Lichen Dyeing: From Stewardship to Pushing Palettes

Description

Lichen Dyeing: From Stewardship to Pushing Palettes Lichens are a complex life form made of a symbiotic partnership between a fungus and an algae. The use of lichens in dyeing has an ancient history that spans most regions of the world. Mount Desert Island hosts a robust variety of lichen species - the perfect place to begin!

In this course we will learn the basics of lichen morphology,  identification and the ethics of collection and stewardship. We will focus on all aspects of the process of creating dye, as well as how to effectively document experimentation. We will cover three methods of dye making and the effects of various mordants (chemical substances that help adhere the dye to the material, and in some cases change the color of the dye) to create multiple colors from a single species. We will dye various natural materials and explore the effects of mordanting in changing color and light-fastness. 

Students will leave with a recipe book, several skeins of dyed wool and a solid foundation for their own forays into the art of dyeing with lichen.
 

Saturday April 23rd, 2022 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm

$65 ($55 for members)

Teens/Adults of all skill levels

Masks, vax'd (over 5), and distancing for staff and participant safety.

About the Instructor: ArtWaves' April Artist-in-Residence - Barbara Grise is a multimedia artist and timber-framer by trade. She enjoys working in oil paint, clay, metal, marble and wood. Her favorite subject matter is the human form. When she’s not in the studio, you might find her in the forest, hiking with her dog.