Leandra Spangler's passion for papermaking began in 1986 when she first plunged her hands into a vat of pulp. In the subsequent years, Leandra has explored numerous ways of making and using paper (handmade and found) as a medium in her creative artistic expressions. After twenty five years of teaching art in the public schools, Leandra became a full time studio artist in June, 2000.
Spangler creates an armature, woven from reed, lashed bamboo and/or wire, as the bones for her contemporary basketry. Highly textured handmade paper of black denim creates the skin. The paper exoskeleton is sealed and finished with layers and layers of color. These sculptural vessels are shown across the country at invitational and juried exhibitions.
About her work, Leandra says:
I am intrigued by the way light falls on a surface creating highlights and subtle variations of shadow. To create interesting variations on the paper surface, I press found objects into newly formed sheets of (cotton water leaf) handmade paper. These vessels: simple reed and paper structures are often misidentified as metal, ceramic or stone. Viewers are intrigued by the visual and physical paradox: the perception of weight and mass and the reality of paper and reed.
LEANDRA SPANGLER
leandra@bearcreekpaperworks.com
Born: Kansas, 1951SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
FIBER VIVE! , Old Orchard Gallery, Webster Groves, MO 2009
ABERRATION, Boone County Historical Museum, Columbia, MO 2009
WEB&FLOW, Textile Center, Minneapolis, MN 2009
XTREME BASKETS, Jane Sauer Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2008
BEYOND BASKETRY, Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH 2008
FIBER FOCUS, Art St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 2009, 2007, 2003, 1999, 1995
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, National Basketry Organization Conference, 2007, 2005, 2002, 1999
INTERWOVEN:CONTEMPORARY BASKETS, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH 2007
BASKETRY AS AN ART FORM, The Fine Art Center/Bascom-Louise Gallery, Highlands, NC 2007
ROOTS, BRANCHES, TWIGS, Midwest Weavers Conference, Lux Art Center, Lincoln, NE 2007
TRANSVERSING FIBERS, El Centro College, Dallas, TX; Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, TX 2006
BASKETRY:NORTHWEST CONNECTIONS, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA 2006
CONTEMPORARY BASKETS, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002
SHAPE SHIFTERS, Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO 2006
WOVEN MYTHS: CONTEMPORARY BASKETRY, Sabbatini Gallery, Topeka, KS 2006
RE:VISIONS, Fontbonne University Gallery, St. Louis, MO 2006
VISITING ARTIST BIENNIAL EXHIBITION, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO 2005
THIRD SCULPTURAL BASKET INVITATIONAL, The American Art Company, Tacoma, WA 2005
TRANSFORMATIONS, Woven Fiber Art House, West Chester, PA 2004
TRAIL MIX, Handweavers Guild of America's Convergence, Denver CO 2004
DON'T FENCE ME IN, Handweavers Guild of America's Convergence, Denver CO 2004
TRADITIONAL CRAFT/CONTEMPORARY ART, NH Institute of Art, Manchester, NH 2004
BASKETS NOW:2003, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY 2003
BASKETS NOW:USA, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR 2002
OTHER MATERIALS/OTHER FORMS, Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, CT 2002
FIBERART INTERNATIONAL, Pittsburgh Center, Pittsburgh, PA 2001
CONTEMPORARY BASKETS, Mesa Contemporary Arts, Mesa, AZ 2001
FINE FIBER:ART FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, Hinsdale Center for the Arts, Hinsdale, IL 2001
WOVEN CONSTRUCTIONS, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO 2001
SMALL EXPRESSIONS, Handweavers' Guild of America, 2001, 1997
WICHITA NATIONAL, Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS 1999
SURFACE:NEW FORM/NEW FUNCTION, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN 1998
WOMAN'S ART WORKS, The Gallery at One Bausch & Lomb Place, Rochester, NY 1998
FIBER ART:NATIONAL CONTEMPORARY EXPRESSION, Foundation for the Visual Arts, Philadelphia, PA 1997
MATERIALS: HARD AND SOFT, Center for the Visual Arts, Denton, TX 1994
FIBER AT THE END OF THE CENTURY, Corvallis, OR 1994
PAPER/FIBER XVI, The Arts Center, Iowa City, IA 1993
FIBER DIRECTIONS, Wichita, KS 1993COMMISSIONS:
BEDABBLED WITH DEW, Rock Bridge High School Performing Arts Center, Columbia, MO 2007
Missouri Arts Council awards 2006TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
ADJUNCT FACULTY:
Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO Summer 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
FULL TIME FACULTY:
Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, MO 1975-2000
WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR:
Missouri Basketry Guild, 2008, 2006
Stowe Basketry Conference, Stowe, VT 2007
Eureka Springs School of Arts, Eureka Springs, AR 2009, 2006, 2005
Alton Weaver's Guild, Alton, IL 2006, 2005
St. Louis Weaver's Guild, St. Louis, MO 2006
Fiber Weekend, CWSG, Columbia, MO 2006
Society of Layerists in Multi Media, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR 2005
Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO 2005
Arkansas Art Education Association, Little Rock, AR 2004
Midwest Weavers Conference, Edwardsville, IL 2003, 2001
CityArts, Wichita, KS 2002
Missouri Fiber Artists Conference 2002, 1998, 1994
Career Center Adult and Continuing Education, Columbia,MO 2009, 2008, 2002
National Paper Doll Convention, Eugene, OR 2001
Kansas Association of Weavers and Spinners Conference, Wichita, KS 2001
VISITING ARTIST:
Washburn University, Topeka, KS 2006
Rock Hill Public Schools, Eureka, MO 2006
University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO 2006, 2002
Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR 2005
University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 2004, 2003, 2002
Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, MO 2002
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 2002, 1996, 1992
St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO 2001
Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 2001, 1996
Columbia College, Columbia, MO 1999
Missouri River Festival, Boonville, MO 1998
LECTURE:
Arkansas Art Education Association, Little Rock, AR 2004
University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 2001
National Art Education Association Convention, 2000, 1999, 1995
Best of Missouri Hands Conference, Jefferson City, MO 2000
Stephens College, Columbia, MO 1999
Columbia College, Columbia, MO 1999
Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO 1995
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
BEYOND BASKETRY exhibition catalog, Dairy Barn Arts Center 2008
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED IV exhibition catalog, National Basketry Organization 2007
ODDYSSEY illustrated, "Fiber Art", Columbia Home and Lifestyles, June/July 2007
CUCUMARIA illustrated, "31 Artists in 21 Days", Inside Columbia, December 2006
RECLAMATION illustrated, "Home Grown Success", Niche , Winter 2006
ONE HUNDRED HANDS CLAPPING, AND THEN...DAWN, RECLAMATION illustrated, 500 BASKETS, Lark Books 2006
CONTEMPORARY BASKETS exhibition catalog, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002
AND THEN...DAWN illustrated, "Stellar Performers," American Style, June 2005
APRIL'S SONG illustrated, ART STAMPING WORKSHOP, North Light Books 2005
AND THEN...DAWN illustrated, "In Good Company", Niche, Spring 2005
Karen Heywood, "On Paper", Inside Columbia, July 2005
TRADITION & INNOVATION III exhibition catalog, National Basketry Organization
VIRTUAL EXHIBITION:ACTUAL SALE exhibition catalog, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2005
RED MESA illustrated, "Don't Fence Me In-Containing the West Exhibition," Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot, Fall 2004
BASKETS NOW: USA, exhibition catalog, Arkansas Arts Center 2002
TOING & FROING illustrated, "FIBERART INTERNATIONAL 17th Biennial Exhibition," American Craft, Dec 2001/Jan 2002
Pamela Marquis, "Artist Profile:Leandra Spangler & Bear Creek Paperworks", Columbia At Home, April/May 2002
FIBERART INTERNATIONAL 2001 exhibition catalog, Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh 2001
FETISH FERKIN illustrated, "Small Expressions 2001," Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot, Fall 2001
OUT OF IRELAND, illustrated, FIBERARTS DESIGN BOOK 6, Lark Books 1999
Janine Latus Musick, "Boomer vs. Barbie," Mizzou Magazine, Spring 1999
"Curtains", FIBERARTS, Summer 1998
Catherine Taylor, "Move Over Barbie! Here Comes the Paper Doll Book", Radiance, Fall 1998
Patricia Corrigan, "Paper Doll Book Pays Homage to Oldest Sculpture of Human Figure," St. Louis Post Dispatch, July 18, 1998
Anne Huber, "Artist Profile:Art is an Extension of Life for Leandra Spangler," Columbia At Home, Summer 1998
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES illustrated, "Showcase:Electronic Gallery," School Arts 1994EDUCATION:
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 1981
B.S. Education, Art (K-12), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 1973WORKSHOPS WITH:
Donna Kallner, Judy Coates Perez, Charissa Brock, Betty Curry, Jill Norsfor Clark, Polly Adams Sutton, Mary Merkel Hess, Jackie Abrams, Sandy Webster, Nancy Moore Bess, Dawn Walden, Robert Hillestad, Marilyn Moore, Judy Mulford, Lissa Hunter, Michael Davis, Dolph Smith, John Garrett, Judi Ross, Margaret Roach Wheeler, Jane Sauer, Luanne Rimel, Jo Stealey, Betz Salmont, Lynn Sures.
