Paper Making at Wacosa
I had the opportunity to lead a series of free paper making classes for clients of WACOSA, a nonprofit organization supporting adults with disabilities. The classes were made possible through a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, allowing participants to explore the arts in a welcoming, accessible environment at no cost.
Paper making at wacosa
Paper making was chosen for its combination of creativity, choice, and sensory exploration. Participants were able to make their own decisions about colors, shapes, textures, and the materials incorporated into their handmade paper. The process itself became an important part of the experience—the soft, wet paper pulp invited participants to touch, manipulate, squeeze, and experiment with the material as they transformed it into something entirely their own.
The classes were designed to emphasize individual choice and creative expression rather than producing identical finished pieces. Each participant could engage with the process in their own way and at their own level of independence. The result was a collection of unique handmade papers that reflected the individual choices and personalities of the people who created them.
For me, the experience reinforced the value of process-based art experiences, particularly when working with individuals with a wide range of abilities. Art can provide opportunities not only to make something, but to explore, make choices, engage the senses, and experience the satisfaction of creating something that did not exist before.
A big thanks to...
