6 WEDNESDAYS STARTING SEPT. 7TH
September 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, October 5th, 12th
6:00PM - 8:00PM
All Ages
FULL
In this course, we’ll explore two distinct crafts – bioregional botanical dyeing and block printing -- and how they can speak to one another. We’ll learn the basics of natural dyeing, including mordanting (preparing fibers), foraging for color, and extracting color, and will work with plant-based fibers (cotton, linen) and seasonally-abundant plants. We will explore botanical dyeing as an intuitive practice, wherein we build connections with the plants and landscapes that surround us. Together, we will work with 1-3 collectively-chosen plants to produce dye. Next, we’ll dive into the basics of block printing, including image preparation and transfer, carving techniques, and hand-printing techniques. Students may choose to create singular images for printing on both fabric and paper or explore surface design, using simple block prints to create patterns on our dyed fabric. Each student will produce a set of napkins or tea towels, with room to bring in additional fabrics for printing during our last class.
“I am an artist and plant lover dedicated to individual and collective healing, currently based in Abenaki homelands in northern Vermont. I strive to offer herbs and art to people, prioritizing access in its many forms (physical, financial, cultural, etc.). I believe deeply in the power of plant medicine to provide healing connection with self, other, and the earth and am passionate about cultivating opportunities for this connection for all people, including those impacted by systemic injustice and the prison industrial complex. My work with the land and in my creative process is based in reciprocal relationship, mutual aid, and loving attention to both wounds and their salves; as an artist, I work primarily in illustration and printmaking. I am grateful to be working in community with other artists, healers, and creative thinkers towards a world of mutual thriving.” Sara Riegler (she/her)
