Choppin' Up That Paper
The idea for the project began one year ago in the Fall of 2021 during a visit to 1890 Bryant Street during ArtSpan SF’s Open Studios. We met Michael Beckler while walking around the four floors of artists' studios during the annual public event. Immediately after walking into the studio and seeing the art, we knew we had met one of the next artists.
shoji, rice paper from Japan
We started our piece with an energy, a color palette, and a piece of rice paper that was 39” x 59”. As with all of our original pieces, the intention is to digitize the final piece as label art for the bottle. But as this collaboration and piece evolved, we found ourselves wondering what we could do to the final product to embellish the artistic idea. Like the gold-lustered Full Circle bottles, we wanted to nod to the original while making something a little more unique. On the way to visit Beckler in his studio one day, we had the idea to deconstruct a portion of the original work into pieces and apply them directly onto the bottles. And with that, the Paper Trail began.
Beckler has a few different techniques he employs in his artwork. We were originally drawn to the abstract colors and textures that he creates with bright acrylic paints, epoxy, paper, and glass. He works with rice paper from Japan, also known as Shoji. Shoji is used in architecture for screens and shades because of its semi-translucent nature. It also is used in calligraphy, called shodō, because it has a remarkable ability to be super absorbent. There are different types of paper, with various densities and levels of translucence. Beckler uses this type of paper for many of his works, where he blots and drops paint on one side of the paper so thick that it bleeds through to the other side. He then flips it over and begins developing the painting by applying more topcoat layers onto the paper. When the desired abstract effect is achieved he finishes by stretching it onto a wood birch panel and secures it with epoxy. The finished product is three-dimensional and has various levels of both gloss and shine, as well as a matte-like quality. We were enamored immediately. And with that, we got to work.
The back of the Paper Trail piece
One section, about 50% of the original artwork is mounted onto a wood panel and resined. The remaining portion was divided into fifty-five (55) pieces and used to create 1 of 1 Collector Editions. Each bottle contains a 3.75” x 4.25” unique piece of art numbered and signed by the artist, Michael Beckler. The box was crafted in the United States and is made of cherry wood. The first five (5) numbered bottles will be cut to order from the paper and available as NFTs.
We debuted the artwork for the first time on November 4, 2022 in Michael’s studio for the annual ArtSpan SF Open Studios event. Guests enjoyed a first taste of the new whiskey while our piece was on full display. All fifty-five of the 1 of 1 pieces were available for pre-purchase in advance of bottling.
Follow the Paper Trail: Read Tasting Notes and view the 55 Collector Editions.
Joshua, Michael, and Kristen on November 4, 2022