Wednesday, August 13, 2014

A Perfect Day in a Perfect Place: Revisiting our 3rd Annual Fiber to Fiber Workshop at Lower Khandroling Farm

Last weekend  we completed our third annual Papermaking event on Khandroling with Sheryl Jaffe and members joined by a few talented local  artists. Slowly our circle is widening. Beginning with our first WALKABOUT (See slide show) in the summer of 2012 on the land identifying plants for optimal papermaking, each year we return to our original inspiration—the land of the dakinis for sustenance and community.
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[Rhoda, Madeline and Paul dive in]

Set up was easy with our new Ez-Up tent and the screen tent Nary Mitchell, farm manager, set up for us. 




[Sheryl showing us her collection of hand-made papers for inspiration]




[Dara, a Tibetan translator, showing us the Tibetan Alphabet]



[Sheryl and Brenda adding cooked Knotweed to the Critter--a tough beat. In the end out came the blender to breakdown the fibers further].





[Sheryl’s exquisite selection of handmade paper using natural fibers]

RECENT NEWS

DZAMLING GAR  contacted us about participating in an international portfolio of interesting Dzogchen Community projects to present to their  local government in Spain. Dzamling Gar is the seat of the Internatlonal Dzogchen Communtiy founded by Choegyal Namkhai Norbu. We are proud to be a part of the Dzogchen Community which you can read about here although it is not necessary to be a part of it or even interested to participate in our programs.

Here is what we wrote:

Khandroling Paper Cooperative was founded in 2012 at Tsegyalgar East as a community activity endorsed by Choegyal Namkhai Norbu who said: 
“The project you are proposing seems very interesting. I think it will be successful and become very useful for all our Dzogchen Community.” 
The Paper Cooperative routinely gives demonstrations and workshops throughout our region partnering with a variety of organizations. Members of the cooperative participate according to their interests and skills including a program that recycles sacred texts.   Historically speaking buddhist teachings and handmade paper traveled together from the 2nd century until today.  We are a part of that tradition.  For further information past and present visit:http://www.khandrolingpapers.blogspot.com

As Sheryl pointed out, it’s an awesome realization that the oldest dated document on paper is the Buddhist text, The Diamond Sutra found at Dunhuang. To read more: 


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We are now officially signed up for our third Swatch Book. Jacqueline will make the pulp for our third year in a row. The swatch books are an international book of sample papers made by papermakers which include their recipes. To visit our 2012 book, click here or for our 2013 book, click here. In both instances, she  made the pulp on the Khandroling land itself –once in retreat where she had beat the kozo outside Rinpoche’s cabin in the rain.





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During the retreat with Choegyal Namkhai Norbu July 16-20, 2014 at the Mohawk School, Sheryl gave a marvelous demonstration and  presented Rinpoche with the beautful festschrift album made by her husband Walter using fibers from every continent he visited.



Photo by Jacqueiine Gens of Choegyal Namkhai Norbu and Sheryl Jaffe


The several workshops are in development for 2015.Ful descriptions and details will be available early in 2015.  As an homage to our Tibetan inspired roots, this year we will emphasize aspects of the culture in relation to paper.  Dates and details will be announced in early January. As ever, we operate by donations so don’t stay away because of a lack of funds. 

We also appreciate donations to sponsor guest faculty workshops like Tashi Mannox who taught us Tibetan Calligraphy in April 2014.



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