Leandra Spangler's passion for papermaking began in 1986 when she first plunged her hands into a vat of pulp. In the subsequent years, Leandra has explored numerous ways of making and using paper (handmade and found) as a medium in her creative artistic expressions.

After twenty five years of teaching art in the public schools, Leandra became a full time studio artist in June, 2000. She lives in the house she grew up in with her husband, artist/photographer Peter Anger, and their happy kitties.

Leandra Spangler's contemporary vessels are reed forms covered with highly textured handmade paper. She weaves the form as an armature for the application of highly textured handmade paper. A graphite emulsion which is polished by hand creates a luminous protective surface. Recently, Spangler has been adding color to the vessel surfaces. Her vessels are shown across the country at invitational and juried exhibitions.

About her work, Leandra says:

I am intrigued by the way light falls on a surface creating highlights and subtle variations of shadow. To create interesting variations on the paper surface, I press found objects into newly formed sheets of (cotton water leaf) handmade paper. A graphite emulsion seals the handmade paper and is buffed by hand. In addition to creating a beautiful sheen, the graphite emulsion on handmade paper echoes the most elemental of artistic tools: pencil and paper. These vessels: simple reed and paper structures are often misidentified as metal, ceramic or stone. Viewers are intrigued by the visual and physical paradox: the vision of weight and mass and the actuality of paper and reed.

Resume:

LEANDRA SPANGLER
leandra@bearcreekpaperworks.com
Born: Kansas, 1951

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
XTREME BASKETS, Jane Sauer Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2008
BEYOND BASKETRY, Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH 2008
FIBER FOCUS, Art St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 2007, 2003, 1999, 1995
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, National Basketry Organization Conference, 2007, 2005, 2002, 1999
INTERWOVEN:CONTEMPORARY BASKETS, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH 2007
BASKETRY AS AN ART FORM, The Fine Art Center/Bascom-Louise Gallery, Highlands, NC 2007
ROOTS, BRANCHES, TWIGS, Midwest Weavers Conference, Lux Art Center, Lincoln, NE 2007
TRANSVERSING FIBERS, El Centro College, Dallas, TX; Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, TX 2006
BASKETRY:NORTHWEST CONNECTIONS, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA 2006
CONTEMPORARY BASKETS, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002
THE BOOK AND THE RIVER, Winona Arts Center, Winona, MN 2006
SHAPE SHIFTERS, Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO 2006
WOVEN MYTHS: CONTEMPORARY BASKETRY, Sabbatini Gallery, Topeka, KS 2006
RE:VISIONS, Fontbonne University Gallery, St. Louis, MO 2006
CRAFT ALLIANCE VISITING ARTIST BIENNIAL EXHIBITION, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO 2005
TRIBUTE TO FIBER, Apex Gallery, Washington DC 2005
NEW BLOOD, Finer Things Gallery, Nashville, TN 2005
THIRD SCULPTURAL BASKET INVITATIONAL, The American Art Company, Tacoma, WA 2005
TRANSFORMATIONS, Woven Fiber Art House, West Chester, PA 2004
TRAIL MIX, Handweavers Guild of America's Convergence, Denver CO 2004
DON'T FENCE ME IN, Handweavers Guild of America's Convergence, Denver CO 2004
TRADITIONAL CRAFT/CONTEMPORARY ART, NH Institute of Art, Manchester, NH 2004
CONTEMPORARY BASKETRY OF LEANDRA SPANGLER, Gallery MM, Yokohama, Japan 2004
BASKETS NOW:2003, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY 2003
BASKETS NOW:USA, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR 2002
OTHER MATERIALS/OTHER FORMS, Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, CT 2002
FIBERART INTERNATIONAL, Pittsburgh Center, Pittsburgh, PA 2001
CONTEMPORARY BASKETS, Mesa Contemporary Arts, Mesa, AZ 2001
FINE FIBER:ART FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, Hinsdale Center for the Arts, Hinsdale, IL 2001
WOVEN CONSTRUCTIONS, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO 2001
SMALL EXPRESSIONS, Handweavers' Guild of America, 2001, 1997
CONTEMPORARY CRAFTS, Kirkland Art Center, Clinton, NY 1999
WICHITA NATIONAL, Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS 1999
TOP FIFTY, Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO 1998, 1996, 1994
SURFACE:NEW FORM/NEW FUNCTION, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN 1998
WOMAN'S ART WORKS, The Gallery at One Bausch & Lomb Place, Rochester, NY 1998
BOOK/ART, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 1997
ARTISTRY OF BASKETS, Artlink, Inc., Contemporary Art Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN 1997
FIBER ART:NATIONAL CONTEMPORARY EXPRESSION, Foundation for the Visual Arts, Philadelphia, PA 1997
STRUCTURING SPACE:EMPTY & ENCLOSED, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 1996
MATERIALS: HARD AND SOFT, Center for the Visual Arts, Denton, TX 1994
FIBER AT THE END OF THE CENTURY, Corvallis, OR 1994
HONORING CRAFT TRADITIONS, Indianapolis, IN 1993
PAPER/FIBER XVI, The Arts Center, Iowa City, IA 1993
CLAY AND FIBER EXHIBITION, Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, IA 1993
FIBER DIRECTIONS, Wichita, KS 1993
FABULOUS WORKS IN FIBER, Lightside Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 1992
NATIONAL WOMEN'S ART EXHIBITION, Walton Center for the Arts, Fayetteville, AR 1992
TOPEKA CRAFTS 16, Topeka, KS 1992

COLLECTIONS:
Woven Fiber Art House, West Chester, PA
First National Bank, Columbia, MO
Boone County Historical Society Museum, Columbia, MO
Boone County National Bank, Columbia, MO
Permanent Collection of the State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO

AWARDS:
MERIT AWARD, Fiber Focus, Art St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 2007
NICHE AWARD WINNER, Buyers Market of American Craft, Philadelphia, PA 2005
NICHE AWARD FINALIST, Buyers Market of American Craft, Philadelphia, PA 2007, 2006. 2005
MERIT AWARD, Missouri Fiber Artists Conference Exhibition, 2006, 2004, 2000, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995
MERIT AWARD, Trail Mix-Interlacing Techniques Exhibition, Handweavers Guild of America Convergence, Denver, CO 2004
MERIT AWARD, Electronic Gallery, National Art Education Association Conference, 2000, 1995, 1994

COMMISSIONS:
BEDABBLED WITH DEW, Rock Bridge High School Performing Arts Center, Columbia, MO 2007
Missouri Arts Council awards 2006

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
ADJUNCT FACULTY:
Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO Summer 2007, 2006
FULL TIME FACULTY:
Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, MO 1975-2000
WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR:
Missouri Basketry Guild, 2008, 2006
Stowe Basketry Conference, Stowe, VT 2007
Eureka Springs School of Arts, Eureka Springs, AR 2006, 2005
Alton Weaver's Guild, Alton, IL 2006, 2005
St. Louis Weaver's Guild, St. Louis, MO 2006
Fiber Weekend, CWSG, Columbia, MO 2006
Missouri Natural Colored Wool Growers Heart of America Festival, Sedalia, MO 2005
Society of Layerists in Multi Media, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR 2005
Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO 2005
Arkansas Art Education Association, Little Rock, AR 2004
Midwest Weavers Conference, Edwardsville, IL 2003, 2001
CityArts, Wichita, KS 2002
Missouri Fiber Artists Conference 2002, 1998, 1994
Columbia Public Schools Continuing Education, Columbia,MO 2002
National Paper Doll Convention, Eugene, OR 2001
Kansas Association of Weavers and Spinners Conference, Wichita, KS 2001
VISITING ARTIST:
Washburn University, Topeka, KS 2006
Rock Hill Public Schools, Eureka, MO 2006
University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO 2006, 2002
Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR 2005
University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 2004, 2003, 2002
Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, MO 2002
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 2002, 1996, 1992
St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO 2001
Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 2001, 1996
Columbia College, Columbia, MO 1999
Missouri River Festival, Boonville, MO 1998
LECTURE:
Arkansas Art Education Association, keynote address, Little Rock, AR 2004
University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 2001
National Art Education Association Convention, 2000, 1999, 1995
Best of Missouri Hands Conference, Jefferson City, MO 2000
Stephens College, Columbia, MO 1999
Columbia College, Columbia, MO 1999
Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO 1995

AFFILIATIONS:
SURFACE DESIGN ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL BASKETRY ORGANIZATION
FRIENDS OF FIBER ART INTERNATIONAL
HANDWEAVERS GUILD OF AMERICA, INC.
MIDWEST WEAVERS ASSOCIATION
BEST OF MISSOURI HANDS
MISSOURI FIBER ARTISTS
COLUMBIA WEAVERS AND SPINNERS GUILD

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

BEYOND BASKETRY exhibition catalog, Dairy Barn Arts Center 2008
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED IV exhibition catalog, National Basketry Organization 2007
ODDYSSEY illustrated, "Fiber Art", Columbia Home and Lifestyles, June/July 2007
CUCUMARIA illustrated, "31 Artists in 21 Days", Inside Columbia, December 2006
RECLAMATION illustrated, "Home Grown Success", Niche , Winter 2006
ONE HUNDRED HANDS CLAPPING, AND THEN...DAWN, RECLAMATION illustrated, 500 BASKETS, Lark Books 2006
CONTEMPORARY BASKETS exhibition catalog, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002
AND THEN...DAWN illustrated, "Stellar Performers," American Style, June 2005
APRIL'S SONG illustrated, ART STAMPING WORKSHOP, North Light Books 2005
AND THEN...DAWN illustrated, "In Good Company", Niche, Spring 2005
Heywood, Karen, "On Paper", Inside Columbia, July 2005
TRADITION & INNOVATION III exhibition catalog, National Basketry Organization 2005
VIRTUAL EXHIBITION:ACTUAL SALE exhibition catalog, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2005
RED MESA illustrated, "Don't Fence Me In-Containing the West Exhibition, " Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot, Fall 2004
BASKETS NOW: USA, exhibition catalog, Arkansas Arts Center 2002
TOING & FROING illustrated, "FIBERART INTERNATIONAL 17th Biennial Exhibition," American Craft, December 2001/January 2002
Pamela Marquis, "Artist Profile:Leandra Spangler & Bear Creek Paperworks", Columbia At Home, April/May 2002
FIBERART INTERNATIONAL 2001 exhibition catalog, Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh 2001
FETISH FERKIN illustrated, "Small Expressions 2001," Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot, Fall 2001
OUT OF IRELAND, illustrated, FIBERARTS DESIGN BOOK 6, Lark Books 1999
Janine Latus Musick, "Boomer vs. Barbie," Mizzou Magazine, Spring 1999
"Curtains", FIBERARTS, Summer 1998
Catherine Taylor, "Move Over Barbie! Here Comes the Paper Doll Book", Radiance Magazine, Fall 1998
Patricia Corrigan, "Paper Doll Book Pays Homage to Oldest Sculpture of Human Figure," St. Louis Post Dispatch, July 18, 1998
Anne Huber, "Artist Profile:Art is an Extension of Life for Leandra Spangler," Columbia At Home, Summer 1998
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES illustrated, "Showcase:Electronic Gallery," School Arts 1994

EDUCATION:
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 1981
B.S. Education, Art (K-12), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 1973

WORKSHOPS WITH: Charissa Brock, Betty Curry, Jill Norsfor Clark, Polly Adams Sutton, Mary Merkel Hess, Jackie Abrams, Sandy Webster, Nancy Moore Bess, Dawn Walden, Robert Hillestad, Marilyn Moore, Judy Mulford, Lissa Hunter, Michael Davis, Dolph Smith, John Garrett, Judi Ross, Margaret Roach Wheeler, Jane Sauer, Luanne Rimel, Jo Stealey, Betz Salmont, Lynn Sures.

Exhibitions:

BEYOND BASKETRY 2008
The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH
May 23 - September 1, 2008

XTREME BASKETS
Jane Sauer Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
August 8 - September 2, 2008
 

Workshops:

FLAT TO FORM: USING PAPER AS A SCULPTURAL MEDIUM
July 21 - July 25, 2008

Learn to turn flat sheets of beautiful papers into three dimensional forms by casting over found objects and constructed structures. This workshop will introduce you to the versatility of paper as a sculptural medium. Participants will create three dimensional forms from paper using both wet and dry techniques. Finishing techniques and discussions of the archival qualities of paper will be included.
Earn two hours (graduate or undergraduate) college credit through Central Methodist University. This course can be audited or taken for continuing professional units.
Class will be held at Bear Creek Paperworks Studio in Columbia, MO

Fees:
Audit/CPU (no credit): $350
2 hours undergraduate credit: $350
2 hours graduate credit: $430
plus materials fee: $35 to instructor on the first day of class

registration: Contact Leandra Spangler, 573-442-3360 or leandra@bearcreekpaperworks.com

HAND PAPERMAKING -- EXPERIMENTATION AND EXPLORATION
July 28 - August 1, 2008

Emphasizing experimentation with papermaking techniques, participants will use cotton linter pulp making many samples of handmade paper. Techniques will include: flat sheet forming, layering color blocks, layering shapes of color (stencil/shaped deckles), shaping pulps by hand, creating textures (impressing, appliqué, hand manipulation), pulp painting and wet collage. Use of watermarks, pulp inclusions, pulp coloration, paper chemistry (sizing, formation aid), preparation of plant fibers and drying methods will be discussed. Students will construct a mould and deckle.
Earn two hours (graduate or undergraduate) college credit through Central Methodist University. This course can be audited or taken for continuing professional units.
Class will be held at Bear Creek Paperworks Studio in Columbia, MO

Fees:
Audit/CPU (no credit): $350
2 hours undergraduate credit: $350
2 hours graduate credit: $430
plus materials fee: $35 to instructor on the first day of class

registration: Contact Leandra Spangler, 573-442-3360 or leandra@bearcreekpaperworks.com

WOVEN BIZ CARD CASE
August 8, 2008 in St. Louis, MO
Missouri Basketweavers Guild Convention 

COPPER MAKUK PENDANT OR PIN
August 10, 2008 in St. Louis, MO
Missouri Basketweavers Guild Convention

MAKUK MADNESS
August 21/22, 2008
BeadFest Philadelphia, Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, PA

BOOKLACE
August 23, 2008
BeadFest Philadelphia, Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, PA

PASTE PAPERS
Saturday, September 6, 2008
10 am - 4 pm
Bear Creek Paperworks, Columbia, MO

Remember finger painting when you were very young? Enjoy that experience again and create luxureous patterns on paper. Learn ancient and innovative techniques to layer design over design. These beautifully decorated papers can be used for cards, envelopes, bookmarks or cut into strips and used as a basketry material.

contact Leandra Spangler, leandra@bearcreekpaperworks.com or 573-442-3360 to register
Cost: $65 includes all materials