Artists will be dyeing at the Sooke Region Museum this month – but there’s no need to be alarmed.
They’ll be eco-printing, a natural dyeing technique that uses renewable and sustainable materials. It’s a method that has been practiced for centuries around the world, and a tradition carried on by artist Nora Ready, who will lead a workshop on the topic at the museum on July 19.
Ready is a textile artist who experiments with botanical dyeing, ethical textile use, mindful stitching, gathering, foraging, and fostering connection to place.
“I am constantly inspired by the land, sea and sky that nourishes me every day. Working with fabric and stitch gives me daily pleasure and leads me down endless roads of discovery,” Ready said in a release.
Ready is a member of the Fibre Art Network and the B.C.-Yukon Surface Design Association.
“One of the most exciting elements of eco-printing is the surprise factor — a colour in nature may not always match the colour printed,” the Sooke Region Museum said in a news release.
“Colours, prints and effects change with the seasons, with the plants collected, and with the preparation of the fabric.”
Workshop participants will be guided through the process of collecting local plant materials through respectful foraging around the museum grounds. They will then bundle and steam fabric along with the plant materials to create unique prints.
Each participant will produce two printed bundles during the workshop, which they can take home along with the knowledge of a new technique to try on their own.
“Eco-printing is a rewarding process that invites you to connect with your natural environment while creating uniquely printed fabric,” the museum said.
The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 19 at the Sooke Region Museum. It costs $70 per person. Participants can register online at sookeregionmuseum.ca or by calling the museum at 250-642-6351.
