Hand-made Corn Paper (2) - Collecting dry materials from the field

This is an early spring activity. I prefer to collect corn stalks, husks, and roots after they have gone through the process of decomposition in the fall and they have been covered with snow for the entire winter. Once the snow has melted, just about the same time the crocus and tulips begin to sprout, I go out to the field with my oldest son, and I carry a black plastic garden bag.



The fields can be very dry and dusty, and we need to wear leather gloves to avoid getting splinters in our hands. Last year I was very ambitious and collected four bags full of dry material. This is when the fun begins.

Evolution of Corn: A Mural in Ames (Iowa, USA)

This mural titled "Evolution of Corn" is located at the city of Ames's post office. Lowell Houser, an artist from Ames known for his wood blocks and black and white drawings, painted the mural in 1935 as a commission from the Treasury Department Art Project.

The "Evolution of Corn" mural gives context to my hand-made corn paper project: The Aztec and industrial motifs; the Amerindian and European farmers; the green, red, gold, and silver colors of the palette are all my inspirations.

Photo by Eduardo García & Susan A. Vega García

Hand-made Corn Paper (1) - Beginning

Winter, spring, summer, and fall. The life cycle needed to process hand-made corn paper. From planting to harvesting, and a long dormant period, the raw materials are ready to be collected.










This is the beginning of a series of blogs about the process of making hand-made corn paper. The place is Iowa (USA), and the inspiration comes from the "culture" of corn found throughout the Americas.