Broom paper

Book Bombs reunited this week in the Bay Area for some rabble rousing papermaking. Continuing our investigation of invasive plants, broom fiber was harvested from Farm Alley and the parking lot of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park (pictured above and below).

The stalks were soaked to harvest the bast fiber (below).

And papermaking ensued. Pictures to come...

Book Bomber Michelle Wilson visits Lost Coast Culture Machine

Book Bombs first encountered Lost Coast Culture Machine when we participated in their exhibition, Paper! Book Bomber Michelle Wilson recently visited the space - check out her post about them here.

Cooking Andean Pampas Grass

Andean pampas grass, (Cortaderia jubata), is a native of South America. In California, it was introduced and is still grown as an ornamental plant, however, it is highly invasive, especially on fragile coastal dunes.

Pampas grass was recently harvested to be made into a part of Book Bombs' upcoming zine (more information on that to come). The image above was a tussock that grew alongside railroad tracks in Richmond, California. It has razor sharp leaves, and we recommend gloves for any harvesting that our readers might attempt.

The light, fluffy blond seed-hair was collected and saved for future projects - see below:


The stalks and leaves were cut down and soaked overnight . . .


. . .and then cooked in washing soda prior to beating. Interestingly, pampas grass turns a rusty orange when cooked.



More to come on the processing this into paper. Stay tuned...

Belated HomeSkooled Images

With all the craziness of these past few months, there wasn't time to upload our pictures from Acting Out, the exhibition that featured Book Bombs last April at HomeSkooled Gallery. So, with all due respect to all the organizers for our tardiness, here they are!



Along with zines and photographs of our work in situ, we also featured a print rescued from the street. This print - on handmade Pawlonia tomentosa paper - had survived a month of blizzard, freezing temperatures, winds, and who knows what else. Check out the detail below. For larger images, click on the pictures.

Axis Alley Images

Book Bombs spent the day in Axis Alley, transforming the rear of 2212 N. Calvert Street in Baltimore. Michelle sweeps the stairs, above, in preparation for wheatpasting.


Our cut denim paper, made from donated old jeans, was installed amongst a couple of paintings from the Fall 2009 Axis Alley installations.


The paper was cut into the shapes of endangered plant species native to the Baltimore area, such as Virginia mallow and Striped gentian.


Nearby properties will be transformed by other artists in the coming weeks. If you are within hailing distance of Baltimore, please consider coming by for the opening alley walk on May 23, late afternoon. And hope for good weather!

Urban Invasives are Hot!

Watch out folks; paper from invasives is the next in thing. Reports are that Duke Riley's engraving in the New Prints 2009/Autumn show at the International Print Center New York is printed on paper made from phragmites. Incidentally phragmites were one of the first invasives to come to my attention after my sister came back from marine biology camp in high school. She was obsessed with them, and pointed them out everywhere. We were both obsessed with saying the word "phrag-mit-e." Evidently these invasives are found throughout Central Park in New York City. Thanks to Printeresting for the tip, and for the following visual aids: