Inspired by paperclay

Laguna Beach Ceramics will shed light on an unconventional art form in Laguna Beach, when it hosts the United States’ first-ever Paperclay/TODAY Artist Symposium Feb. 6 and 7 at the Aliso Creek Inn.

Paperclay is a modeling medium that combines clay with paper. Paperclay is very light-weight and can be rewetted and remolded, which makes it easy and fun to work with, say paperclay enthusiasts.

Uniting paperclay artists from around the world, event organizer and artist Linda Saville said she is thrilled to finally introduce the “underrepresented” medium to Southern California artists.

“We’ll have paperclay inventor Rosette Gault and paperclay pioneer Graham Hay, and 16 other artist lecturers from the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand who will display their recent creations and hold a series of hands-on workshops,” she said. “The event also [coincides] with the 20th anniversary of the paperclay patent, which is pretty neat.”

Saville said only one symposium has been held to date — in 2004 in Hungary. An art form that is popular in other countries, it’s not well known in the U.S., and only two of the guest artists are from Southern California.

“Half of our featured artists attended the inaugural event and continue to network with each other,” she said.

The weekend will offer patrons the opportunity to become familiar with the art and meet and take classes with the artists through a series of 90-minute workshops.

“Each opening session will have nine artists giving short presentations, so attendees can decide who they would like to work with throughout the day,” Saville said.

A small art show will also be from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 6, where each artist will display two or three recent pieces, including Bas Relief wall hangings, large figurines and porcelain work, and they will have the opportunity to network with gallery owners.

A hobby artist who discovered paperclay just a few years ago, Saville said she walked away from a workshop in Seattle she attended with Gault and Hay thinking, “I could take this art to a whole new level.”

It is her hope that the “talented” Laguna artist community will become involved with the medium.

Ceramicist and Festival of Arts exhibitor Monica Dunham is one of the few locals who has explored the art of paperclay.

Hoping to inspire other ceramic artists at the festival to try it, she organized a project where artists collaborated on “Art,” a paperclay male figure, which was later auctioned off for $3,000.

Inspired by Jomon — Japanese pottery from 4,000 years ago — she has created a series of sculptural vessels.

“Paperclay has such wonderful properties that allow you to do more with it,” she said. “I would love to see what other artists can do with it.”

If You Go

What: Paperclay/TODAY Artist Symposium

When: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 6 and 7

Where: Aliso Creek Inn, 31106 Coast Hwy.

Cost: $40 for the first workshop; $30 for each additional workshop; $85 for all-day pass

Tickets: Visit www.lagunabeachceramics.com or buy at the door by cash or check only, if space is available.