I’m sure I’ve mentioned somewhere in a previous blog about the idea of looking at a color or image to cool. It might just be an illusion, but I’ve been thinking about it lately – blue. Blues, indigo blues keep turning up on my horizon, in many forms. I can’t ignore it. This one turned up today – nice surprise! Where else will I find it?
We’re hitting record highs in Raleigh today and following, it does seem appropriate to think about the color. Does it cool you down?
Another favorite I encountered at the Gregg was this obi (sash). We didn’t measure it, but it was quite long enough (for wrapping around the body several times, then tying) for wearing with either a kimono or yukata (summer kimono).
What intrigued me about this piece, was that the shibori was obviously done by hand – it was so irregular. There was a common, repeated motif (iris), but there were obvious “burps” or little “mistakes” in there as well. That was the element that held intrigue – it was “imperfect” and still quite usable (acceptable). It made it all the better, actually.
Another aspect of this very soft, lightweight silk (habotai?) sash was that it seems as though it could have been dyed with benibana (safflower) – at least I thought so from examining some of the white areas that were tinged pink. It’s another topic I hope to touch on later.
I’ve also just talked with the folks at the Florence Thomas Art School (Glendale Springs – Blue Ridge Parkway) and it seems that there is still room for those who are interested in taking an indigo/shibori class in the mountains where it’s cool. Please see the details on my “Upcoming Workshops” page.
The first piece I photographed (at the Gregg) was a swatch book showing patterns in greys. They had more of an indigo cast and that’s what my camera read as well.
At this point, I should explain that this was a very informal “shoot” – strictly for documentation – to identify the pieces and nothing more. So, the lighting and set up were not ideal (neither was the camera or photographer). I guess this is a disclaimer. I tried my best to keep my shadow out of the images, but wasn’t always successful. Still, the story is there.
As I was shooting these pieces, Janine and I pored over them, looking at technique, speculating about their history and appreciating the handwork involved.
In this case, of course, it was a sample book and I’ve been thinking of just these kinds of things when preparing for my classes. It’s good to have a book of samples. What’s a good way to do that? Here’s one simple and direct approach.
My collection on flickr only reflect some favorite patterns and it was difficult to choose, as there were so many. This is also just a small sampling of what we looked at on Friday.
I stepped away from the studio on Friday to spend the day at the Gregg Museum. Janine told me that there were some swatches that needed some “attention” (you need to see these!) and they also needed some documentation. I took snapshots until my camera battery was exhausted. Then we switched over to Janine’s.
This example is only one small example. Not all are authentic shibori, but printed or woven examples. Still aspects of these pieces are quite wonderful and I find them inspiring. This is, again, just a very small sampling of what’s in the collection of this ilk.
Dyeing a shirt like this, a tablecloth or blue jeans puts the indigo into a different context – at least for me. I tend to look through a different lens most of the time. So, doing custom work presents new challenges and a different perspective. It’s refreshing.
It also puts me in contact with people who think differently about what they wear. Some are passionate about indigo (as this customer is) and some want to “upscale (?), recycle or change what they have. They want to keep that wardrobe, make it last, but also make it new. I do the same with my own wardrobe.
In this case, I’ve been introduced to new fibers and fiber combinations, so it has given me a lot to think about, at least in terms of material.
I hope the image will provide a little spark. The season for workshops is here. Indigo seems to love the summer heat and humidity and July is a perfect time for learning about it (and of course, shibori!).
My youth class at Artspace is fast filling up, but there’s still room in the weekend workshop for adults later in the month. It isn’t too late to sign up. All information & links are on my “Upcoming Workshops” page.
There’s also the workshop at the Florence Thomas Art School in Glendale Springs, NC. Both Janine LeBlanc (Gregg Museum) and I will be teaching the characteristics of the indigo vat and aspects of shibori there.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
To answer that one you need to read this informative article about it featuring several TAFA craftspeople (including yours truly).
I do love working with linen. It responds so well to the work I do in shibori as well as indigo (and other dyes). It’s also fast becoming the only fiber I want to wear in the warmer seasons.
Having said that, be sure to watch those videos on processing the fiber. Watching them brought to mind the stories my grandmother told about her grandmother who grew flax, processed it and then wove with it (and also may have dyed it). I am humbled to see the labor involved.
My only (but fortunate) connection to my ancestry is simply that I also work with fibers, but not nearly on that level of involvement. This small piece (above & no longer in my possession) is a wall hanging featuring a longtime and well-loved theme in Asia, but more specifically Japan – my lens and heartland. In Japanese it would be called 兎と月(usagi to tsuki), Rabbit and Moon.
The reception is coming up very soon, this coming Sunday (Fathers Day).
I definitely don’t want to miss this one.
I’m so glad we managed to catch this event. We couldn’t be sure with the setting sun and the pine trees bordering our small neighborhood. There was a small patch of sun though, and a kind neighbor showing us how to catch the image with better results.
So, we had sun yesterday. Today, we’re having rain and cooler temps, so it will slow the custom work I have going at the moment (pieces in indigo). I’d hoped to complete the work by the week’s end. I’ll just have to see.
In the meantime, there are always other projects on the horizon and I was inspired by objects along the path in my walk along the nature trails at the museum on Monday. It may have some influence on some of my workshops next month.
Moving on with this project – I went as far as I cared to with these particular pieces. This photo was taken before they were rinsed and washed. There were some changes in color again after that. I thought they looked even closer in hue after that part of the process.
I’ve put them away for a bit. I’ll have to re-evaluate again later – so much blue and looking so closely at them – after while I don’t know what I’m seeing. I like both though.
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