Above Ojai, CA. Jan. 2015, Photo credit: John Krolak
I ponder the mountains and the biking as a contemplative practice. I ponder alternative ways of living that promote the environment, human health, community, and experience. It can come in many forms. For me, I have found this through mountain biking and bike-packing.
I am currently working on text about the Continental Divide Mountain Bike Route, and may turn into a larger book/print project. This may be used for fund raising for the next fieldwork trip...
Planting a seed with Nicholas Basbanes.
The Papermaker's Garden. Alex Borgen. Nicholas Basbanes. On Paper. #ThePapermakersGarden #AlexBorgen #SwimmingWithoutWater #NicholasBasbanes
Author of On Paper: The Everything of Its Two-Thousand-Year-History, Nicholas Basbanes visited Columbia College Chicago's Center for Book & Paper Arts to ceremoniously plant the first seeds of the 2014 in the Papermaker's Garden and lecture on his newest book. On Paper is one of the only comprehensive paper making histories to be written since Dard Hunter wrote the famous Papermaking: The History and Technique of an Ancient Craft, more than 60 years ago.
If the weather will stop teasing us, it will soon be time to plant, and I feel honored that Basbanes came to visit the garden as it embarks on its 3rd planting season.
Also to note, the garden has been hosting notable artist Matthew Hoffman's Let's Be Human to Each Other since Feb. 2014, the first public art piece to be displayed at the Papermaker's Garden.
The Papermaker's Garden. Alex Borgen. Nicholas Basbanes. On Paper. #ThePapermakersGarden #AlexBorgen #SwimmingWithoutWater #NicholasBasbanes
Clifton Meador looks on...
The Papermaker's Garden. Alex Borgen. Nicholas Basbanes. Clifton Meador. On Paper. #ThePapermakersGarden #AlexBorgen #SwimmingWithoutWater #NicholasBasbanes
April Sheridan and I
The Papermaker's Garden. Alex Borgen. Nicholas Basbanes. On Paper. #ThePapermakersGarden #AlexBorgen #SwimmingWithoutWater #NicholasBasbanes #CaxtonClub
I've been participating in a collaboration with the MFA Interdisciplinary Arts Department and the MFA Writers of Columbia College Chicago. We have the C33 Gallery space the entire spring 2014 semester, to work and re-work as a laboratory situation. In the space, I am staging several pieces for my MFA Thesis Exhibition (to open May 2nd at the Center for Book and Paper Arts) and teaching movement workshops/interventions/interactions with the giant sheets of paper. Megan Pitcher, a close friend and colleague of mine, and I have been collaborating on several paper pieces for the C33 Gallery as well as movement collaborations. I am currently dancing with her company, MegLouise Dance in Rosas, which is an exciting divergence from and intersection of studio work.
sea of paper, about 1000 sq. ft. worth
InterArts colleagues play and explore large paper.
the paper, nearly 1000 sq. feet worth, left my studio and visited an InterArts Salon a few weeks ago. I didn't say much in terms of invitation, but many people took the initiative to explore and play with the paper.