John Knapp

This series contains lamps made of washi fused with shredded fibers of kozo and mitsumata bark.  Shape is achieved by forming the sheets of fused washi & fiber around solid forms such as air-filled bladders, or by pressing between molds with heat and humidity.  While drying, the Wrinkled Fruit Lamp is suspended in a hot humid enclosure to produce an ovoid with a puckered surface.  The Bird Nest Lamp is composed of dense layers of shredded fiber strands applied in concentric circles around a silk ball.  The Parcheesi Fan Vault is inspired by the fan vault of gothic architecture.  When illuminated, these lamps produce warm, diffuse light that enhances an intimate, atmospheric lighting scheme.   When turned off, the lamps display neutral earth tones and a surface texture that creates a play of light and shadow.