Natural Tendencies

The bast fiber of kozo (Broussonetia papyrifera or paper mulberry) has an intrinsic stickiness and stiffens as it dries, lending itself to a wide range of formal possibilities without the need for additives or adhesives. While valued as a high-quality paper-making crop in Japan and other Asian countries, it is usually considered invasive in the United States. I have been experimenting with the qualities of cooked (with soda ash), unbeaten, wild-foraged kozo strands, twining, plaiting, or pressing by tapping with a stone to set intersections. This piece is an exploration of the variations in the sticking ability at different angles and levels of wetness as I created a vessel over a bowl form with tapped intersections. I wanted to maintain a simple structure in order to express the qualities of the material rather than showcase a complicated process or form.