Location: OVADA, 14 Osney Ln, Oxford OX1 1NJ
Deadline for booking: 4pm, Friday 30th September
Advance booking required
Enquiries: please email engagement@ovada.org.uk
Find out more and book via: www.ovada.org.uk/shop

Workshop description: Led by Jo Kidner, a multisensory installation artist, this course is the perfect introduction to eco dye techniques, and the world of respectful seasonal foraging in local rural spaces.

The course will consist of three, 3-hour workshops that coincide with Oxfordshire Great Big Green Week. This year’s GBGW theme is energy! So, what better way to approach the theme than by harnessing the sun’s awesome power through solar dye ovens, to dye fabrics with natural pigments. Hopefully, the natural gems collected will be put to good use, to create surprisingly vibrant results!

The first session will see participants undertake a guided foraging excursion to a nearby river, to collect natural dye products including leaves and berries, before returning to the classroom to learn about mordanting techniques, prepare natural dyes and construct and experiment with a solar dye oven. Participants will be introduced to the indigo technique in the second session, creating vertical banners and ropes from natural indigo and madder, together with the Shibori dye technique, while the final session will allow participants to work together to create a collaborative piece. Live demonstrations and discussion around techniques will underpin this explorative course.

Please note: These activities rely on clement weather, so equally engaging natural dye activities will be offered as alternatives if it’s pouring with rain.

Level of experience required to take part: No experience required for this introductory course.