Artists’ Statement

The papercrafts and paper sculptures of Portland Paper City educate and fascinate the viewer with an alternate take on familiar forms. Paper as a medium allows for us to explore our imaginations without limits, as well as fulfill our desire to meticulously create a structured environment. The art of papercraft is intrinsically engaging because it is malleable and accessible to all skill levels. Community involvement created an opportunity to access these skill levels through collaboration with children as well as advanced paper artists.

The inspiration for this project stems from the city of Portland, with its vast natural beauty, energetic communities, artistic residents and quirky slogans. Such a broad overarching theme was chosen specifically so that virtually anything could be created. A paper wonderland featuring all of the characters and objects seen in our daily lives, like people, cars, animals, houses, skyscrapers, bikes, and so on.

The founding artists, Marisa Green, Jessie Bazata, Sean Garrison, and Rory Philips have been rooted in the design community collectively for over ten years. Their love of paper engineering and illustration brought them together to forge a pathway of limitless creativity away from the daily grind.