Treewhispers is an ongoing international collaboration celebrating the profound connection between trees and humanity through handmade paper and artistic exploration. Participants contribute handmade paper rounds with personal memories, poems, images of tree rings, leaves, or depictions of their beloved trees. These rounds, bound with bookbinding thread, come together to form paper columns, creating an ever-evolving forest of art, stories and handmade paper. As the project travels, it continues to grow, adding new voices, new stories, and a collective reverence for nature.

We’re honored to present Treewhispers as the first exhibition in our Irving Park location, in collaboration with Treewhispers founder Pamela Paulsrud, who is celebrating 25 years of this extraordinary project in 2025. With special remembrance of Marilyn Sward, whose vision and passion continue to inspire Treewhispers, we invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone.

Treewhispers is open by appointment. Email us at killian@artistsbookhouse.org to schedule a time to visit.

Treewhispers Programming

On February 16, join us and the Chicago Calligraphy Weathergrams event - this event is free and open to the public, learn more here!

February 22, join Julie Wildman for a calligraphy workshop focused on fun and funky arboreal letters - registration is open now.

On March 1st, Don Widmer will be leading a pulp painting workshop in collaboration with Treewhispers; purchase tickets here!

We’ll also be hosting a closing reception on March 22, 2025—from 2pm to 4pm we will have a private Columbia College Center for Book and Paper Arts Alumni Reunion*, and then from 4pm to 6pm the exhibition will be open to the public for the closing reception.

*if you are a CCC CBPA alumni and would like to attend, email us at killian@artistsbookhouse.org

Learn more at treewhispers.com.