Natalie Chanin and “Green” Artists Visit the TM this Summer

In conjunction with the exhibition Green: the Color and the Cause, this summer will bring world-renowned artists and textile experts to The Textile Museum to share their insights into the world of green art.

The In Their Own Words: Artist Lecture Series features Green exhibiting artists, including couture fashion designer Natalie Chanin and Gyöngy Laky, a New York Times Magazine featured cover artist.    These contemporary artists will discuss their creative process and their work on view in Green: the Color and the Cause.  After the lecture, attendees are invited enjoy light refreshments with the artists in the beautiful TM gardens or to continue to explore the galleries, open late until 8.p.m following the program.

TM visitors will also have the opportunity to create their own green art through a series of hands-on Summer Arts Workshops.  These workshops range from easy afternoon projects, to more in-depth multi-day studies of specific topics and techniques.  Workshop sessions include natural dyeing, green crochet (taught by Green artist Jackie Abrams), silk screening, digital textile design, and textile storage and mounting (led by the TM’s own chief conservator Esther Méthé).  Registration to any multi-day workshop includes a one-year membership to the TM at the Individual level.  View more information about these workshops on our website.

Register for any workshop or program by calling (202) 667-0441 ext. 64.  A full listing of all upcoming programs at The Textile Museum can be viewed on our website.

In Their Own Words: Artist Lecture Series

Gyöngy Laky: Geometric Disturbances
Thursday, May 26, 6PM
Gyöngy Laky explores form, arrangement, dimensionality, material, texture, and pattern in her grids, vessels, and language sculptures. Laky uses screws, nails, dowels and wire with natural branches or commercial wood – even occasionally, charcoal, plastic soldiers, or post-consumer items.  Her art has been described as  both “elegant and ornery” and  “crude and tidy” and her piece The Green Issue on view in Green, was featured on the cover of an environmentally-focused New York Times Magazine. Join Laky as she divulges her concepts and methods.  Fee: $20/members; $25/ non-members. Advance registration is required. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64 or register online. Space is limited.

Natalie Chanin: “Life Is In the Details” 
Thursday, June 16, 6 PM
After a decade abroad as a stylist and filmmaker Natalie Chanin returned to her home in Florence, Alabama to begin the clothing line Alabama Chanin that has touched the lives of women who both make and wear her styles.  Natalie has pioneered a “slow design” movement; the fibers for her garments are grown in Texas, spun in Tennessee, knit in South Carolina, dyed in North Carolina and Mississippi, then cut, painted, and sewn entirely by hand in Florence, Alabama.  Join Natalie as she speaks candidly about the journey that brought her back to her roots and the unique business model that makes this artisan enterprise possible.  Fee: $20/members; $25/ non-members.  Advance registration is required. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64 to register or register online. Space is limited.

Michael F. Rhode: Functional to Conceptual
Thursday, July 7, 6 PM
Michael Rohde began hand-weaving flat rugs over thirty-five years ago. As his work evolved, it was influenced by the loom’s capabilities, inspirations from travel, and exposure to other textile traditions. Rhode began working in tapestries when the concept behind his weavings became more important than their function. Join him as he shares insight into his trajectory as a weaver and artist, and learn more about his work on view in the exhibition. Fee (includes refreshments): $20/members; $25/non-members. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64 to register or register online.

Summer Arts Workshops

“UP-CYCLE” YOUR PLASTIC BAGS
Saturday, June 18, 10 AM-4 PM
Green exhibition artist Jackie Abrams teaches you to make a strong, colorful and multi-purpose carrier using everyday plastic bags and the simple technique of crocheting. No experience is necessary. Although you may not be able to finish during class time, instructions will be provided to complete your bag at home. A short presentation of the development of a plastic bag crochet cooperative in Ghana is included.  Fee: $35/members, $45/non-members.  Participants must bring plastic bags (about 50), crochet hooks (size J or K), scissors (with long sharp blades), and a tape measure (optional).  Register online for this workshop.

THE GREEN ELEMENTS:
DIGITAL TEXTILE DESIGN AND PRINTING
Part I: Friday, July 15, 10:30 AM-4 PM
Part II: Saturday, July 16, 10:30 AM-4 PM
Part III: Sunday, July 17, 1-4 PM
This introductory workshop on creating and printing textile design is led by Hitoshi Ujiie, Professor at Philadelphia University and Heather Ujiie, Professor at Moore College of Design. The course is focused on designing and developing printed textiles with a “green” theme. Instruction includes file preparation, file formating and coloring. Participants also will learn the basic digital inkjet printing process.  Fee: $275/members, $335/non-members.  Computer equipment required as well as Photoshop skills.  Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64 to register.

TEXTILE STORAGE AND MOUNTING
Part I (Storage): Wednesday, July, 20, 10 AM-4 PM
Part II (Mounting + Display): Thursday, July 21, 10 AM-4 PM
Anyone from the seasoned collector to the fiber artist needs to know how to properly store and mount their treasures. Attend this special two-day workshop led by Esther Méthé, The Textile Museum’s chief conservator, and learn the techniques and standards used by the experts.  Fee (includes materials); $170/members, $200/non-members.  Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64 to register.

SHADES OF GREEN: NATURAL DYEING WORKSHOP
Part I: Friday, July 22 10:30 AM-4 PM
Part II: Saturday, July 23, 10:30 AM-4 PM
Part III: Sunday, July 24, 1-4 PM
Led by artist, weaver, and independent textile conservator Louise Wheatley, this vegetable dye workshop explores the three-part process of creating the color green. The first day will focus on mordanting various fabrics and fibers. During the second and third days participants will prepare dye pots with yellow producing plants, and then overdye them in an indigo vat to create many shades of green.  Fee (includes materials): $275/members, $335/non-members.  Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64 to register.

TEXT IN DESIGN: SCREEN PRINTING WORKSHOP
Saturday, August 6, 2-4 PM
Explore the use of text in creating patterns on recycled wall art and textiles with artist Kristina Bilonick in this screen printing workshop. Participants should bring a favorite piece of text (such as a poem, quote, love letter, or lyrics) to use in their design. Using the drawing fluid technique for screen printing, you will create a stencil to print on recycled cardboard. In addition, attendees are encouraged to bring in old textiles to experiment on and give new life to old tee shirts, jackets, pillowcases, and curtains.  Fee (includes materials): $45/members, $55/non-members.  Participants should bring a favorite quote, and may choose to bring any additional textiles they wish to screenprint.  Register online for this workshop.