Three artists and members of the Guild of Papercutting will share their artistry at the MGM Paper Town Exhibition at the RSA Alabama Commerce Center at 401 Adams Avenue in Montgomery from August 27th – September 12th, 2024.
Introducing the Artists:
Janelle Washington
https://www.washingtoncuts.com/
| Janelle is a self-taught papercut and silhouette designer from Richmond, VA. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Fashion design and was a children’s wear designer for 12 years. Through the simplicity of paper, Janelle creates images that showcase African Americans’ courage, achievements, and grace in difficult situations. In addition, her work explores Black culture, history, identity, family, and feminine beauty themes. She has commissioned silhouettes housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of
African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, and art installations at the historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. In addition, Janelle’s silhouettes have been published in O, The Oprah Magazine’s September 2020 issue for the #SayHerName campaign featuring Breonna Taylor. |
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“Using paper as my medium, I unearth forgotten or untold stories that highlight the struggles and perseverance of Black people in America. I explore themes of history, identity, family, and feminine beauty in Black culture.”
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Kathleen Trenchard
https://www.cut-it-out.org/
| Kathleen is a native New Orleanian, and graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y. with a MFA in Painting and Printmaking, now working in San Antonio, TX. Upon her arrival in San Antonio in the late 80’s, Trenchard began experimenting with the Mexican mallet and chisel technique of papel picado.
Since then, she has written a book, “Mexican Papercutting”, published by Lark in 1998, which sold out, but you order it through Amazon. |
She maintains a collection of paper cuts from her international travels and when she has curated exhibits of her papel picado and Buddhist Burial Paper holdings. Her work has expanded to include cut metal installations and public art as well as gallery exhibits |
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“My work in paper evolved from a love of drawing and an awe of the traditional Mexican and Chinese art of papercutting”
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Shanlie Whittington
https://www.silhouettesandsuch.com/
| Shanlie Whittington, owner and operator of Silhouettes & Such, is a self-taught, freehand silhouette artist, working in traditional 18th century style. When creating a portrait, her artistic eye and steady hand enable her to cut an intricate likeness of her sitter’s profile within just a few minutes, using only scissors and paper.
Shanlie has been creating silhouettes for clients for 13 years. In addition to making her portraits available to customers worldwide through the Silhouettes & Such online shop, she travels extensively, cutting silhouettes in-person, during public and private events, and presenting educational programming on the history of silhouette portraiture.
Shanlie was born and raised in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. She lives in Mobile, Alabama, with her husband and children. |
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Shanlie is also facilitating a Silhouette Workshop at the MMFA Lowder gallery on Saturday, Aug 31st 10:30am–12:30 pm
Come early seats are limited!
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