There are many ways one could display the beet papyrus, but we’ll go over a few of them here:

1. The first option is one that Julia designed herself:

“I don’t want the material behind glass all the time.  I want you to be able to experience that material without anything between you and it…. I’ve constructed this wood system so that the glass is off the wall by about an inch and a half.  And that allows the beet papyrus to cast a shadow on the wall and it also allows light to come from behind.  So that’s kindof the idea: room for shadow, no material or frame between you and the surface, and some natural back-lighting as well.” 

We’ve custom built these to Julia’s specs and made them available to purchase through TPG.  Go here if you’d like to find out more>>

Advantages: somewhat protected, illuminated from behind by reflection off the wall, ability to look closely at the texture, indirect light, ideal viewing platform designed by the artist
Disadvantages: not really protected from the air, environmental factors, or light

2. A cheaper alternative would be to use 4 1/4″ magnets on a window or wall.  The most important thing to note here is that it is not ok to use magnets without a buffer between the magnet and the beet papyrus. An easy way to solve this is to buy some adhesive backed felt dots and stick it to the magnets. If you don’t do this, the magnets will make a hole through the beet papyrus.

Tape the first set of magnets to the window, adhere the felt buffer to both the taped surface of the magnets on the window and to one side of the other magnets.  Place the papyrus, and then position the other set of magnets on top.

 

Advantages: affordable, easy to do, window illumination
Disadvantages: light may damage the papyrus, no protection, not a long-term solution, depending on tape used

3. Professionally framed: float mounted on archival board, with substantial spacer

Advantages: protected from environment and light, easy to hang
Disadvantages: no illumination from behind