Sandra Levy to lead scherensnitte class at 1800 House

PHOTOS BY ROB BENCHLEY Bee Shay, who teaches several 1800 House classes including paper cutting, explained that scherensnitte began in China where paper was first made. It is a long trip from Sydney, Australia, but master craftsperson Sandra Levy will arrive here from there today in preparation for her upcoming, three-day scherensnitte (say Sharon's knit) course in designs of cut paper at the Nantucket Historical Association's 1800 House.

This will be Levy's third year as an NHA teacher. A member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration, Levy has instructed students in the art of traditional American and Australian crafts for 30 years and has a studio in Sydney where she works on commission.

Bee Shay, who teaches several 1800 House classes including paper cutting, explained that scherensnitte began in China where paper was first made. The Chinese originally used the paper cutting method to transfer embroidery patterns onto cloth. Later, the Japanese used cut paper in textile production. During the China Trade period, the art of paper cutting was introduced to European nations, but because paper was still a scarce commodity it was mainly used in monasteries for illuminated

"Scherenschnitte" by Sandra Levy religious manuscripts with occasional cuttings as embellishments.

In the mid-to-late 1700s, when paper became more readily available to the every day person, the Germans and Swiss became interested in its uses for art forms, and were the first to fold paper to create cutting designs that would be symmetrical on both sides when the paper was opened.

Young European women who often embroidered discovered that their fine scissors worked well to cut thin paper and began making valentines and birth announcements, called frakturs, using this craft method. When the Dutch, Germans and Swiss settled in the United States to escape religious persecution, they introduced many handcrafts, including the scherensnitte.

This artform craft is still practiced across Europe. Denmark has a tradition where, when the first snowdrops bloom in spring, paper cutting designs of them are done and given anonymously to a recipient. If the person receiving the gift recognizes the giver, the artist receives a chocolate egg.

While one of the most famous papercutting

artists was Hans Christian Andersen, who used many in illustrating his fairy tales, Sandra Levy is well skilled to teach her island students in a tradition that produces wonderful home decorations for both the pupil and as gifts her students can create on their own, once they have the necessary instruction.

Levy has chosen a design for the class that is specific to Nantucket. It has starfish, whales, lighthouses, sailboats, seagulls, Nantucket baskets and a saltbox house at its center.

Students will receive parchment paper picked for this craft, because it is thin, yet strong, and cuts easily. The paper will be folded in half, the design will be traced and transferred to the parchment, then the design will be cut out using X-acto knives and scissors. Once the designs are completed they will be mounted on contrasting mat board and ready for framing. If students wish to paint their designs, that step will take place before the mounting.

The scherensnitte class starts on Tuesday, Oct. 13 and runs through Oct. 15, with classes held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the 1800 House at 4 Mill St. The course fee for NHA members is $175 and is $225 for non-members. Registration is required. Call 508-228-7785. I