In Living Colour- Indigo Harvest and Dye Workshop with Fresh Leaf

Age: 18+

Dat: Saturday July 27

Time: 1 - 4 PM

Cost: M $60 and NM $65

Instructor: Hitoko Okada

Join us for a collective practice to reconnect with nature through the living colour of Japanese indigo. Through a hands-on and community-based workshop, artist, and craft researcher, Hitoko Okada, will share their cultural, medicinal and ancestral knowledge of Japanese indigo through storytelling. We will harvest indigo leaves from AGB’s community garden and play with pattern making on silk scarves using simple shibori resists. The fresh leaf dye will offer a bright, living turquoise blue. The intention of this program is to reconnect to plants and to consider ancient Japanese approaches to relating to plants, their colour and cloth. This not a technique focused workshop.

When attending any of our public programs please consider bringing non-perishable food and hygiene products to donate to the Burlington Food Bank. Like so many communities, Burlington has seen an alarming 20% increase in the need for assistance with groceries over the last year. We are collecting community contributions to support the food bank’s efforts in meeting the growing demand for food security.

About the Instructor:

Hitoko Okada is a queer, Nikkei, interdisciplinary artist, craft researcher and arts facilitator. They are currently based in Hamilton, Ontario. Okada has been researching Japanese indigo, taima, shifu and other Japanese folk based fibre textiles for several years. Their artistic and fashion practice explores the colonial histories, geo-politics and labour of the global fashion supply chain, and the impacts of these histories on Japanese heritage textile folk crafts.

COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY: Please review the AGB's COVID-19 safety guidelines on our website before attending your first class. We ask that all visitors self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms before arrival. If you are experiencing any symptoms, please do not come to class.

ATTIRE: Your clothing will get messy from the materials and media utilized in your class so please dress appropriately or bring an apron. Also, closed-toe shoes are mandatory.

ALLERGIES OR SPECIAL NEEDS? Important - Notify us on your registration if the student has an allergy, health concerns, or a learning exception that could impact participation in the class. We would like to remind you that we are a nut-free facility.

Host or Publisher Art Gallery of Burlington