MDC’s Discovery Center exhibits folk paper cutting artist, hosts paper art workshop in June

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – People can connect with nature in countless creative ways, including fine art. Through the month of June, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is exhibiting the nature-inspired folk paper cutting art of Sarah Nguyen at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City.

Nguyen’s art is made from colored, hand-cut Tyvek scrolls, and is suspended from the ceiling, away from the wall using fishing wire. Drawing inspiration from her heritage of traditional Jewish paper cuts, Nguyen uses symbols of universal elements in her visual representation of flora and fauna. Nature is a universal language, one that all cultures understand, and in that way, she hopes to use its symbols to bring people to common ground.

This exhibition hopes to evoke memories, play, ritual and the dissolving boundaries of waking life and dreams. Folklore, reverence and refinement of nature and observance of daily life, are the concepts behind this work. Nguyen hopes to connect the viewer with concepts of the human condition and the brevity of existence.

At the end of the month, Nguyen will host a workshop for the public to learn folk paper cutting techniques. The free, hands-on workshop will run from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 28, also hosted at the Discovery Center.

Registration is required and can be done by visiting https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/208251.

Nguyen will focus on narrative symbolism and symmetry while teaching Xacto knife cutting techniques. After a brief history of folk paper cutting and review of safety tips, participants will make their own art using card stock and a template provided by Nguyen.

The Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center is located at 4750 Troost Ave. in Kansas City. For questions, call 816-759-7300. Stay up to date on all events and programs at the Discovery Center by signing up for MDC’s messaging lists at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZoP.