Treewhispers

Pamela Paulsrud, visual artist, papermaker and calligrapher received her MFA from Columbia College in Interdisciplinary Arts concentrating in Book and Paper. Pamela investigates the interface of the concept, process, and calligraphic nature of handwriting with the linear features of the landscape using artist books and handmade paper. Pamela’s work has been published in many magazines, books, and journals including Lark Books, Making Memory Books by Hand, Exploratopia, Living Artists, and several issues of Letter Arts Review. Her work is in the Special Collections at the University of California, San Diego; the Allan Chasanoff Bookworks Collection, New York; Topeka & Shawnee County Library Special Collections, Topeka Kansas; and Special Collections at the Newberry Library, Chicago. She was awarded the Newberry Library Purchase Prize in 1997. Her lettering titles grace the ceramic floor map in the exhibit Traveling the South Pacific at Field Museum, Chicago. She is currently exhibiting her work internationally. Pamela freelances and teaches workshops in lettering and book arts while continuing to pursue her interests in the healing arts.

Treewhispers co-creators

Marilyn Sward (1941-2008) After receiving her BFA degree with honors in painting at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, Marilyn learned to make paper by hand. Forty years later that was still the most important fact. She founded Paper Press Studio, which together with Artists Bookworks, became The Columbia College Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts. After founding it she was the director and chair of the MFA in Book and Paper Arts. She also was Adjunct Associate Professor in Fibers at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago teaching her classes at the Center. She co-authored a book, The New Photography, published by Prentiss Hall dealing with special forms and printing methods for handmade paper’s use in photography. She received many grants and awards for special studies and projects. Her own work is in museum collections throughout the United States and abroad. After retiring she served as the chair of the Board of Hand Papermaking Magazine and was president of the Trustees of Haystack School of Craft in Maine. She was also a trustee of The University of Illinois Library, and most proudly a wife, mother and grandmother. Marilyn left this earthly life on August 5, 2008. Family, friends and all those who she taught, inspired and mentored continue to know her love.

A Special Thanks

A special thanks to Joe Chellman of ShooFlyDesign who has been behind the scenes graciously troubleshooting Treewhispers issues in cyberspace. Many, many thanks, Joe for your prompt replies and assistance—your navigational skills are greatly appreciated!