WNYBAC at Explore and More

WNYBAC was invited to participate in a workshop at Explore and More in East Aurora - and the results were fantastic! Explore and More is an educational learning oasis where young children and their parents can go, and for a nominal fee, have access to all sorts of amazing and engaging toys. The focus is on hands on learning, and the children get to experience international culture, science, art, and architecture all under one roof.

Occasionally Explore and More works around a theme, and the theme for the day was Snakes - accordingly, we brought along all the materials to show the kids how to make origami "snake books," which are an easy-to-make type of accordion-folded book.

In a single day, Explore and More had over 450 visitors, and in total, we made somewhere between 100-200 snake books! Check out what explore and more has to offer, and check out the photos to see two examples of great student work - one, a six foot long snake book with a head, and another snake book converted into a mammal with the addition of arms and legs.

Big thanks to all who lended a hand Jeanette, Erin, and especially Holly, who was already proficient at origami, and showed us how to make some great paper ornaments!

Combat Paper Residency

Although the weather outside is frightful, February has been a busy month at WNYBAC. We were very excited to host Combat Paper as artists in residence for almost two full weeks, and it was great to strengthen our personal relationship as well as help them produce some fantastic prints.

Combat Paper is a collaborative project initiated by Drew Cameron and Drew Mattot that helps veterans mitigate their war experiences through art, and more specifically, through papermaking and printmaking. Veterans cut apart their own uniforms, then use the rags to create pulp for paper, make sheets of paper, then use that paper to create art objects relevant to their emotional struggle. Learn more about the process at the Combat Paper website, and see photos of work here.

We're always happy to host Combat Paper, and below are some photos of a broadside they produced during their time here. It's a collaboration between Drew Cameron and veteran Jan Barry, a broadside that features Jan's hand-set letterpressed poem and a background illustration/woodcut by Drew. Jan's broadside, as well as other art prints made by Combat are available at WNYBAC, and some will soon be available on our Etsy shop.

During their stay, Combat also did a number of presentations and demonstrations at SUNY at Buffalo, Niagara County Community College, and Just Buffalo's Big Night event.