The Art of Natural Dyeing with Daniela Oliver de Portillo

$20 per person. Advanced registration required. Please register here.

Join artist Daniela Oliver de Portillo for a natural dyeing workshop inspired by the work of Actions for the Earth: Art, Care, and Ecology exhibiting artist, Katie West. This workshop features a natural dyeing process using logwood, cochineal, madder, and osage root on silk and cotton. Participants will reflect on the significance of the materials used, the plants from which the dyes are derived, and the cultural and ecological connections associated with them. Participants will produce a batch of natural dye and then experiment with colors and techniques to create a unique and colorful silk scarf and cotton mini tote. By infusing the fibers projects with meaning and intention, partiicpants will have an opportunity to reflect on the interplay between art, nature, and personal narrative. 

Actions for the Earth artist Katie West is an interdisciplinary artist and Yindjibarndi woman of the Pilbara Tablelands, with a strong sense of home in Noongar Boodja. The process and notion of naturally dyeing fabric underpin her practice – the rhythm of walking, gathering, bundling, boiling up water, and infusing materials with plant matter. Katie creates objects, installations, and happenings that invite attention to the ways we weave our stories, places, histories, and futures. 

Please note: Items need to remain in the dye bath for 24 hours. When registering, please let us know if you would like us to mail your items or if you prefer to pick them up after the workshop.