Leandra Spangler 

Leandra Spangler’s passion for papermaking began in 1986 when she first plunged her hands in a vat of paper pulp.  Since then, she has explored numerous ways of making and using paper (handmade and found) as a medium in her creative expressions.  As an evolving artist, an enthusiasm for fiber art led Spangler to explore the diversity of the art form - constructing books by hand, traditional and contemporary basketry, mixed media collage, creating decorative papers and surface design treatments on fabrics, but feels this path will always return to her original passion for making handmade paper.

A desire to present paper in three-dimensions led her to combine handmade paper and basketry forms.  Spangler’s sculptural forms are twined reed, which are covered with a handmade paper “skin”.  Often textural, the paper is sealed and embellished -- painted or covered with graphite.  A “gatherer” by nature, she often includes objects and materials she “finds” in her work.  Layer upon layer, the viewer is absorbed by the rich surfaces she creates.  Her vessels are shown across the country at invitational and juried exhibitions.  In addition to the vessels, she makes lamps with handmade paper shades, and paper bowls for the table or wall, journals, cards and fiber-based jewelry.

Interested in art as long as she can remember, as a young girl she spent hours drawing teddy bears and trains and later spent much of her “homework” time drawing at her desk. She holds a Master’s in (art) Education from the University of Missouri -- Columbia.  After twenty-five years of teaching art in the public schools, she became a full time studio artist in June 2000 now working in her studio every day.  Leandra Spangler offers a variety of workshops in her studio space, Bear Creek Paperworks, at her home in Columbia, Missouri.

Fiber jewelry for your consideration is available for Capital Arts Fiber Exhibition.