Nature’s Colours: The slow art of dyeing with natural materials (Adults 18+)

Price range: $120.00 through $135.00

Dates: Fridays: June 12 – 26 (3 weeks)
Time: 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Cost:$135.00 + HST / Members $120.00 + HST

What is better than working with textiles in a group of creative people? In this workshop, which is open to all skill levels, local artist Katie Green, will lead you on a journey through dyeing with natural materials from avocado pits and walnut hulls to a final day with an indigo vat. You will learn how to treat fabric with food-safe mordants; you will also learn what mordants are and what they are for! This course will be conducted at a relaxed pace, with breaks for tea and snacks each day. Our hope is that you will leave this course with a stash of beautifully dyed textiles as well as the skills and curiosity to continue to explore dyeing with things you find around you.

*All materials provided, but feel free to bring small scale textiles made with natural fibres (cotton, linen, hemp, wool, silk) you wish to dye.

Description

Katie Green is a local Barrie artist with a passion for community and bringing art into all areas of life, ranging from public to personal and useful to decorative. Building community, sharing experiences and supporting the next generation of artists keep her inspired in her own art practice. She operates from the idea that art is an experience that can positively impact people’s everyday lives. She works across multiple mediums including textiles, pen and ink, and printmaking, most recently the Risograph.  

Pushing the boundaries between different mediums as well as playing with the line between useful design and decorative art informs her art practice. Her work is playful with a sense of whimsy and she is drawn to bright colours especially fluorescent pink. She uses recognizable symbols and icons like gesturing hands and arrows as well as text to explore ideas of the human experience. Her art has an element of advocacy as well as humour. 

Her journey to becoming a practicing artist has been long and winding. She believes every diversion from working construction, playing varsity basketball, living in a ski town and most recently health challenges affecting her energy and vision, has added to her ability to navigate being an artist and increased her ability to support the arts community.