Tag: Marilyn Sward

  • Treewhispers 25th Anniversary Closing Reception—March 22, 2025

    Come celebrate, reconnect, and spread the word!

    Join us as we mark 25 years of Treewhispers with Artists Book House.

    4207 W Irving Park, Chicago, IL
    Saturday, March 22 | 2:00 – 6:00 PM

    2:00 – 4:00 PM | Columbia College Center for Book & Paper Arts Alumni Reunion
    (A special time for alumni to gather and reconnect.)

    4:00 – 6:00 PM | Closing Reception – Open to All

    *For CBPA alumni, this is more than a reunion. It’s a rekindling of the creative spark that first brought us together. Through the wisdom of thought-provoking instructors and the boundless exploration they encouraged, we forged connections that have stood the test of time. Let’s gather to honor those shared experiences, reflect on our artistic journeys, and celebrate the lasting impact of our creative community.

    Expect an afternoon filled with lively conversations, creative inspiration, and a few surprises!

    CBPA alumni who want to join the reunion, email: killian@artistsbookhouse.org

    Come for the art, stay for the stories. Let’s make this a celebration to remember!

  • Remembering Marilyn

    Photo courtesy of Heather Sward Duncan

    Teacher, mentor, collaborator, friend…with Marilyn still so close to my heart it’s hard to believe it’s been 13 years since her passing. Marilyn’s dedication to the art and craft of handmade paper and teaching was only surpassed by the dedication and love she shared with her family.

    I’m forever grateful for her influence and gifts—our connection.

  • Speaking in Paper

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    From a handful of paper rounds to a forest that resonates with the many hands that created it.

  • Marilyn Sward:Speaking in Paper


    A rich collection of the late Marilyn Sward’s artwork is soon to be exhibited at the Columbia College Chicago Center for the Book and Paper entitled Speaking in Paper. Mark your calendars for the quickly approaching opening reception, on June 9 from 5:30-8:30pm.


    Join in a celebration of Marilyn’s incredible journey that touched and inspired so many — her life woven through the creative process while simultaneously building community. She was an important artist during a critical period when hand papermaking was coming into its own as a fine art medium. Her passion is exhibited in her artwork, alternative photographic process, travel journals that contain the richness of the excursions and the forest of Treewhispers which continues to grow, gathering handmade paper with artwork, poetry, stories — connecting…

    Opening Reception
    Wednesday, June 9th, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

    Exhibition: June 9 – August 21, 2010
    Gallery Hours: Mon. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

    Center for Book and Paper Arts
    1104 S. Wabash, 2nd floor
    Chicago, IL

    Click here for more on this exhibition and related workshops and programs.

    Marilyn always loved a crowd. Bring a friend and please feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested.

  • TEN YEARS!

    It has been ten years—TEN YEARS! — since the inception of Treewhispers. To have witnessed the many connections and reconnections that have been made though art and storytelling — and trees— has been such an amazing gift. If anyone wonders why my passion for this project runs so high, I would have to say it’s the stories I’ve heard from adults and children alike—spoken from the heart—funny, sad, profound and thought provoking; it’s the fingerprint of someone else’s passion in the artwork completed alone or in collaboration; it’s watching someone make paper for the first time and the ensuing grin; it’s the profound stillness felt while strolling amongst the trees in the installation—it’s the resonance, the connection. Sooooo many tree stories are told simply from my asking—many told for the first and only time. I’ve seen the delight in the telling. I’ve heard tree stories from those who thought they had none. It’s enriched my own life and confirmed the path of the project—yet at the same time I realize the importance that these interactions, these stories, connections fan out to others. It seems somewhat selfish to be the only recipient of these gifts. It is my intention that these best kept secrets be shared—that opportunities open and present themselves to others as they have been to me.