San Francisco Center for the Book

In this studio class we will be doing a variety of exercises to better understand the subtractive artform of papercut, as well as working with a more in-depth project together.

We will learn about the history of papercut artists and about traditions such as silhouette portraits, rubylith, papel picado, Chinese paper cutting (sometimes referred to as "window flowers"), graffiti stenciling and Jewish papercut. We will also look at contemporary artists using papercut in personal and political ways such as Kara Walker, Carmen Lomas Garza, Irène Pijoan, Nikki McClure & Rosa Leff.

This workshop will provide a space for artists of all skill sets to work with feedback and community. Remember, this is a class where we will be using sharp knives so it’s good to be mindful and present. 

Prerequisite:
None

Materials to bring:
- Copies of photos and any scraps of paper you might be interested in cutting up. 
- Notebook

About the Instructor:
Kate Laster (she/her) is an artist, educator & critical historian. Born in Anchorage (Dena'ina land) and raised all over Alaska from the arctic to the archipelago; a sense of place is key to her art practice as a diasporic jew. She received a Bachelor of Arts at Evergreen State College in 2015 and in 2019 she received a MA+MFA in History & Theory of Contemporary Art and Studio Art with an emphasis in Printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute. She has worked with Woosh Kinaadeiyí, the SF Poster Syndicate and the Coalition on Homelessness. She recently was a full time studio assistant at Hospitality House’s Community Arts Program. Laster has been an artist-in-residence at the Vermont Studio Center, In Cahoots, Open Windows Cooperative, Cisco Home of the Brave, Kala Art Institute and at Pillow Fort Art Center.