Annual Guest Curated Exhibition
Curated by Nancy Jacobi
July 8 – 26, 2026
Opening Reception: Thursday, July 9, 5 – 9 pm, remarks at 7 pm
Lecture by Vincent Dion, paper conservator: Thursday, July 16 at 6:30 pm
2 People’s Choice Awards sponsored by the Japanese Paper Place to be presented at 2 pm before the
Artist Talks on Sunday, July 26, 2 pm
“Looks Good on Paper…” at Propeller Art Gallery – ARTORONTO
“Looks Good on Paper…”
Curatorial essay by Nancy Jacobi
Draw, paint, print, dye, Bind, tear, cut, fly.
Paste, sculpt, stitch, mold, Wrap, light, hang, fold.
The possibilities of paper in the creative human hand are endless. Considering the decline in our daily use of paper, our jury of three (Nancy Jacobi, Susan Low-Beer and George A. Walker) was amazed to hear that a whopping 225 works had been submitted for the exhibition “Looks Good on Paper….” at Propeller Art Gallery!
As hand-written letters, bus transfers, theatre tickets, menus, newspapers, currency, holiday cards and parking tickets gradually surrender to the promise of technology, are we losing the tactile sensitivity of our hands?
Are we panicking as we fear the ultimate disappearance of this ubiquitous material so familiar to our touch? Is that why so many responded to this call to pay close attention to the choosing of a paper, that its demise is near? Or are we becoming increasingly aware of the widely interesting choice of paper for artistic use, often more ecologically sound and much more expressive?
Recovering from the surprise of the volume of entries that lay before us to be juried, we were delighted to review them one by one. A wide range of chosen “paper” included classic Stonehenge and Arches drawing and watercolour papers, photo and magazine paper, Canadian St. Armand flax and cotton, Yunlong Xuan from China, hanji from Korea, cardboard, various Japanese papers, vintage and cancelled postage stamps, dyed Canson, somegami and chiyogami with its tiny patterns.
Nancy Jacobi, Guest Curator
Nancy Jacobi discovered the uniqueness of washi (handmade Japanese paper) during her year teaching English in Japan. She soon realized that the production of this 1400-year-old technique was rapidly diminishing.
In 1982, she opened The Japanese Paper Place and has spent the years since then introducing artists to washi’s versatility. Through organizing workshops, mounting exhibitions, building a collection of contemporary washi artworks, writing articles and delivering lectures across the world. The JPP has remained a mecca for washi-lovers and has expanded its reach to every continent. Nancy has received awards from the Consul General of Japan in Toronto and CBBAG (Bookbinders’ Guild) for her contributions to culture.
Susan Low-Beer, Juror
Susan Low-Beer holds a BFA from Mount Allison University and an MFA in Painting from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She received the Saidye Bronfman Award for Excellence in Crafts in 1999 and was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2000. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is represented in major public collections across Canada, Japan, and the United States.
While ceramics remain central to her practice, she frequently combines clay and Japanese paper in innovative mixed-media works.
George A. Walker, Juror
George A. Walker is an award-winning wood engraver, book artist and paper lover who has been creating artworks and books at his private press since 1984.
He is an Associate Professor of book arts and printmaking at the Ontario College of Art and Design University and exhibits his works internationally.
Exhibiting Artists:
Rachael Ashe • Barbara Balfour • Ilka Bauer • Shayla Bond • Veronika Bondarenko • Joan Burdett Ness • Huan Chen • Jessie Chui • Steph Cloutier • Sharron Corrigan Forrest • Michele Cross • Sharon Dembo • Anne Devitt • Daniel Etigson • Susan Farquhar • Loretta Faveri • Phyllis Gordon • Heather Huston • Matthew Janisse • Jack Jensen • Helen Karanika • Brian Kelley • Karen Klee-Atlin • Susan Leopold • Lesley Luce • Linda Marshall • Greg McHarg • Katherine McHarg • Lise Melhorn-Boe • Sandy Middleton • Pria Muzumdar • Cindy Norton • Marjut Nousiainen • Lea Ovčina • Loree Ovens • Elaine Pantel • Debra Frances Plett • Dominique Prévost • WalterProcska • QR • Susan Ruptash • Clover Seo • Karin Shaddick • Jan Sibiga • Rachel Smith • Alan Stein • Robert Truszkowski • Benjamin Wieler
Rachael Ashe
Signs of Spring
Hand-cut low-relief paper sculpture
Paper: Canson Mi-Teintes
Artwork: 10 x 8.25 x .38 inches
Frame: 14 x 11 x .38 inchesPrice: $500
Artist Statement-
Barbara Balfour
Rock, Paper (# 39)
Rubbing, lithographic crayon on washi
Paper: Washi
Artwork: 21 x 31 inchesPrice: $500
Artist Statement -
Ilka Bauer
Gathering Thought 2
Japanese paper, India ink, methyl cellulose adhesive
Paper: Usu Kuchi light, Gampi
Artwork: 26 x 20 x 4 inchesPrice: $400
Artist Statement -
Shayla Bond
Ripped Hues in Blue
Handmade paper from reclaimed scrap, glue
Paper: Handmade paper
Artwork: 16 x 20 inches
Frame: 17.25 x 21.25 x .75 inches
Price: $1200
Artist Statement -
Veronika Bondarenko
Bush
Graphite on paper
Paper: Strathmore 130gsm White Drawing Paper
Artwork: 22 x 29 inches
Frame: 36 x 24 x 1.5 inches
Price: $800.00
Artist Statement -
Joan Burdett Ness
Arctic Glacier and Kittiwaki
Molded washi paper, konnyaku, watercolour, copper wire
Paper: Japanese Oguni, snow bleached
Artwork: 12 x 20 x 15 inchesPrice: $1200.00
Artist Statement -
Huan Chen
Cluster
Ink on paper
Paper: Yunlong Xuan Paper (Chinese rice paper)
Artwork: 27.5 x 27.5 inchesPrice: $350
Artist Statement -
Jessie Chui
Memories of Winter (Double) Hellebores
Mixed media with Kozo paper, crepe paper, wire, gouache, pastel, glue
Paper: Kozo paper and crepe paper
Artwork: 16 x 16 x 12 inchesPrice: $550
Artist Statement -
Steph Cloutier
Bountiful Light
Handmade ink and embroidery on paper
Paper: Sekishu Banshi Tsuru
Artwork: 30 1/8 x 22 7/8 inches
Frame: 23 1/2 x 31 1/2 x 2 inches
Price: $1700
Artist Statement -
Sharron Corrigan Forrest
Wakami Series #1
Natural inks & water-based pigments
Paper: Sekishu Banshi HW, Taniai Kozo Nagaban HW, Taniai Kozo Udaban & HW Washi
Artwork: 32 x 16 x 3 inchesPrice: $975
Artist Statement -
Michele Cross
The Lady In The Radiator Toy Theatre
Graphite on paper
Paper: Mixed media, kraft and crepe paper
Artwork: 6 x 6 x 1.5 inches
Frame: 7 x 7 x 1.5 inchesPrice: $90.00
Artist Statement -
Sharon Dembo
Shades of Grey
Konnyaku on Paper
Paper: Akebono Dark Grey
Artwork: 28 x 21 x 14 inchesPrice: $950
Artist Statement -
Anne Devitt
Life Lines
Paper
Paper: Stonehenge
Artwork: 11 x 58 inchesPrice: $1,000
Artist Statement -
Daniel Etigson
Cuneiform Column
Black Acrylic Screen Print
Paper: Mura Udaban A Itaboshi
Artwork: 56 x 17 inches
Frame: 60 x 17 inches
Price: $350
Artist Statement -
Susan Farquhar
Rewind
Sculpted & cast, plastic, washi, paper-cuts on textured canvas
Paper: Uwa senka, Kogei koso, Kizuki koso, Stonehenge
Artwork: 20 x 20 x 3 inchesPrice: $750
Artist Statement -
Loretta Faveri
Apology
Handwritten text on paper, torn and stitched
Paper: Paper made by my aunt with locally sourced fibres.
Artwork: 48 x 36 x 8 inchesPrice: $1500
Artist Statement -
Phyllis Gordon
Cladonia stellaris
Pen on Washi
Paper: Taniai Nezu Tsuchi
Artwork: 18 x 15 inches
Frame: 22 x 17 x 1.25 inches
Price: $850
Artist Statement -
Heather Huston
Time Collapse
Silkscreen and thread
Paper: Kitakata and Hakuho
Artwork: 16.75 x 21 inchesNFS
Artist Statement -
Matthew Janisse
Another perspective
Drawing and Autoprint
Paper: Cold press watercolour paper
Artwork: 8 x 8 inchesPrice: $250
Artist Statement -
Jack Jensen
Still Wet Behind the Ears
Cast paper
Paper: 50% cotton linters 50% abaca
Artwork: 8 1/4 x 13 x 6 1/4 inchesPrice: $1800
Artist Statement -
Helen Karanika
Sunrise
Acrylic and collage on Japanese paper
Paper: Okawara
Artwork: 24 x 19 inchesPrice: $ 600.00
Artist Statement -
Brian Kelley
#1 blue
Washi, wire, cardboard, wood filler
Paper: Variety of papers
Artwork: 12 x 8 x 6 inchesPrice: $200
Artist Statement -
Karen Klee-Atlin
Log Boom
Drypoint and woodcut
Paper: Sekishu Banshi Tsuru
Artwork: 21 x 29.25 inchesPrice: $450
Artist Statement -
Susan Leopold
Interior Drift
Japanese paper, acrylic paint, indirect and transferred mark making, collage, newspaper fragment and ink on cradled wood panel
Paper: Nashua Maniai
Artwork: 20 x 16 x 1/4 inchesPrice: $1200
Artist Statement -
Lesley Luce
The Daily Route
Paper Collage (photo paper, postage stamps)
Paper: Vintage Canadian postage stamps
Artwork: 39 x 39 inches
Frame: 39.75 x 39.75 x 1.5 inches
Price: $5,500
Artist Statement -
Linda Marshall
Tondo Ten
Washi (Japanese Paper) Collé
Paper: Mura Konaga-ban Kozo, Sekishu Mare, Usu Kuchi, Kizuki Somegami, Unryu Heavy, Ginwashi Mizutama
Artwork: 22 x 6.75 x 1 inchesPrice: $350
Artist Statement -
Katherine McHarg
South Bay on Stormy Lake
Watercolour and Collage
Paper: Chiyogami collaged on Arches Cold Press
Artwork: 16 x 12 inches
Frame: 21 x 17 inches
Price: $350
Artist Statement -
Greg McHarg
Triangle Lattice
Paper and paint
Paper: CRB (coated recycle board)
Artwork: 7.5 x 5.5 x 2 inchesPrice: $250
Artist Statement -
Lise Melhorn-Boe
Flight Lexicon
Pop-up book
Paper: Papeterie St. Armand Canal Paper, Fabriano Ingres, Tibetan Lokte, and other Japanese papers
Artwork: 12.25 x 9.5 x 1 inchesPrice: $850
Artist Statement -
Sandy Middleton
Rough Seas
Photo encaustic paper sculpture
Paper: Kozo
Artwork: 18 x 24 x 1.5 inches
Frame: 19 x 25 x 1.5 inchesPrice: $1,800
Artist Statement -
Pria Muzumdar
Soul-snips on Washi
Encaustic washed Washi and prints
Paper: Washi/Kozo, hot press cotton paper, agave paper
Artwork: 36 x 10 inchesPrice: $ 450
Artist Statement -
Cindy Norton
Pookie Baby
Acrylic and Chiyogami paper on birch panel
Paper: Chiyogami
Artwork: 12 x 10 inches
Frame: 14 x 12 inchesPrice: $300
Artist Statement -
Marjut Nousiainen
My Political Papers
Paper on insulation board
Paper: Newsprint, printer paper
Artwork: 27 x 58 x 7 inchesPrice: $2,200
Artist Statement -
Lea Ovčina
Stories told must face the present and see it stands differently
Lithograph and intaglio prints, konnyaku paste, machine sewn.
Paper: Usu Kuchi Light and Heavy
Artwork: 36 1/4 x 37 1/2 inchesNFS
Artist Statement -
Loree Ovens
Cascade
Wall sculpture – kozo, steel wire, acrylic, wood, tacks and magnets
Paper: Yame Kozo Hadura paper
Artwork: 14 x 2 x 3.25 inchesPrice: $375
Artist Statement -
Elaine Pantel
Imagining Gertrude
Paper collage
Paper: Collage using cut photographic reproductions, magazine paper, parchment paper, washi paper, and layered paper elements mounted on heavyweight matte board.
Artwork: 12 x 9 inches
Frame: 15 x 12 inchesPrice: $500
Artist Statement -
Debra Frances Plett
Tales from the Seed Pod
Milkweed seed pods, handmade paper with embedded milkweed fibres and seeds, natural dyes (fustic and osage), linen thread dyed with fustic and osage, hand stitching
Paper: Hand made with inclusions
Artwork: 4 x 4 x 3 inchesPrice: $525
Artist Statement -
Dominique Prévost
Blur Green Marsh Murmur
Ink, Suminagashi, Lino print, two washi papers
Paper: Kizuki Somegami
Artwork: 35.25 x 16.5 inches
Frame: 35.25 x 16.25 x 1.5 inches
Price: $650
Artist Statement -
Walter Procska
Tangerine Sky
Silkscreen
Paper: Uwa Senka
Artwork: 12 x 17 inchesPrice: $650.00
Artist Statement -
QR
In Motion
Smooth matte paper framed
Paper: 200 gsm (80 lb), thickness: 0.26 mm (10.3 mils)
Artwork: 12 x 12 inches
Frame: 13 x 13 inches
Price: $500
Artist Statement -
Susan Ruptash
Eight
Oguni Snowbleached Kozo 26g heritage washi, konnyaku, copper wire
Paper: Oguni Snowbleached Kozo 26g heritage washi
Artwork: 56 x 36 x 4 inchesPrice: $1200
Artist Statement -
Clover Seo
Blooming Together
Sumi ink, watercolor, natural ink, printmaking ink, and pen
Paper: Hanji (Korean traditional paper) and watercolor paper
Artwork: 20 x 28 inches
Frame: 24 x 36 inches
Price: $300
Artist Statement -
Karin Shaddick
Shoe
Paper
Paper: Heavy, durable paper; corrugated cardboard
Artwork: 18 x 10 x 24 inchesPrice: $400
Artist Statement -
Jan Sibiga
What Soothes
Papers, pages, acrylic on cradled board
Paper: Hand-pulled paper and tissue, palette papers, book pages
Artwork: 36 x 36 x 2 inchesPrice: $2700
Artist Statement -
Rachel Smith
Views From Another’s Window
Drawing paper, board, fancy paper
Paper: Tintoretto Drawing Paper
Artwork: 6 x 74.4 x 0.3 inchesPrice: $300
Artist Statement -
Alan Stein
We Are The Songs Of Weather
Limited edition hand printed book
Paper: Handmade Japanese paper, St. Armand handmade paper
Artwork: 13.5 x 10 x 3/4 inchesPrice: $600
Artist Statement -
Robert Truszkowski
WEEB
Paper, glue, cane, string, UV silkscreen, and LED light
Paper: Shoji Natural 30g
Artwork: 28 x 14 x 14 inchesPrice: $1000
Artist Statement -
Benjamin Wieler
Canada United
Paper collage
Paper: Salvaged stationery & cancelled postage
Artwork: 10.5 x 14.75 x 0.5 inches
Frame: 16 x 20 x 0.5 inchesPrice: $1800
Artist Statement
