for the dynamic local artist and writers group Exploded View.

You can read about them here

Greenfield Recorder article here.

Trish Crapo one of the members of Exploded View wrote a long article on the paper cooperative at Tsegyalgar East during our Japanese Binding workshop two years ago. At that time we talked about making paper from ephemera such as old love letters.  On a chilly day this April Trish initiated her writing group to do a session of papermaking for projects they create fro their forthcoming fall exhibit at the Great Falls Discovery Center in September 2018. Madeline will also participate in leading a papermaking workshop open to the public. The Great Falls Discovery center is a jewel of a venue in our region. 

Here are a few pictures of the ladies from Exploded View at work:





From making pulp to pressing and drying finished papers
We do everything low tech

NEW Packers Corner 50th Anniversary in Guilford, VT

This summer we will participate in the 50th Anniversary of Packers Corner Farm in Guilford, VT where I lived from 1976-1982 before heading out to Naropa Institute (now University) to study Tibetan Buddhism.  In the early 1990's, The "Farm" hosted many of us from Tara Mandala attending Chogyal Namkhai Norbu retreats at Tsegyalgar.   One year in 1994 we all took the Base SMS exam, the first at Tsegyalgar. The farm served as refuge for many of us. While there I attended the Ada Comstock Scholars program at Smith College in its early years.


View from top of the old peach Orchard 
towards the farm


The full schedule of the 50th Anniversary is here.


Our papermaking session will begin at 1:30 PM on Saturday, June 23, 2018
but we will be there from late morning thru evening. A private event, participants arriving from all over the country will walk away with a portfolio of fine papers for calligraphy, painting, collage and lantern making.  Led by Madeline, Sheryl and Amanda. I'll be there too with the aim of  making paper lanterns.


Amanda Pollock will lead the 3rd Annual Khandroling Retreat Papermaking and Calligraphy workshop  from Saturday, July 21 - Sunday, July 29, 2018.  Full description forthcoming.


Works from last Summer's Khandroling retreat
using sacred substances led by Sheryl


Shelburne Falls 250th Anniversary -June 23/24, 2018

Details TBA. KPC was gifted a thousand origami cranes so these will be distributed to the public and a paper demo scheduled.  

Highland Village Day of the Dead Installation -October 31, 2018

Come join us at Beautiful Highland Village Public Housing in Shelburne Falls (my home) to view a traditional Day of the Dead shrine created by residents for departed family, friends, and pets. Refreshments provided.


KPC Studio Day of the Dead Shrine, 2016
in the basement of Tsegyalgar East

Every week some of us make art which requires concentration and the great joy of stepping out of one's usual mental ruminations and worries. These days I am working on creating "Talking Sticks," a native American tradition for residents to use at their meetings as a conduit for deep listening. 

Future Workshops in the at Khandroling Paper Cooperative in the works--
  • A Workshop in printing slogans and posters on our etching press
  • More Mindful Origami
  • Adventures in Collage and Paper weaving
In some sense all art-making is stealing from the sacred source. To make amends we share our art in a spirit of generosity to benefit others and in good cheer to promote well-being. Come visit us! If you woudl like us to host an event for your group, contact Jacqueline at jacqueline.gens@gmail.com or call 413-522-1125.





















Saturday, February 24, 2018

The Zen of Papermaking

My friend Claudia sent me Pat's poem about papermaking. Patricia Donegan is known for her Haiku. I first met her at Naropa Institute (now University) in the early 1980's.

Her poem here is evocative of how we approach the art of hand made paper at Khandroling Papermaking Cooperative and the magic of transformation with the ultimate goal of first stroke which reflects our mind. Here below the famous enzo. 








Threads

The zen monk
took his worn out robe
made it into a shirt to hoe peas

when it wore out, he made a hat
        to keep his bald head warm
the hat wore out, he Made a pouch
        for his calligraphy brush
when it wore out, he used it for a rag
        to wipe the floors of the temple
the rag wore out, he tore it into strips
        of cloth to bind a book of haiku
when it wore out, he cut it into a tiny
        button for his robe.

Can I be a Zen monk?
take Vanderbilt bluejeans, Halston caftans,
             Pierre Cardin ties, Brooks Brothers’ suits
strip   the cloth into rags
put them in a vat, boil down to pulp
& beat it into fine threads
make into sheets of paper
then take a brush, with one lightening swoop
of my hand, write a poem in black ink
on the blank pages!

                     Patricia Donegan



The best part beating the cooked fibers into a pulp

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Season's Greetings from Khandroling Paper Cooperative



Dear Friends of Khandroling Paper Cooperative---Here's wishing you a bright holiday with good cheer. As a gift to you we are launching the - 

 FREE Drawing Webinar on Dec. 28 at Noon EST

CALLED:  

Looking Into Your Heart To Release Stress & Pain 

Come join us for relaxed drawing class taught by Margherita Lotus Crystal during the holiday season as we introduce her new INSTANT DRAWING FOUR WEEK online course-- a fundraiser for the Dzogchen Community.

HERE is the link to access the webinar: 

Margherita Crystal Lotus is a long time member of the Dzogchen Community at Tsegyalgar East and a founding member of the paper cooperative. She has written extensively on crystals and their use for healing, numerous publications including her most recent, a novel called the Color Game  She is offering this introductory free webinar prior to her series on INSTANT DRAWING-- You can view some of her videos on You Tube Here: 


Margherita holds an advanced degree in Physics and has some unique knowledge to impart relating to the fibonacci spiral and other natural wonders she uses in her drawing accessible to everyone. No previous artistic training is required. 

FOLLOWING THIS FREE WEBINAR IS AN ONLINE COURSE ON INSTANT DRAWING BASICS with 50% ($25) of the regular $50 course fee going directly to the Dzogchen Community. The Webinar above on December 28 will give you more details about the Four Week Course. 

In order to sign up for the INSTANT DRAWING COURSE  go to the links below to have the reduced price!  

First is the payment page Cost $50 (where 50% goes back to Dzogchen Community!) After payment, go to the the sign-up page to get into the DZ Community membership to access the course.

1.INSTANT DRAWING Payment Page: https://dzc.memberportal.io/p/9575/34277/
2. Signup page: ​

Please contact me if you have any questions or difficulty. 

Jacqueline Gens  and all of us here at Tsegyalgar East Khandroling Paper Cooperative!

Please visit our blog for the latest news at 

Monday, November 27, 2017

Update on our November Lantern Making Workshops


We almost cancelled when several people were a no show for our November 4th papermaking workshop for Lanterns, Instead, Sheryl, Amanda and myself made dozens of fine pieces of square paper each of us contributing a variety of old and newly beaten fibers. Amanda cooked up her wonderful rainbow corn stalks outside. Sheryl manifested her usual magic with layers of flax/kozo and


unique fibers like Siberian Iris (see backdrop above picture), and whatever else she had around her home studio. I cooked up my mitsumata which I will hand beat tomorrow when making new lantern paper. We also fulfilled our 2018 Swatch commitment with a variety of pulp including a red sateen bed sheet, Flax, Abaca and Kozo. Here it is in its wet sheet formation before pressing:


When it came time for the lantern origami workshop on November 18, again we almost canceled due to low enrollment but KPC members gathered together anyway to learn from Brenda our origami genius how to make the beautiful lantern above. Not the easiest fold but we practiced a lot with ordinary commercial origami papers before folding our own papers made on November 4 and ended up with some excellent results. 


I've been using my own personal lantern every day with the special timed LED tea light that is on for  8 hours, then off for 18 hours before going on again. I love the flickering quality that gives it an authentic feel, Here I have it on my Shambhala Ashe shrine:



More to come tomorrow!

Monday, October 9, 2017

Khandoling Paper Cooperative to Participate in 5th Annual Cheap Art Fair


Khandroling Paper Cooperative is pleased one again to be part of the 5th Annual 2016 CHEAP ART SHOW produced by Creative Community Connections (C3) on Sunday, November 5, 2017 from 3:00 -5:00 PM at the Polish American Club,  46 South Main St in South Deerfield, MA.

This is a one day show that celebrates financial accessibility to art and is based on the famous Bread and Puppet Cheap Art Manifesto and model. Come join us for a magical event. 

Name: 4th Annual Cheap Art Show
WherePolish American Club at 46 South Main St in South Deerfield.
Date: November 5, 2017

Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST

Website: https://www.facebook.com/C3Deerfield/

Event Description:

This exhibit is based on the Bread and Puppet Cheap Art Manifesto: “Art is FOOD. You can’t eat it but it FEEDS you. Art has to be CHEAP and available to EVERYBODY.” Local artists of all ages will sell a range of art and crafts for no more than $15 per piece. Free refreshments and cash bar.

Last year we participated and sold a number of our calligraphies on handmade paper. Please join us for this pre-holiday event. 


2016 KPC Cheap Art, Photo by Jacqueline Gens




Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Free Origami Workshop with Brenda Lilly at the Marshall Field Library


Segment of a larger mural in the exhibit, 2017
at Marshal Field Library

Brenda Lilly will offer a free origami workshop at the Marshall Field Library  in Conway, MA as part of her exhibit there on Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Two-day Workshop in Luminaires with Sheryl Jaffe and Brenda Lilly


Origami Lantern
Photo by Sheryl Jaffe

Khandroling Paper Cooperative located at 18 Schoolhouse Rd. in Conway, MA in the basement of the yellow schoolhouse invites you to join us for a pre-holiday 2-Day Workshop to make a variety of lanterns with your own handmade paper.

Saturday, November 4 - Part 1 (10:00 AM-5:00 PM) with Sheryl Jaffe to make your paper

Saturday, November 18 - Part 2 (10:00 AM-5:00 PM) with Brenda Lilly to make your lamps including an origami vase

In this two-day workshop you will learn how to make beautiful translucent papers with flecks of natural fibers. Then learn how to fold your paper into beautiful origami lanterns that can sit on your window and illuminate your evening with sunlight transformed.

Come and make paper to hold some light. A solar light in your window, make the paper from plants, bring the sun into your living room after dark. The solar lamp will offer warmth and inspiration for the way of light. The paper will hold it. Design your own with our guidance, for fun and light.

A members show on the theme of Light will be on view in the back foyer of the yellow schoolhouse from November 11-December 31, 2017. Opening reception TBA

For further information visit our blog at www.khandrolingpapers.blogspot.com or call Jacqueline at 413-522-1125 to pre-register or write jacqueline.gens@gmail.com

Recommended donation $75 for both days or by donation according to your circumstances.


Monday, July 10, 2017

Khandroling Paper Cooperative Members Exhibit June 18-August 31, 2017



KPC Members exhibit of fine works on paper is now showing through August 31, 2017 during business hours in the back foyer gallery space of the Yellow Schoolhouse located at Tsegyalgar East, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Conway, MA. Many of the works are on sale to benefit the Dzogchen Community.


Amanda Pollock

1. Arya Sales Colophon.

Black Chinese powder ink and encre rose ink. Boji and hibiscus flower essences. Painted with peacock feather brushes. 

 President of the Wayward Girl motorcycle riding school is a hand made pen, ink and paper artist. This series of work was created with hand made peacock feather brushes, Conway Rags to Paper white linen paper and rhubarb dye with gem and flower essences and is inspired by the incredible journeys of Arya Sale, Yeshe Tsyogal, the Oracles of the Kalachakra and the teachings of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu.  Special thanks to Jacqueline Gens and KPC. SSI and the school of Tibetan Medicine, Khaita, the town of Conway and the Dzogchen Community.

Brenda Lilly

2. Water Lily

Lino Print on handmade paper

Creating art has been a part of my life as far back as I can remember, from drawing on my bedroom walls to taking watercolor classes at my local museum when I was 8 years old. I was fortunate enough to have an encouraging mother who saw something in me at an early age. Teaching art came naturally as I wanted everyone to experience art. The magic of Origami stung me when I became an art teacher 26 years ago. Throughout the years I have integrating art and origami, creating folded art that combines beautiful papers with the right fold. The Lotus Flower was taught to me by one of my closest origami influences, Bob Stack, a Conway/New York resident. He learned it from an 8-year-old Asian girl from New York. She learned it from someone else and passed it on, which happens quite often in origami; similar to the Paper Collaborative, where everyone is welcome to come and experience the art. It is a community event. Making and teaching art will be a part of my life forever!

Madeline Liebling

3. Hold it Together : HP (handmade paper), dryer lint, plant materials, thread
4. Audio Experiment: HP, old audiotapes
5. Sky Meadow Play: HP from cotton rag and plant materials

I was born into a family of artists and have made art all my life since I could hold a crayon. I have worked in the media of photography, silkscreen and fabric design, collage, assemblage, sculpture and drawing. 

I first made paper in 1984 when I studied with Lillian Bell in Los Angeles, CA. She taught a course on Handmade Paper from Plant Materials. That was the same year I began to practice and study Tibetan Buddhism. I have made paper as much as possible since then, and primarily used my papers for collage, as well as utilizing pulp for casting to create sculptural forms. I graduated from U Mass, Amherst in 1987 with a degree in Art Education. Many of my final sculpture projects for my studio art classes incorporated cast paper.

In 1989 I graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. with a MA degree in Clinical Art Therapy. Since then I have worked as an Art Therapist, and psychotherapist, and my own art making has taken somewhat of a back seat since. I was glad to recently find the Khandroling Papermaking Collective so I could reconnect with an old love!

From 1999-2004 I lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was an active member of the Shambhala Buddhist Community there. While residing there, I taught several  papermaking classes at the Nova Scotia Center for Craft and Design, from 2001-2003. I have also taught photography, silkscreen, and Art Therapy techniques.

I currently live in Shelburne Falls, MA, and work at a community mental health agency in Greenfield, MA. 

Kichung Lizzee

6. Four Elements and Lotus Mantra

Ink wash on silk

In the mid 60's to study art I came to America for my college education from Korea. Among the many forms of Western art that I was introduced to, Abstract Expressionism interested me most. Currently I am in the process of synthesizing Eastern and Western approaches to art, to close the gap between East and West and to reach for universal creativity. As an artist I rely heavily on creative intuition.  Moving with changes in the stream of consciousness, my creative intuition somehow brings out the subconscious and super conscious through artistic expression. Art to me is an expression of an inner world and inner energies in the giving of SELF. It is the recreation of the world.  It brings invisible and inexpressible dimensions to the surface using elements of design.
In order to accomplish these purposes I find the brushes and papers of Eastern calligraphy most effective. The brushes and papers are unforgiving, challenging me to flow with the creative impulse and thereby convey the immediacy, spontaneity and close proximity of an intimate connection with NATURE.


Sheryl Jaffe

[60% of sales goes to Khandroling Paper Cooperative)

7.  The Frog Pond
Kozo, linen, iris, cotton and blue jean pulp and iris leaf with ink and wax
$150.00

9.   Moonrise, sunset
      Monotype woodcut with stencils on kozo and linen paper
      $60.00

10. Listing in the Harbor
      Monotype woodcut on kozo and linen paper
      $60.00

11. Together
      Monotype woodcut with stencils on Kozo and horse radish paper  
      $100.00
     
12. Offering
     Monotype on linen and kozo paper
     $60.00

13. Breath
      Collagraph monotype on kozo, linen and iris paper
      $60.00


From harvesting plants to inking up the wood there is a continuous response, a call and response sort of dance. The thready fibers clinging together, the breezes in the trees, the memories of the waves. Attempting to become a unified whole. I try to incorporate the joy of papermaking, spontaneous sloshing around in the vat of water with the sobering permanence of ink and hand. Thank you for looking.

Ingmar  Pema Dechen

8. Visionary Works

These watercolor and ink pieces are mounted on gesso board and sealed with archival uv protection varnish.

For sale: $50 with 100% going to Khandroling Paper Cooperative

Painting whimsical visions, energy blessings and cartoons of dreams is my passion.  I paint them as invitations for viewers to use them as doorways into their own innermost nature.

Jacqueline Gens  

14. O Floating World/Here Now/Gone Tomorrow

For sale by Donation with 100% going to the Dzogchen Community

Original poem calligraphy on torn handmade papers with flower inclusions mounted on board. My inspiration as a poet and artist comes from three decades of Buddhist training and the notion of “First Thought, Best Thought coined by late Chogyam Trungpa and Allen Ginsberg as a sacred exploration in pure perception with trust in the process to carry us into luminous details of awakened mind/heart

Naomi Zeitz

15. Mandala

Encaustic collage with KPC paper mounted on board.

Naomi Zeitz studied art at RIT and received a BA in studio art from the College of St Rose in Albany NY where she focused on printmaking. In the last many years she has not been making much artwork but became re inspired by paper making through the Khandroling Paper Cooperative. 

***

Now in its 5th year, Khandroling Paper Cooperative offers a variety of workshops and open studios year-round in handmade paper and associated paper arts. As a community service, all our events are by donation.  For the latest news and events, please visit our blog:

www.khandrolingpapers.blogspot.com  For further information, contact Jacqueline at Jacqueline.gens@gmail.com or 413-522-1125.