By DARLA MCCAMMON,
Lakeland Art Association

Have you ever taken a sheet of paper and created a paper plane you could float across the room?

The art of manipulating paper into unusual shapes has been around almost since paper was first created. Origami, which is the next level of paper cutting, or folding and bending, has been a realm of Oriental art for a long time. A new interest has developed in working with paper and there are some astounding works being produced.

Ferry Staverman of the Netherlands produces amazing works that can even become outdoor installations. A number of other artists have extended this art and create fascinating pieces. One such artist is a young woman, born in 1983 in Miami, Fla. Jen Stark graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Her contemporary paper sculpture work draws inspiration from patterns found in nature, particularly microscopic organisms and shapes. Stark’s work is intricate and magnetic to the eye. Stark has gained much acclaim and awards for her efforts including a prestigious South Florida Cultural Fellowship.

Solo exhibitions are most prestigious and Stark has a long list from Los Angeles to New York, Miami and Chicago. Group exhibits are too numerous to list and the list of private collections that have purchased her art is impressive.

We are sharing an example of her work so you can see the intricacy and difficulty in each piece. If you are curious to see more of her work on a full screen of brilliant color go to her web site at www.jenstark.com. It is amazing that paper could be so manipulated into these fantastic creations.  You will enjoy scrolling through her imagination.

Upcoming and Current Events:

• The Lisa Bemish exhibit opened at Warsaw City Hall Gallery on July 22. Bemish offers us a glimpse of her talent and will be refreshing this exhibit from now through the end of September, so you will need to visit it more than once.  More on Bemish in next week’s column. Visit for free 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
• August offers the agricultural art contest of the tomato festival in Pierceton. Enter at LAA.
• This summer adult and children workshops always available. Call 574-594-9950 for information.
• Jan Hazelett will have work exhibiting at LAA.
• Robert Hudson will demonstrate painting of mountains at the 24th meeting of Lakeland Art Asoc.
• Please call Honeywell Clark Art Gallery for more information on current exhibit at 260-563-1102

LAA is located at 107 N. 1st St. Pierceton, IN 46562 or www.lakelandartassociation.org. Also on Facebook . Contact your author/artist Darla at [email protected] any time you have comments or questions.