Chris Davenport employs hand papermaking as an act of recording, a means of capturing ecological traces. His practice also operates as a form of ecocriticism, preserving a record of human actions and their environmental consequences. Crane Giamo's work considers how plants themselves operate as archives, and how they—as historical records—inform the resulting paper. For Giamo, handmade paper becomes a site for considering political, cultural, and economic history. And by assigning a memory function to handmade paper, Giamo believes that these works can become sites for understanding and reconciliation. Through their individual and collaborative projects Davenport and Giamo purposefully deploy papermaking as a documentary practice, archiving the consequences of human engagement with their environments, and preserving geographical history. What follows are statements by each Davenport and Giamo, offering technical details and thoughts on their individual practices. field notes: chris davenport place: West Central Alabama space: Highest Point–655 feet time: Deforested and Disturbed Habitats and Adjacent Streams/Waterways All creative effort—including the making of an omelet—is preceded by destruction. —Yi-Fu Tuan Through water, weather, flora, and time, my paper forms ecological evidence, a record of place capturing geography. Based at the junction of the Southern Appalachians and Cumberland Plateau in West Central Alabama, my "living studio" offers extremes in ecosystems that have evolved to include a total of 482 species of rare endemic plants representing 246 genera spread across southeastern United States. This makes the region one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet.1 Unfortunately unsustainable bio-diverse places on the planet.1 Unfortunately unsustainable practices such as clear-cutting and industrial deforestation continue practices such as clear-cutting and industrial deforestation continue to destroy critical habitat and speed topsoil erosion through to destroy critical habitat and speed topsoil erosion through canopy removal and fragmentation. When these activities occur, canopy removal and fragmentation. When these activities occur, fast-growing invasive plants, introduced into the biome through fast-growing invasive plants, introduced into the biome through misguided agriculture and horticulture practices, move in restoring misguided agriculture and horticulture practices, move in restoring soil nutrients but crowding out native plant communities. soil nutrients but crowding out native plant communities. Eroded runoff from the exposure of topsoil flows into the numerous Eroded runoff from the exposure of topsoil flows into the numerous streams that feed Alabama's bio-rich water systems onto the streams that feed Alabama's bio-rich water systems onto the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and into the already limping Gulf of Mexico. Mobile-Tensaw Delta and into the already limping Gulf of Mexico. I walk the clear-cuts taking photographs. I use the water from I walk the clear-cuts taking photographs. I use the water from adjacent streams. I capture the invasive Albizia julibrissin (Persian adjacent streams. I capture the invasive Albizia julibrissin (Persian silk tree, pink silk tree) to make paper. The silk tree is a species in silk tree, pink silk tree) to make paper. The silk tree is a species in the Fabaceae family native to southwestern and eastern Asia where the Fabaceae family native to southwestern and eastern Asia where it is used in traditional Chinese medicine; here as an ornamental. it is used in traditional Chinese medicine; here as an ornamental. Regionally mislabeled as Mimosa, Albizia julibrissin can be harvested Regionally mislabeled as Mimosa, Albizia julibrissin can be harvested year-round to produce a mulberry-like paper. I use water from the year-round to produce a mulberry-like paper. I use water from the locality so that the handmade paper becomes a true representation locality so that the handmade paper becomes a true representation of the geographical site which also supports my papermaking. of the geographical site which also supports my papermaking. In controlled cultivation with regular harvesting and removal of In controlled cultivation with regular harvesting and removal of outlying juvenile seedlings, the silk tree stakes out territory in the outlying juvenile seedlings, the silk tree stakes out territory in the same way as mulberry. Care must be taken to control the spread of the population to adjacent native flora. Capturing invasive flora same way as mulberry. Care must be taken to control the spread of the population to adjacent native flora. Capturing invasive flora from disturbed places for use in the hand papermaking process creates from disturbed places for use in the hand papermaking process creates a record of an effort of geographical reclamation. a record of an effort of geographical reclamation. field notes: crane giamo field notes: crane giamo common names: Lewis Flax, Blue Flax, Prairie Flax, Western common names: Lewis Flax, Blue Flax, Prairie Flax, Western Blue Flax Blue Flax scientific name: Linum lewisii Pursh scientific name: Linum lewisii Pursh life span: Perennial life span: Perennial reproduction method: Seed reproduction method: Seed numerology: 5 sepals, 5 stamens, 5 styles numerology: 5 sepals, 5 stamens, 5 styles description: 2–3 feet tall, 1 foot wide; branched, raised from taproot; description: 2–3 feet tall, 1 foot wide; branched, raised from taproot; tilted grower; slender-stemmed; tough-look; braided; (note: tilted grower; slender-stemmed; tough-look; braided; (note: the Egyptian hieroglyph for wick—a twisted bundle of flax—drawn the Egyptian hieroglyph for wick—a twisted bundle of flax—drawn as an intertwined piece of flax); drought resistant; susceptible to as an intertwined piece of flax); drought resistant; susceptible to acts of god—the plague of thunderstorms and hail in Egypt: The acts of god—the plague of thunderstorms and hail in Egypt: The flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley had headed and the flax flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom (Exodus 9:31); the flowers open in the day; the flowers was in bloom (Exodus 9:31); the flowers open in the day; the flowers close at night; abundant light and well-drained dry soil; blue, close at night; abundant light and well-drained dry soil; blue, crater-shaped flowers; anti-rheumatic; seed oil for sore throats, or crater-shaped flowers; anti-rheumatic; seed oil for sore throats, or a vehicle in oil paints, or in varnishes; as a poultice of leaves, a a vehicle in oil paints, or in varnishes; as a poultice of leaves, a salve applied to bruises, boils, and burns; an infusion of the roots, salve applied to bruises, boils, and burns; an infusion of the roots, or the entire plant, as eye/skin/hair wash; a good source of bast or the entire plant, as eye/skin/hair wash; a good source of bast fiber inside the stem; it is good fiber for making paper; it is good fiber inside the stem; it is good fiber for making paper; it is good fiber for cloth, mats, cordage, baskets; raw flax should not be consumed fiber for cloth, mats, cordage, baskets; raw flax should not be consumed because it contains cyanide. because it contains cyanide. habitat: Exposures—alpine meadows, woodlands, mountain ridges, habitat: Exposures—alpine meadows, woodlands, mountain ridges, mesas, foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. mesas, foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. range: Western three-quarters of North America, from Alaska to range: Western three-quarters of North America, from Alaska to California, south to Nuevo Leon, Mexico, east to North Dakota. California, south to Nuevo Leon, Mexico, east to North Dakota. history: On July 18, 1805, near the banks of the Dearborn River, history: On July 18, 1805, near the banks of the Dearborn River, Captain Meriwether Lewis writes: "I have observed for several days Captain Meriwether Lewis writes: "I have observed for several days a species of flax growing in the river bottoms the leaf stem and a species of flax growing in the river bottoms the leaf stem and pericarp of which resembles the common flax cultivated in the U' pericarp of which resembles the common flax cultivated in the U' States. the stem rises to the hight of 2. or 3 fee high; as many as States. the stem rises to the hight of 2. or 3 fee high; as many as 8 or ten of which proceede from the same root. the root appears 8 or ten of which proceede from the same root. the root appears to be perennial. the bark of the stem is thick strong and appears to be perennial. the bark of the stem is thick strong and appears as if it would make excellent flax. the seeds are not yet ripe but I as if it would make excellent flax. the seeds are not yet ripe but I hope to have an opportunity of collecting some of them after they hope to have an opportunity of collecting some of them after they are so if it should on experiment prove to yeald good flax and at the are so if it should on experiment prove to yeald good flax and at the same time admit of being cut without injuring the perennial root same time admit of being cut without injuring the perennial root it will be a most valuable plant, and I think there is the greatest it will be a most valuable plant, and I think there is the greatest probability that it will so, for notwithstanding the seed have not yet probability that it will so, for notwithstanding the seed have not yet arrived at maturity it is putting up suckers or young shoots from arrived at maturity it is putting up suckers or young shoots from the same root and would seem therefore that those which are fully the same root and would seem therefore that those which are fully grown and which are in the proper stage of vegitation to produce grown and which are in the proper stage of vegitation to produce the best fax are not longer essencial to the preservation or support the best fax are not longer essencial to the preservation or support of the root."2 of the root."2 Soon after the Louisiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson Soon after the Louisiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the 1804–1806 expedition of Lewis and Clark to survey commissioned the 1804–1806 expedition of Lewis and Clark to survey the recently acquired land and map the geography, to discover the recently acquired land and map the geography, to discover a water source that cut through to the ocean, and to set up outposts a water source that cut through to the ocean, and to set up outposts west of the purchase with the aim of establishing United States sovereignty. west of the purchase with the aim of establishing United States sovereignty. Jefferson's legal and political philosophy justifying sovereignty3 Jefferson's legal and political philosophy justifying sovereignty3 over indigenous land was based on the Doctrine of Discovery, over indigenous land was based on the Doctrine of Discovery, a set of rules governing land rights anchored in papal decrees a set of rules governing land rights anchored in papal decrees form the 1400s to sort out conquest disputes among explorers.4 I wondered: Can I make paper from Lewis blue flax, using local form the 1400s to sort out conquest disputes among explorers.4 I wondered: Can I make paper from Lewis blue flax, using local sources of fiber and water, without replicating a spirit of conquest, sources of fiber and water, without replicating a spirit of conquest, possession, and control? How might engaging with the ecology of possession, and control? How might engaging with the ecology of flax and water sites improve our social relations? How do local materials flax and water sites improve our social relations? How do local materials carry their time and place? How does fully engaging with the carry their time and place? How does fully engaging with the production process change the value and meaning of the paper— production process change the value and meaning of the paper— from collection and retting, to cooking and beating, then pulling from collection and retting, to cooking and beating, then pulling sheets, and later—in application? What gets demystified? How does sheets, and later—in application? What gets demystified? How does this paper function as an archive, a scientific record, a memory, a this paper function as an archive, a scientific record, a memory, a testimony, a witness to what? testimony, a witness to what? In late August 2016, I started gathering Lewis blue flax in the In late August 2016, I started gathering Lewis blue flax in the foothills of the Wasatch foothills with David Bradway, an artist from foothills of the Wasatch foothills with David Bradway, an artist from Salt Lake City who teaches printmaking at Utah Valley University. Salt Lake City who teaches printmaking at Utah Valley University. Together we harvested a few pounds of flax and thistle on hillsides Together we harvested a few pounds of flax and thistle on hillsides and meadows in the foothills above the Avenues. We retted the flax, and meadows in the foothills above the Avenues. We retted the flax, cooked the fiber, pulped the fiber in a Hollander beater, and pulled cooked the fiber, pulped the fiber in a Hollander beater, and pulled 40 sheets measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. We also made a golden brown 40 sheets measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. We also made a golden brown dye from flax seeds. dye from flax seeds. We mixed most of the flax pulp with foothill thistle, non-local We mixed most of the flax pulp with foothill thistle, non-local cotton, and tap water. We wanted to pull some sheets harnessing water cotton, and tap water. We wanted to pull some sheets harnessing water from the same habitat as the flax, so we collected and transported from the same habitat as the flax, so we collected and transported back into Salt Lake City around 10 gallons of water from ponds in back into Salt Lake City around 10 gallons of water from ponds in the foothills near the Dry Fork drainage area. We reserved a small the foothills near the Dry Fork drainage area. We reserved a small amount of flax fiber (enough to end up with 4 sheets) and used the amount of flax fiber (enough to end up with 4 sheets) and used the pond water in the retting and cleaning process, in the cook, in the pond water in the retting and cleaning process, in the cook, in the beat, and in the vat. One oversight: to remove impurities, we used a beat, and in the vat. One oversight: to remove impurities, we used a generic soda ash for the cook when we should have salvaged juniper generic soda ash for the cook when we should have salvaged juniper wood from the foothills to make wood ash and then lye. wood from the foothills to make wood ash and then lye. A note on water: The depletion of water resources is one of the A note on water: The depletion of water resources is one of the underlying stories of the West. Climate change, inefficient infrastructural underlying stories of the West. Climate change, inefficient infrastructural projects, urban and agricultural demands, rapid population projects, urban and agricultural demands, rapid population growth, convoluted water rights, and sale of these rights by firms growth, convoluted water rights, and sale of these rights by firms on Wall Street all contribute to the scarcity crisis. We are interested on Wall Street all contribute to the scarcity crisis. We are interested in continuing the use of local water sources directly in contact with in continuing the use of local water sources directly in contact with local fiber and incorporating filtration and recycling methods into local fiber and incorporating filtration and recycling methods into the papermaking process to minimize as much waste as possible. the papermaking process to minimize as much waste as possible. Aesthetic Ecology: Flax in a field…how did it get there…knowledge Aesthetic Ecology: Flax in a field…how did it get there…knowledge of the material becomes experiential, direct, and tactile…alongside material considerations of a final sheet—like the tooth of the of the material becomes experiential, direct, and tactile…alongside material considerations of a final sheet—like the tooth of the paper, its weight and surface, its color—is place and time, built in paper, its weight and surface, its color—is place and time, built in the paper…local details in the paper illuminate the landscapes from the paper…local details in the paper illuminate the landscapes from where it came…time is measured in seasons and sunlight…solar, where it came…time is measured in seasons and sunlight…solar, photosynthetic energy is transferred from flax to sheet; hydro energy photosynthetic energy is transferred from flax to sheet; hydro energy and water content is transferred from pond to sheet…by way and water content is transferred from pond to sheet…by way of these transformations and new assemblies, the flax sheets carry of these transformations and new assemblies, the flax sheets carry their geography…they contain the snowmelts, the soil, and contours their geography…they contain the snowmelts, the soil, and contours of the territory from where they came… of the territory from where they came… Futurisms: Work with David Bradway and Christopher Davenport Futurisms: Work with David Bradway and Christopher Davenport to germinate a seed of flax between two pieces of flax paper, to germinate a seed of flax between two pieces of flax paper, then plant the paper, grow flax plant from flax paper, make flaxseed then plant the paper, grow flax plant from flax paper, make flaxseed oil to use as a vehicle in ink, use rocks and minerals collected in the oil to use as a vehicle in ink, use rocks and minerals collected in the deserts of Utah as pigment, color flax paper with dye made from deserts of Utah as pigment, color flax paper with dye made from flax seeds, suspend flax paper over the Great Salt Lake to capture flax seeds, suspend flax paper over the Great Salt Lake to capture how water and salt evaporate (and note what happens when these how water and salt evaporate (and note what happens when these two different biomes come into contact—forest and desert), marble two different biomes come into contact—forest and desert), marble the flax by suspending inks in the Salt Lake, put the paper in something the flax by suspending inks in the Salt Lake, put the paper in something like a lobster trap, submerge it for weeks in the lake, and see like a lobster trap, submerge it for weeks in the lake, and see what the saline formations do, abandon flax sheets in the desert for what the saline formations do, abandon flax sheets in the desert for months, return to see what the sun and air did, make linen canvas months, return to see what the sun and air did, make linen canvas from flax fiber, take the canvas to the Bonneville Salt Flats and print from flax fiber, take the canvas to the Bonneville Salt Flats and print the desert, lure lightning onto paper by placing it in proximity to the desert, lure lightning onto paper by placing it in proximity to large copper tubes in a wide open place to conduct electricity from large copper tubes in a wide open place to conduct electricity from electrical storms. electrical storms. ___________ ___________ notes notes 1. James C. Estill and Mitchell B. Cruzan, "Phytogeography of Rare Plant Species 1. James C. Estill and Mitchell B. Cruzan, "Phytogeography of Rare Plant Species Endemic to the Southeastern United States," Castanea 66, no. 1–2 (2001): 7. Endemic to the Southeastern United States," Castanea 66, no. 1–2 (2001): 7. 2. The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, ed. Gary E. Moulton, vol. 4, April 2. The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, ed. Gary E. Moulton, vol. 4, April 7–July 27, 1805 (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1987), 398. 7–July 27, 1805 (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1987), 398. 3. Elin Woodger and Brandon Toropov, Encyclopedia of the Lewis and Clark 3. Elin Woodger and Brandon Toropov, Encyclopedia of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2004), 218–220. Expedition (New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2004), 218–220. 4. Robert J. Miller, "American Indians, the Doctrine of Discovery, and Manifest 4. Robert J. Miller, "American Indians, the Doctrine of Discovery, and Manifest Destiny," Wyoming Law Review 329 (2011): 330–332. Destiny," Wyoming Law Review 329 (2011): 330–332.
