Paths to a 3D Flower Garden Workshop with Martina Celerin

Dates: Fri Apr 4 10am-4pm, Sat Apr 5 10am-4pm, Sun Apr 6 10am-Noon.

Ticket: WGGC Member $250. Non-member $275.

Materials fee: $10.

Skills Needed: No experience is necessary.

Class Limit: 15

Ticketing details:

• This is a three-day workshop.
• WGGC Members have priority registration until February 3. On February 4 at 8am the workshop opens to the public.
• Sales close on March 4 at 11pm.

Day 1 - Creating a woven base for the garden/forest/river. We will be using simple nail looms with pick-up sticks (batons) made from old yardsticks and shuttles made from old rulers. Participants will be doing a few shots of tabby weave to create a sturdy foundation for their weaving. I will then demonstrate soumak weave and encourage participants to incorporate at least some of this wrap-based weave structure into their pieces. The region of soumak can serve as a base for dimensional crochet, a technique that I will demonstrate that I’ve developed to create a 3D “wedge” that can serve as the substructure for trees, pathways, and flower beds.

Day 2 - Adding paths, rivers, and flagstones. We will begin day 2 by introducing needle felting directly into our weavings. I will demonstrate the technique using loose fibers, prefelts, felted fabric and yarns that I use to create defined structures (paths, rivers, or flagstones) into tapestries. I will show two techniques for creating tree trunks: specifically, needle felting over a wool base directly onto a weaving, and needle felting onto an independent wool fabric base. We will then move on to wrapping, a technique that will allow participants to create wire-enhanced yarn-covered structures that can be made into bendable solid tubes of variable diameter – an alternative approach that I use for creating tree trunks, as well as branches and roots. Finally, I will demonstrate the technique that I use to create leaf clumps and dirt clods.

Day 3 – Creating forest understories, river edges and garden beds. The focus of this last day will be adding finer details to the tapestries. We will consider how to manipulate various fibers and materials to give unexpected effects. I will demonstrate how I create tufted flower clumps, ferns, miniature roses, mosses, and liatris stalks and encourage participants to use a variety of materials and techniques including embroidery and stitching beads and other found objects onto their weavings. Finally, I will demonstrate how to release and secure the finished weaving and discuss ideas for displaying the artwork.

Experience level(s) for workshop students

No experience is necessary. I've had a broad range of participants in the workshop from those that have never touched a loom, all the way to ones that use a multi-heddle loom daily. Because my techniques are unconventional everyone is starting at roughly the same point.

Materials and Supplies:

• Martina supplies all the materials for participants to use during the workshop including the looms, shuttles and pickup sticks, yarn, cords, string and plenty of found objects.
• Students are encouraged to bring their remnants, treasures and thrums either to use, to use up, or to share. These materials aren’t necessary – there is enough supplied for all- but it's fun!
• If students have preferred scissors, they should bring them.
• $10.00 Materials Fee will be collected at the workshop. Cash or check only.
• Participants are welcome to purchase the looms ($40) or borrow the looms to finish their projects at home with a fully refundable deposit of $40.
• Bring Your lunch and beverages. A microwave and refrigerator are provided.

Problems registering or Questions about the workshop: Contact the Workshop Chair, Janice Doughty at [email protected].

Artist Statement:

“I am a Bloomington Indiana resident with a long and unusual path to my current art career. I was born in Prague, Czech Republic, and I immigrated to Canada as a young girl. After earning a doctoral degree in plant sciences from the University of Western Ontario, I accepted a postdoctoral position in the Biology Department at Indiana University. During that time, I met and married my husband, and together we have two delightful boys, Tommie and Jacob. In 2002 I decided to transition from science back to my roots as an artist. In the past I focused on oil pastels and acrylic painting. Work with oil pastels forced me to focus on visual mixing of colors, and their interactions when they are applied proximally compared to when they are physically distant. Acrylic painting allowed for quick mixing of colors both before and after applying it to the canvas, but, as with oil pastels, I became dissatisfied with the flatness of the art. I began gluing found objects onto the canvas and then painting over them. Eventually I realized that I needed to create my canvas. Weaving allows me to incorporate objects, textures and shapes, as well as colors and coarsenesses into the canvas.

My art studio is filled with a plethora of odds and ends, new and old. I have yarns of all weights, colors and descriptions, jars of crinoid fossils, shells, weathered rocks and driftwood from local lakes. These sit beside dozens of containers of beads and discarded jewelry, strips of leather, hemp baskets undone, wires disentangled, and yards of lace—bits and pieces of everyday life, waiting to create a specific effect in a weaving. My inspiration is drawn from both nature and my imagination; some pieces are scenes taken from family walks or borrowed photographs. Others are much more abstract, capturing an idea, a personality or simply reflect the feelings evoked by an event or geographical area. All of the pieces, though, are true weavings, integrating the materials, landscapes or emotions I’ve drawn from my travels and experiences.”

If you are not feeling well, please contact Janice Doughty instead of coming to the class. On a case-by-case basis, we may be able to reschedule you into a future class or provide a make-up lesson. Ticket fees are not normally refunded. Depending on the CDC guidelines for Hamilton County at the time the workshop is held, a mask may be required. If so, you will be notified before the first workshop.

Fees are normally not refundable except for these contingencies:

(1) If the workshop is canceled, your ticket cost will be refunded in full.

(2) If the workshop is changed to a different date, you have the option to apply your ticket cost to retain your place; otherwise, a full refund can be given.

(3) If you are unable to attend the workshop and if you contact the workshop chair at least thirty days before the workshop date, your ticket cost can be refunded minus the Eventbrite ticketing fees.

(4) If you cancel less than thirty days before the workshop, your ticket cost will not be refunded, but it may be possible to make alternative arrangements so that your fee and place in the workshop are not forfeited; contact the workshop chair for options.

Host or Publisher Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati