Margaret Sahlstrand

Margaret Marie Ahrens Sahlstrand, artist, educator, and dear friend passed away on 26 July, 2023, at Yakima's Memorial Hospital. She was preceded in death by her parents Herman and Evelyn Ahrens; and her husband James Michael Sahlstrand (1936-2009).

Margaret was born 1 October 1939 and grew up in Centralia, IL. She was an artist since early childhood. Margaret studied art history and completed a BA at Lindenwood College, St. Charles, MO. As a printmaking graduate student, Margaret studied intaglio with Mauricio Lazansky, and earned an MFA at the University of Iowa.

Margaret was hired to help form the growing Art Department at Central Washington State College, as it was known then, in 1965. She taught drawing, printmaking, design, art history, and in time introduced hand papermaking. There she met, and in 1966 married Jim Sahlstrand, who taught photography, and managed the Sarah Spurgeon Gallery. Jim helped put CWSC on the photo world's map by developing "New Photographics", an international annual exhibition.

Her ICOSA Studio and Papermill, established in 1976, in the 4 connected geodesic domes she and Jim built at on their property provided her the space she needed to develop and grow her successful business. Margaret practiced her technique of cast paper forms using botanical and textile imagery. Later, she produced numerous botanical collagraph plates with which she produced fully embossed fine art papers. These unique papers were employed by many artists as well as in her own work.

Margaret's intense interest in papermaking led her to travel alone to Japan and Korea in 1981-82. She lived in Japan for 6 months, studying washi with Iwano Ichibei and shifu with Sadako Sakurai. She also met and stayed at the papermaking home of Asao Shimura. She formed close relationships there which continued throughout her life.

She became a Board member of the Hand Papermaking magazine/organization, was an active member of the Friends of Dard Hunter, and participated in many of the Paper and Book Intensives held across the United States. Margaret was a longtime member of the Book Arts Guild in Seattle.

She exhibited her cast paper artworks, prints, and drawings extensively; both nationally and internationally. Her artworks are held in both public and private collections. The Smithsonian American Art Museum holds several of her cast paper works. She is represented in the Book Arts Collection at the University of Washington Libraries, and by other book arts collections across the US. She and Jim both have works with the Washington State Arts Commission. Margaret also has work in the Oregon State Arts Commission's collection, and in the collections of the Oji Paper Museum in Tokyo, the American Cultural Center in Tel Aviv, The Museum of Fine Arts in Kobe, Japan, and many others.

Margaret shared her expertise and scholarship through exhibitions, lectures, and workshops; including Pratt in NYC, OCAC in Portland, OR, Tacoma Art Museum, among others, as well as having her work, and words, presented in print: from magazines such as Hand Papermaking, Fiber Arts, and Reflex, and Craft International, as well as in many of the books about handmade paper so many artists still rely on today.

After her retirement from CWU in 1996, Margaret continued her art making; especially drawing and watercolors. Her extensive collection of orchids provided her with great pleasure, and served as fascinating models for her many botanical paintings. She lived surrounded by the natural world she loved so much - both the wild creatures who found refuge in the natural spaces of her homestead, and the domesticated ones: a series of dogs and cats, and her wonderful horse Tay.

Margaret gave generously from her gardens - many of her friends cherish their plants from Margaret.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the compassionate and skilled medical personnel - especially our local nursing staff, who took Margaret into their hearts as well as into their excellent care.

Margaret is missed beyond measure, and she lives on in the hearts of her many students, and her family of friends.