Gail has been making paper since 1984 and books since approximately 1990. She has explored most aspects of handpapermaking and specialises in pulp painting and plant fibre papermaking. She has had several solo exhibitions and participated in many group exhibitions.
2009 ‘Nesting’ with Zoe Culbertson 69 Smith Street Gallery, Fitzroy
2009 ‘Paper Travels’ CAS Fitzroy Library Exhibition Space, Fitzroy
2006 ‘Passion for Paper’ Studio500, Trentham, Victoria
2006 ‘Journeys’ Women's Heath Information Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne
2005-6 ‘Journeys’ C-cubed Contemporary Art Space, Balwyn
2002 ‘Natural Connections’ with Ann Parry, Dragon Papers, Windsor, Victoria and at Meeniyan Art Gallery, Meeniyan, Victoria
2001 ‘Paperworks
2’, Dragon Papers, High St., Prahran, Victoria
2001 ‘Paperworks’, Leongatha ACS Gallery, Leongatha, Victoria
1998 ‘Paper in the Park’ , The Stables, Wattle Park, Victoria
1997 ‘Summer Dreams’, Maenad Art, Bellair Street, Kensington, Victoria
2017- 18 ‘Luminous Within Australia’ touring, first venue University of Tasmania, Burnie campus (selected)
2016 – 17 ‘Inspired by Paper’ Germany and touring Europe (selected)
2016-7 ‘Luminous Within Americas’ North and South America, touring (selected)
2014 “Nexus” Fabriano Italy (selected)
2013 Artisan Books Book Arts Exhibition, Fitzroy
2012 ‘Watermarks’ Morgan Conservatory, Cleveland, USA (selected)
2011 ‘Silver’ and ‘Sculptural and Artist Books’ 69 Smith Street Gallery, Fitzroy
2011 ‘Paper and Type/Print’ Cheongju, South Korea (selected)
2011’Opus’ Artisan Books, Fitzroy
2011 'Faszination Papier' Touring Germany and Poland
2010 'Valda Quick Biennial Paper Arts Exhibition’ Bundoora Gallery, Bundoora, Vic
2010 ‘Paper Road’ Wonju, South Korea
2010 ‘Atlas’ Artisan Books Fitzroy
2009 - 10 ‘Water-Wood-Paper’ Seoul, Jeonju and Wonju, South Korea
2009 ‘Between the Lines’ Artisan Books, Fitzroy
2009 ‘Beyond Words’ East Gippsland Art Gallery, Bairnsdale, Vic
2008 ‘SCU Artists' Book Award 2008', Barratt Galleries Alstonville NSW (work acquired)
2008 ‘Into the Fold’ Artisan Books, Fitzroy
2008 ‘A Month of Making’ Craft Victoria, Melbourne
2008 ‘Wasser I Zeichen’ Bremen-Nord, Germany
2008 ‘Libris Awards’ Artspace Mackay, Queensland (work acquired)
2008 ‘Collectors Exhibition’ Contemporary Arts Society Steps Gallery Carlton
2018 ‘Unfurled’ Papermakers of Victoria member show Geelong
2011 and 12 ‘Silver’ IAPMA member show Fitzroy and Bairnsdale
2010 'Valda Quick Biennial Paper Arts Exhibition’ Bundoora Gallery, Bundoora, Vic
2003 ‘A is For Art’ International postcard exchange. Exhibitions in Troy, NY, USA, Vienna, Austria, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Box Hill, Mittagong, Mandurah, Canberra and to be shown in Hobart, Broken Hill & Sydney, Australia
2000 ‘Confluence’ Ryrie street Gallery, Geelong
Commissions from Hercules Chemicals and the public.
2001& 2004 Artist in Schools grant (Arts Victoria)
1999 -2016 Many prizes in bookbinding at Royal Melbourne Show
2013 500 Paper Objects Lark Books, USA
2012 1000 Artist Books Quarry Books USA
2009 Eco Books Lark Books USA
2008 500 Handmade Books Lark Books USA
2003 ‘Letters’ Bulletin of IAPMA (International Association of Papermakers and Paper Artists.
2003 ‘Australian Paper Arts’ magazine, Designing Australians feature
2002 ‘The Encyclopedia of Papermaking & Bookbinding’ H. Reimer-Epp & M. Reimer Publisher Quarto Inc.
2002 ‘Craft’ – Paper, Magazine of Craft Victoria Volume 33 No. 242 1/2002
1999 ‘Textile Fibre Forum’ Volume eighteen, issue 2, No. 55
1999 ‘Edible Paper’ Newsletter of IAPMA, international paper arts association
1999 ‘Women’s
Art Register Bulletin’ Number 29
1998 ‘Somerset Studio’ Volume two, issue 4
2015 Fibre Arts Australia 'Paper to Book' Ballarat Grammar School
2010 Geelong Fibre Forum ' Brazen Breastplates', casting and colouring paper
2006 Geelong Textile Fibre Forum ' Brazen Breastplates', casting and colouring paper
2005 Geelong Textile Fibre Forum 'Books on the Edge, that ain't a book!'
2004 Year 12 and year 7 Korowa Anglican Girls College
2003 Year 12 Korowa Anglican Girls College three sessions on papermaking & bookbinding
2002 Year 10 Loyola College end of year activity, three sessions on one day.
2002 Sessions
with Hawthorn pre school students half a day for each of four groups
2001 Year 11 Sophia Mundi Steiner School papermaking and bookbinding
2001 prep-grade 6 'Artist in Schools Project' supported by Arts Victoria at Thomas Chirnside Primary School
1991-Present Tutor with Council of Adult Education, running 3-4 basic papermaking workshops per year.
1994-2003 Tutor at Monash University Short Courses Centre teaching basic papermaking, advanced papermaking, plant fibre papermaking and introduction to simple bookbinding.
2004-5 Holmesglen TAFE Shortcourses Program Bookbinding & Paper Decoration and Papermaking
1987-Present Various demonstrations and workshops at Community Centres, Shopping Centres , Schools and Hospitals.
1970-72 Maths Science Lilydale & University High Schools
2018 Papermakers of Victoria President
1999-2016 Women’s Art Register Convenor
2011 - 2015 International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists
(IAPMA) president
2006 - 2013 International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists
(IAPMA) editor
2004 International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists
(IAPMA) vice-president
2003 International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists
(IAPMA) - Member at large.
1998-2004 Papermakers of Victoria inc. President
1999 Victorian Bookbinders Guild vice-president
1997-8 Victorian Bookbinders Guild - committee member,
1989-1997 Papermakers of Victoria inc. Treasurer
Craft Victoria member
Craft Australia member
Contemporary Art Society of Victoria member
NAVA member
My love affair with paper began many years ago when I first learned to make my own. I love all the many things you can do with paper. I love to make pulp paintings, cast paper, installations, books and cards. I love to make paper from plants and see what surprises are in store. I love to recycle because I care for the environment. I love to make something valuable out of something that would otherwise be thrown away. Most of all I love the fact that even although I’ve been making paper for over thirty years, I’m still experimenting and learning new techniques.
© 2013 Gail Stiffe
papergail.stiffe@gmail.com