Materialized from the soil, rain, and air around them, plants physically embody place. Plants also embody their individual histories, as well as the history of their species and its interactions with humans. Using gathered and cultivated plants as dyes I transfer their color to cloth with traditional dyeing techniques honed over centuries. The colors obtained are enriched by each plant’s historical, cultural, and physical substance as well as by the connection across time to all who ever worked within these traditions.
View more of Ricketts` work HERE
Obi cloth. Art installation. Kazuko FukumotoChris Conrad is a fibre artist who discovered the remarkable coloring properties of unripe persimmons on a trip to Japan.
Made from the fermented juice of unripe astringent persimmons, the color comes from the tannin molecules linking together and forming a coating. More than a coloring agent, kakishibu also has strengthening, antibacterial and waterproofing properties. Kakishibu was used in China and Korea, but reached its ultimate utilization in Japan. It was used as a wood preservative, waterproofer, insect repellent, folk medicine, and on washi (Japanese paper), fans, parasols, clothing and in sake production.
Conrad’s fascination with kakishibu, led her to write a book on the subject “Kakishibu: Traditional Persimmon Dye of Japan” Both the book and kakishibu dye are available on her website kakishibuii along with picture galleries and a forum for fibre artists experimenting with this unique and fascinating material.
NSCAD U Visitor Presentation
Shellfish Purple Dyeing by Dr. Takako Terada
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 12 noon in D500 (NSCAD Boardroom)
Dr. Takako Terada is a professor at Kwassui Women’s College where she teaches in the Faculty of Wellness Studies. Shellfish purples from molluscs are her specialty and she has presented academic papers about her murex research in Norway, India, USA, El Salvador, and China.
Dr. Terada is currently engaged in a Japan-Canada project to be presented at a dye archeology conference in Istanbul this October.
Her recent commissions include a chasuble and murex-dyed vestments for the bishop of Nagasaki.
Dr. Takako Terada will talk about the historical/archaeological aspects relating to shellfish purple dyeing and its colouring properties. She will also present her own artistic work.
submitted by Anke Fox
I have just finished updating my website and have included images of some new work.
Click the image above or HERE to be redirected to the website
Charlotte’s film In Search of Lost Colour: The Story of Natural Dyes will be Shown tomorrow evening at 6:00 pm in the Stanford Perrot Lecture Theatre at The Alberta College of Art + Design.
This film night corresponds with the ACAD Fibres Department Miniature Exhibition and Silent Auction. Bidding closes at 9 pm.
Submitted by ACAD Fibres Department
Artist Barbara Sutherland will present “Brilliant! Plant Dyes in Textiles and Art” in conjunction with Patterned Pleasure: Introducing The Jean and Marie Erikson Collection at The Nickle Arts Museum this Thursday, October 18, 2007 from 12:10 to 12:50 pm. Dont miss it!
Poplar Gallery.Online
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