Handmade

October 7, 2024 - January 6, 2025

Combat Paper transforms military uniforms into handmade paper, believing that the plant fibers in rags can be repurposed. These uniforms carry stories and experiences, which are preserved in the paper and artwork created from them. They host open workshops where veterans and civilians can collaborate, fostering understanding and connection.

The papermaking process involves breaking down textiles into pulp using a Hollander Beater, then forming and drying sheets by hand. These sheets can be used for prints, journals, books, or unique artworks. Combat Paper workshops welcome personal materials and donated uniforms, maintaining an open and inclusive atmosphere.

For seventeen years, Drew Francis Cameron, a former sergeant in the U.S. Army and Iraq War veteran, has traveled across the country, teaching and working as the principal artist of Combat Paper. His work has been exhibited internationally and is included in numerous public collections, including the Library of Congress. Cameron resides in Iowa City where he maintains his paper studio.

Click here to learn more about the papermaking process. (link 'here': https://www.combatpaper.org/media)

Interested in supporting Combat Paper? You can purchase an energy KIT (link 'energy KIT': https://www.combatpaper.org/store/energykitbycombatpaper), which includes five sheets of handmade paper crafted from unserviceable, deconstructed, reclaimed, and pulped military uniforms.