Exhibition venue: Black Mountain Center for the Arts, Black Mountain NC
The Mountains and Valleys exhibition featured over 40 2D and 3D hand-cut paper art that celebrate the landscapes of the Appalachian region and other striking elevations and depressions, juried by renowned artist Marie-Helene Grabman.
The Guild of American Papercutters was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Somerset, PA, where it operates the National Museum of Papercutting.
Dayang Makiling
hand cut paper
2025
Mount Makiling is strongly tied to the mythic figure Mariang Makiling (Hispanicized evolution of Dayang Makiling) from Philippine folklore. As protector and personification, she embodies the earth’s voice—tender yet formidable.
She is a guardian of the forest and the mountain’s silhouette resembles her reclining form, blurring the line between landform and legend. Beyond her beauty and generosity, her tales carry cautionary depth. She withdraws her grace when abused, embodying both the sustaining and wrathful aspects of nature. This papercut honors a timeless archetype: land as living, mythic, and deeply responsive to human care and neglect.
Beyond her beauty and generosity, her tales carry cautionary depth. She withdraws her grace when abused, embodying both the sustaining and wrathful aspects of nature. Maria Makiling’s presence in this papercut pays homage to a timeless archetype: land as living, mythic, and deeply responsive to human care and neglect.
Images courtesy of the artist
y. pulongbarit-cuevo 