2021 Papermaking Champions now Online

2021 Papermaking Champions now Online

North American Hand Papermakers is delighted to announce the publication of essays about the 2021 cohort of extraordinary papermakers who were elected to the Hall of Papermaking Champions. Each essay is extensively illustrated with historical images of the work of each Champion. The essay contributors, identified below, drew upon interviews, emails, and publications to convey the interest and importance of each new champion.

Hall of Papermaking Champions committee chair Tim Barrett, himself elected to the Hall in 2020, remarked that all of those on the Champions committee and the essay writing team took pleasure in contributing to this very important effort. The Hall of Champions is a crucial part of the NAHP mission. NAHP president Giselle Simòn noted that the 2021 group of Champions represents artists, craftspeople, technicians, and scholars who have helped transform the field of hand papermaking. She thanked the committee for its conscientiousness in selecting and documenting the contributions of the new Champions, which will be housed on the NAHP website where it can be a permanent research source for papermakers everywhere.


Kathryn and Howard Clark are recognized as 2021 NAHP Champions for their crucial roles in establishing and developing Twinrocker Handmade Paper, Inc. between 1971 and their retirement in 2008.  Under their leadership, Twinrocker produced paper for some of the world’s best-known artists and highly respected fine art print studios, adding significantly to the visibility and professional stature of the papermaking field. The Clarks effectively multiplied their impact many times over during their careers by training 16 younger papermakers, many of whom went on to make additional important contributions to the papermaking field. [Bernie Vinzani]

Amanda Degener and Michael Durgin are inducted in the NAHP Hall of Papermaking Champions for co-founding Hand Papermaking magazine, a unique professional journal of the highest standards. Amanda and Michael co-published and co-edited the magazine from its founding in 1986 through 1992. Their original vision has made Hand Papermaking the undisputed journal in the field worldwide with its continuous commitment to the inclusion of diverse articles in the art, craft, history, and science of papermaking. [Mina Takahashi]

Tatana Kellner is recognized as a co-founder of Women’s Studio Workshop. Since 1974, women-identified artists have found the unique community at Women’s Studio Workshop an inspiring locus of shared hand papermaking learning and creativity. Under Tatana Kellner’s leadership, WSW has encouraged paper artists with 800 internships and residencies, hosted 47 years of papermaking workshops, and published 240 artist books, significantly advancing the support for and visibility of female papermakers and paper artists from the United States, Canada, and many other countries. [Ann Marie Kennedy] 

Timothy Moore has individually hand built over 250 antique laid, modern laid and wove papermaking moulds for hand papermakers. Combined with his jig- and cutting tool-making skills, and his precise attention to materials and workmanship, since 1985, Moore’s finished moulds have pleased and satisfied their new owners in four different countries, and helped advance, encourage, inspire, and perpetuate the papermaking field for 37 years.  At his website, Moore continues to impact the field by generously sharing his mould-making skills and knowledge. [Cathleen A. Baker]

David Reina, papermaking equipment designer and fabricator, over the past 47 years has built or overseen the production of 425 two lb. beaters, 15 seven lb. beaters, 10 ten lb. beaters and two naginata Japanese-style beaters.  He has produced more than 70 additional pieces of equipment including presses, vacuum tables and dry boxes. Reina’s careful attention to user safety and convenience, reliability, and performance have been integral to each piece of equipment he has shipped to 19 different countries. All told, Reina’s specialized papermaking equipment has helped keep our craft humming on a daily basis. Without his efforts, our field would not be as active, productive, and healthy as it is today. [Tim Barrett]  

The 2021 Hall of Papermaking Champions Committee consisted of: Tim Barrett, chair; Nicole Donnelly; Mary Hark; Mina Takahashi; Jocmarys Viruet Feliciano; and Dard Hunter III, Ex Officio. The committee invites nominations each year from April 15 until June 15. The citations for all members of the Hall of Papermaking Champions can be viewed online here: https://www.northamericanhandpapermakers.org/hall-of-champions

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