The Morgan Conservatory is proud to be hosting Watermarks 2012, an international papermaking conference, October  17-20, 2012. Over 300 artists, arts administrators and educators, many of whom are members of the International  Association of Hand Papermakers and Artists (IAPMA) and the Friends of Dard Hunter, will convene at The Morgan Conservatory for this four-day event.

The conference will include an array of papermaking demonstrations, lectures, exhibitions, and museum tours. You do  not have to be a member of either organization to attend. Single day registrations are available. We are engaging the  entire city of Cleveland from the museums in University Circle to the Windham Hotel Downtown, to The Morgan in  Midtown.

Over 17 art exhibitions are being launched at area non-profits, galleries and colleges in honor of the conference.  More importantly, attendees will experience the resurgence of arts and culture underway in our area that will ensure Cleveland continues to be a city of the arts for generations to come. Watermarks 2012 commences with an opening  reception on October 17th featuring acclaimed author Nick Basbanes as the keynote speaker.

Mr. Basbanes is the recent recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship in support of a work-in-progress, a cultural history of paper and papermaking.

Watermarks is presented with support from American Greetings, Art Source, BNY Mellon Wealth, Management,  Colophon Book Arts Supply, The George Gund Foundation, Jim Gruzosky, Hand Papermaking, Inc., Tony and Gale  Mazzella, and West Terrace, Inc. A special thanks goes to the Summer Camp children at the Rainey Institute for  participating with the Morgan. Their artwork will decorate our windows, welcoming the artists to the Watermarks  Conference.

Watermarks 2012 coincides with Octavofest, a month long celebration in Northeast Ohio of paper and book arts. In  addition to the paper exhibitions, many libraries, colleges, and nonprofits throughout the area will be offering special  events during the month of October.

We’d be remiss not to also mention that the Morgan celebrates its fifth year with an annual Open House and Silent Auction from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m Saturday, September 22, 2012. Featuring the Snail Mail Paper Trail—art created on  Morgan handmade paper by local and national artists.Hors d’oeuvres, demonstrations, cash bar, and live music by  the  Moises Borges Brazilian Jazz Quartet.  $5 at the door.

Once again Cleveland proves that it is the best location in the nation … now for the arts!