You are not logged in.
I am currently reading a book called 'Papier-Mache Artistry by Dona Z. Meilach'. In the book they meantion that an artist in Mexico Gemma Taccogna single-handedly brought interest in papier-mache back in the 1960's.
I found this all so interesting that there was a renewed interest in papier-mache (being born in the 70's myself I missed out. The only thing I knew about papier-mache before I started was that it was something chidren played with in kidergarden), but much to my disappointment I can't find ANY information on Gemma Taccogna on the world wide web.
I figured I'd take a shot in the dark to see if anyone has heard of this artist before and if they could give me the low-down on her life's happenings.
Offline
Hello,
this http://www.sacksfineart.com/gemma_taccogna.htm I found by asking google.com. Maybe you can ask for some information at this gallery.
hth
Christina
Offline
The web apparently hasn't caught up with her much 
.
She is apparently still alive, as the Palo Verde Art Center (CA) is doing a seminar where she is apparently a guest speaker:
"TILE PAINTING
Zen Del Rio (ZR-1)
Thursdays, 7/13 - 8/24, 6:30-9:30pm
$120, Members $100
Learn innovative tile painting techniques developed by renowned artist Gemma Taccogna. Make trivet, address plaque, multiple tile sea/landscape compositions and still life murals. A rare opportunity to develop your designs under the guidance of one of this country’s most revered and prolific ceramic artists. Special seminar by Gemma."
http://www.pvartcenter.org/classes-adult.html
Offline
My brother studied sculpture with Gemma Tagcogna in Mexico City in the 1960's. I hadn't heard her name in many years and didn't know anything about her papier mache activities. I did meet her, though. A very thin, dark-haired, intense person. Wish I knew more.
Offline
elsa.rubenstein: I wish I knew more too! Your brother is so luck to have studied sculpture with her!
Offline
Hi,
I have studied with Gemma Taccogna for over 10 years.
I see her several times a week.
If you still have questions about her please E mail me at
RCDS2@aol.com.
Thanks.
Offline
Hello Paperartist!
It would be nice if you could persuade Gemma to show some of her work in a gallery page on the PapierMache site.
Any chance of that?
Best wishes
DavidO
Offline
DavidO
Sure, I am her "official" ameture photographer.
She hasn't been doing much work in her later years but I have photos I can post.
Let me figure out how to do it...
Paperartist
Offline
paperartist: I am so excited about seeing the pictures. I'd love to see her work. I know so little about her that an little morsel of information would be totally delightful.
Offline
Hi Butterbee,
I have submitted a request to be added to the visitor's gallery but have not heard back.
Last week I took over 100 pictures of Gemma's work at her home. We paln on making a scrapbook for her.
Hopefully I will be able to post more soon...
If you have any tips for me on how to post pictures here I'd appreciate it.
In the mean time, I highly recommend this book:
Papier-mache Artistry (ISBN: 0318739305)
Meilach, Dona Z.
You can get it (used) online
It features Gemma and her techniques.
I will see Gemma on Friday this week. I plan to bring my computer and show her this site
PaperArtist
Offline
Oh I sure hope that you hear something back soon about your request to be added to the visitor's gallery paperartist!
I'd love to see those pictures!
Let her know that there is a girl out there on the internet that is completely inspired by what little work I have seen from her.
Does she have a website anywhere? I was never able to google one.
Offline
Hi Butterbee,
No she doesn't have a web site.
Most of her work is in private collections.
California State University of Long Beach here in Southern California has a small display of her work.
Still waiting for the OK to put her pictures up
PaperArtist
Offline
I'm sure looking forward to this!!!
Sue
Offline
Finally, I have posted a few pictures to Gemma's Gallery.
She gave me her unpublished autobiographical book (to copy) and said I could share anything with you. That will be a lot of work..but if you all are still interested, I will do it.
Please, let me know what you think.
Offline
While that is a very generous offer I, for one, don't feel that you need to go to all that trouble for us. I am assuming that it will be published at some point in time? I can watch for it.
If you only intend to put the work online at some point in time, when that time comes, I'm sure all of us would like to read it, and would be happy if you posted the web address for us.
But it's a very generous offer.
Now! Over to the gallery to see what you've posted! Yeeehawww!
Sue
Offline
How exciting is this?!?
Thank you, thank you paperartist!
Thank you so much for posting the pictures. It makes me so happy to see her work.
Is her unpublished autobiographical book going to be printed in the near future?
Offline
Hi. I'm new to the board and I am amazed at some of the very talented artists on here. I am so impressed with Gemma's work and I too would love to see more pics. Amazing how she gets her pieces so smooth. I have so much to learn yet about this medium.
Trish
Offline
Hi Trish,
Yeah, I am baffled as to how Gemma got those smooth finishes, too.
Not that she didn't try to teach us, she did. The secret is sanding, a LOT of sanding.
Gemma has some 2 piece plaster molds of some of her pieces.
We put a layer of gauze in the mold letting it hang out over the edges and dusted it with powder. We used bath powder.
Then you smooth in a layer of torn pieces of roofing paper dunked in a solution of wheat paste, water and white glue. It should be the consistency of milk. Roofing paper is a course black paper that you can get at a hardware store.
The next layers are torn newspaper, soaked (not mushy-just wet) in the same wheat paste solution. Press as hard as you can on each layer to make as smooth as possible (saves you some of the sanding). Let it dry between layers
Next we pulled the piece carefully out of the mold by the gauze that is hanging out. Throw away the gauze. Fit the 2 pieces together and tape (we used just masking tape) trim the edges if needed to make a smooth seam. Add more torn newspaper to cover the tape.
When it is dry cover with several layers of Gesso, letting it dry between applications. Poke a hole in the bottom so it can breathe. This prevents mold and other such unwanted stuff.
Now you start sanding. We liked to use an awl on the first few sandings as well as on the rough spots. Then of course, you use sandpaper starting with course and then finer. Any gullies are filled with gesso.
When the surface is smooth, you can decorate and paint.
We used, as Gemma did, string, lace, etc soaked in wheat paste for decorations or final details.
PaperArtist (Jackie)
Offline
thanks a lot Jackie for the tips. Never heard of using roofing paper before. I'll have to give some of these tips a try.
Trish
Offline
paperartist: I am so happy you explained to Trish1958 how Gemma got her finishes so smooth. I was wondering too.
I, like Trish have never used (or heard of) roofing paper before. I wonder why that paper was chosen over any other.
Offline
Butterbee,
She uses Roofing paper for durability.
I know I made a big pink paper mache lion in a high school art class. I would still have him if he hadn't gotten so beaten up. He was hard to throw away.
You can use any heavy paper that is somewhat porous.
Jackie
paperartist
Offline
Roofing paper for durability, that makes sense the more I think about it.
I bet everything she made is very durable.
So, the secret to that smoothness is lots and lots of sanding?
I was hoping it would be a secret that would be a lot less work. 
Offline
Hello,
I am sorry, I have been very ill for the past few weeks so I have not been able to continue this discussion.
I'm back on my feet and I visited Gemma yesterday. She wanted me to let you know that you can see more of her work at Artanddesignonline.com
Gemma is doing pretty well and is planning to start teaching art classes again soon.
And, yes, her things have held up remarkably well. The pieces I have are almost perfect.
I read all of your posts to Gemma yesterday, she was thrilled. I also passed on the E mails to her.
I'll post more to her gallery soon.
Paperartist
Offline
I am currently reading a book borrowed from the library called Papier Mache Artistry by Dona Z. Meilach (Crown Publishing, 1971). There are several photographs and references to Gemma.
One photo caption: "The figures were originally made from clay, then two-piece molds poured of the clay models. Usually front and back are separate molds. The cut papier-mache halves are taped together at the side seams. Details and painting are added by hand..."
Sue
Offline