Kelp Creations: Make and Weave Bio-Yarn!
About this Event
Welcome to the Anthropocene, where most of our household items are made from non-biodegradable plastics. From socks to sweaters, our fast-fashion craze now fills up junkyards and sheds microplastics. Enter seaweeds - with their unique chemistry designed for flexibility and strength, they offer a fun, forward-thinking alternative! Over this free two-part workshop, learn how to make Seaweed Bio-Yarn using sodium alginate: a sugar-like compound from seaweed cell walls.
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Where? Vancouver Maritime Museum
When? August 4th and 18th, 6:30 to 8pm. Must be able to attend both days.
Who? Any adult interested in textile art, seaweeds, crafting, or learning new things!
Space is limited, so sign up fast!
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Day One (August 4th) will start with an introduction to who seaweeds are, what types we have locally, and the biological role of sodium alginate. Then, Granville Island based artist Nicole Dextras will lead us in creating yarn from sodium alginate. Each person will create their own colourful length of bio-yarn that will dry between workshops.
Day Two (August 18th) will have participants unwind their dried yarn and craft fun wall-hangings with their handiwork. Folks can also add to a group weaving that will be displayed as part of Vancouver Kelp Fest's pop-up art gallery Kelp Connections on August 23rd!
This workshop is brought to you as a collaboration between Vancouver Kelp Fest and Nicole Dextras.
Vancouver Kelp Fest works to bring seaweed enthusiasm from Vancouver's shores to the city proper, and will be putting on our main event on August 23rd. Stop by to see the final weaving from this workshop series, as well as make your own cyanotypes, play the kelp bugle, meet local restoration experts, and more!
Nicole Dextras is a Vancouver-based environmental artist and researcher dedicated to sustainable and low-impact art practices. Her current work bridges textile arts and material science, transforming eco-friendly biomaterials into unique bio-yarns and wearable art pieces. As an educator, Nicole loves breaking down complex material science into accessible, hands-on creative steps. In her workshops, she guides students through the rewarding alchemy of transforming sustainable raw ingredients into flexible, usable artistic mediums.
Vancouver Kelp Fest and related workshops are generously supported by Ocean Wise, in partnership with the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 0.00
