Education as art

For five days in mid-July jennadawn and I participated as artists in Peristyle Nomade's la boite à médiation variable.  We participated as members of our artist collective, SCRATCH, but sadly our third member, Lauren Osmond, couldn't join us this time 'round.  In the past the three of us had planted a natural dye garden in Articule's garden and later gave a natural dyeing workshop there.  

For this event we proposed that people see our act of sharing knowledge (plant dyeing knowledge) as a performative art installation.  We spent five days in Parc Mederic Martin in Montreal, mostly staying close to our little dye hut (as seen above).  It was three days preparing natural dyes and fabric to be dyed and the last two dyeing cotton, linens and silks with marigold, onion skins, brazilwood, logwood, lavendar, pomegranate, tumeric and more.  Of course I had to have an indigo vat as well, especially since it was my only chance to have one this summer.  On day two we also held a fun natural dyeing and printing workshop.   As part of our mandate to share we offered a pamphlet with natural dyeing directions to anyone passing through and of course to anyone who inquired about the purpose of our being at the park.

Above are photos from throughout the week and below are ones from the final reception.  There are more to see here

photos by LePetitRusse

jennadawn and I talk about our experience at the park that week

I explain the magic of indigo

Tired Danny and Sam. It had been a long week.