Chinese Knot-Making Workshop

Led by artist Muzi Li Rowe, the workshop explores how traditional Chinese knotting (中国结)—an ancient folk art historically made from natural fibers—transforms through contemporary materials and contexts. Participants will learn four foundational knots through live demonstrations and guided practice.

These introductory workshops are presented in conjunction with artist Fiona K. Lau's solo exhibition After Nature, which examines our increasingly mediated relationship with the natural world through paintings and installations. Admission to the workshop includes admission to the exhibition.

For more information about After Nature, visit https://www.fionaklau.com/newsevents.html

Questions about the event? Please email James at [email protected].

All tools and a variety of cords are provided. Participants are encouraged to bring additional materials from home to experiment with—especially items that might otherwise be discarded. Suitable materials include anything string-like that is at least 25 inches long and approximately ⅛ inch in diameter, such as:

• Ropes or shoelaces
• Belts or guitar straps
• Wired headphones or charging cables

Each participant can bring home the knots they createa and will receive a reading list to support continued independent practice after the workshop.

Please register for one of the sessions.

Workshop 1: Friday, June 12, 2026 | 5:00–8:00 PM

Workshop 2: Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 5:00–8:00 PM

5:00 - After Nature exhibition viewing with Fiona Lau

5:30 - Knot-making workshop with Muzi Rowe

Axis Gallery
625 S St, Sacramento, CA 95811

Admission is free. If you would like to support this and other similar events from the 1882 Foundation, the suggested donation is $5: https://1882foundation.org/donate/

Muzi Li Rowe is an interdisciplinary artist working across photography, sculpture, installation, and drawing. Her practice investigates the relationship between technology, consumerism and cultural heritage through the use of electronic waste and obsolete technologies. Since 2022, Li Rowe has incorporated Chinese knotting into her artistic practice as a means of reconnecting with her cultural roots. Using defunct cables such as ethernet cords, charging cables, and wired headphones, she creates contemporary sculptural works implementing techniques from this traditional folk art. Through this labor-intensive process, she explores the physical and temporal experience of navigating between cultures while reflecting on life in a world shaped by advancing technology, excessive consumption, and waste.

Fiona K. Lau is a Sacramento-based painter whose work explores the relationships of land, environment, and belonging. Born in British Hong Kong and raised in Canada, she worked extensively in environmental research and international public health. Her practice is deeply influenced by experiences of shifting cultures and a background in scientific training, creating layered works that bridge different realms of experience to reveal tensions and hidden constructs. She is a member of Axis Gallery and the recipient of the 2025 Creative Growth Fellowship awarded by the City of Sacramento's Office of Arts and Culture.

The 1882 Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the history, experiences, and contributions of Chinese Americans are recognized, preserved, and included in the American story.

Learn more here: https://1882foundation.org.

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