Paper was originally developed by the Egyptians over 5000 years ago from a marsh grass called Cyperous Papyrus, which was cut in to strips and softened with the muddy waters of the Nile. Paper is, in fact, one of the most popular materials with which to fabricate art; it’s easily accessible and cheap. It is where it all begins; from childhood to professional art class we have used and will continue to use paper to express ourselves and develop our ideas. On paper—anything is possible.

The winter salon show “Paper trails” at Van Der Plas Gallery explores the use of this material by gallery and guest artists. This exhibition contains over 50 works on paper with different approaches from representational to abstraction and are all priced under $1000 dollars with some pieces at $300. Two of my favorites are by Colleen Blackard, who uses a ballpoint circle technique to create representational images. The second is by Toyo Tsuchiya who is showing old Village Voice pages from 2005 and 2007 in which he blacks out the negative space, leaving only the bodies of different women who are advertising themselves sexually. These pieces seem very personal to me, communicating solidarity and loneliness blended with dark sexual tension. Paper Trails is a great opportunity for art lovers to take home exceptional pieces at affordable prices by nationally and internationally known artists. If you are a collector, then this is your chance to add some incredible pieces at great prices, and if you are not – then start collecting!

Participating artists: Istvan Kantor Amen, Colleen Blackard, Konstontin Bokov, Ford Crull, Peggy Cyphers, Steve Dalachinksy, M. Donovan, Debra Drexler, Kevin Wendall FA-Q, Enrico Gomez, Peter Griffin, Herbert Schager, M. Sivanesan, Fedele Spadafora, Cliff Tisdell, Toyo Tsuchiya, Johan Wahlstrom, Dale Williams and Michele Zalopany.