ART CLASS

BEAUTIFUL BLUES: INDIGO & SHIBORI with Jan Quarles

Saturday, August 22nd , 10AM – 4PM (Ages 14+)

Indigo is an enchanting natural dye! In this one-day workshop, you’ll learn about the indigo plant and its fascinating global history. You’ll use an organic indigo vat and learn how to make a small indigo vat for home use. We will study several techniques for producing patterns on your fabrics, including wrapping, folding and clamping and other traditional and contemporary mark-making processes. You’ll have plenty of fabric to practice with and everyone will leave with two hand-dyed tea towels, a bandanna and scarf. Wear clothes you do not mind getting dye on (indigo can be a messy process).

All skill levels welcome, ages 14 to adult.

All materials provided. Kits includes all fabrics, gloves, and notes, and the class includes extensive use of Jan's indigo tool library! You may bring one additional small natural fiber item to dye at the end of class.

ABOUT JAN

Jan Quarles is a long-time fiber artist who works with the beauty of the natural world. For more than 30 years she’s been a dyer, weaver, knitter, seamstress, and spinner. Today, with her small business of What Nature Leaves, she is a botanical printer, natural dyer, and a practitioner of shibori and katazome who deeply loves the magic of indigo. Quarles had a solo show of her indigo and botanical prints in Nashville and currently has work in Arrowmont’s summer gallery shows. She has studied with many teachers at Arrowmont, Penland, John C. Campbell and other craft venues nationally and internationally. She is a former journalist and professor of mass communication in the United States and overseas who has always practiced her fiber arts in the hours that were her own.