Pulp and paper artwork stole the show in a night of festivity and philanthropy, with Domtar as the premier sponsor for the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art’s Spring Gala, held on April 12, 2019.
In its 10th year, the Spring Gala’s theme was “Pulp Art,” in the style of pop art similar to the works of Andy Warhol. The night featured entertainment, food, cocktails and other activities throughout the museum in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.
“We’re delighted to show off the many ways pulp and paper products enhance our lives every day,” says Jan Martin, Domtar’s senior manager for media and community relations. “Beyond its practical uses, paper is the perfect medium for showcasing creativity, beauty and artistry.”
The Bechtler Museum is dedicated to the celebration and analysis of the strongest aspects of midcentury modernism as reflected in the holdings of the Bechtler collection. The collection comprises more than 1,400 works by 20th-century artists. Some works are accompanied by books, photographs and letters illustrating personal connections to the Bechtler family.
Paper Artwork Brings Gala Theme to Life
Anne Carter Smith, who led the host committee for the gala, says, “We had a meeting at Domtar’s offices in the fall, and they were showing us everything that can be made with their paper. Sculptures, furniture, dresses, masks, giant Post-it notes — you name it! We saw in one of their offices this pressed piece of art that had been made with their pulp, and that got the ideas rolling.”
Paper-based art, including this wearable wig/hat, entertained and inspired at the annual gala.
Photo:
T. Ortega Gaines – Courtesy of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Domtar paper played a role from beginning to end. The gala invitation was beautifully printed on 160-lb. Cougar Cover that had been doubled for a luxurious thickness of 320-lb. It featured fluorescent pink and orange inks and was finished with purple foil stamping.
Domtar’s HOTS® and Colors papers were used throughout the gala in various forms, from walls of enormous paper flowers to elegantly rolled and layered tapestries. Each table displayed intricately cut and rolled paper flower bouquets in stylish vases.
Our Rock Hill, South Carolina, converting plant donated butt rolls and cores that were used in creative art displays at the event. Domtar’s graphic designers and multimedia professionals created the gala’s silent auction wall that featured items available for attendees to bid on, as well as an original piece of black-and-white paper artwork that attendees colored during the event, adding their own artistic flair to the evening.
Each of the museum’s four floors featured works of art made with pulp and paper, from traditional paintings and drawings to innovative exhibits, such as a paper seat equipped with haptic feedback. Other highlights included paper artwork created by famed paper artist Felix Semper.
The gala and its paper artwork exhibit raised money for the museum’s operating costs, including exhibitions, public programs and community outreach initiatives that encourage an appreciation of the arts, culture, education and inclusiveness.
