In 2011 I travelled to Mexico to explore a variety of paper productions including the tradition of making amate paper in San Pablito.
Read the article I wrote in Paperslurry online magazine about the search for Amate paper.
This paper, print and book publishing cooperative Taller Lenateros is run by Mayan artists in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
Using a pedal powered beater, paper is made from wild plants and recycled agricultural and industrial waste.
Wet paper is 'couched' onto metal sheets which are then hauled onto the flat roof to dry in the hot Mexican sun.
Traditional Mayan papermaking uses Amate paper, the bark paper on which the Mayan codices was written. This artwork was created by Julio Chichicaxtle who uses traditional Mexican designs in his artworks.
I first met Julio Chichicaxtle at the Feria Maestros del Arte in November 2011 and was invited to his studio in the remote mountainous village of Puhuatlan, Mexico. You can read all about this adventure in Paper Slurry.
