In this hands-on workshop, we will extract natural dye from common compost ingredients such as coffee grounds, onion skins, and avocado pits and peels. Each of these organic materials yield a unique color. The workshop begins with raw compost that we process to make a dye bath. By the end, students will create a one-of-a-kind natural dyed silk bandana to take home.
This class covers a brief overview of historical and contemporary practices in natural dye processes. No experience is necessary and all materials are included.
This program meets on-site at the Arboretum.
Instructor: Rachel Davis, natural dyes artist
Age: 16 and older
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Rachel Davis, natural dyes artist
Rachel Davis received her BA from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and her MFA in printmaking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her work has been exhibited in national venues including the Holter Museum of Fine Art, Helena, Montana; Evergreen Galleries, Olympia, Washington; and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters in Madison, WI. She completed a year-long artist-in-residence at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago in 2018 and an artist-in-residence at the DuPage Children’s Museum in 2019. Currently, she teaches natural dye techniques in the textiles department at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago.
What to Know
Held outdoors in a covered space. Dress for the weather in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
Bring dish gloves and a gallon-size zip-top bag to bring home your dyed items.
Program Schedule
Saturday, November 5, 2022
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
