Event Info
This in-person workshop takes place at Center for Book Arts on April 13, 2024 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- Saturday, April 13, 10:00am–4:00pm
Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on April 2nd, at 11:59 pm.
About the Workshop:
This in-person workshop is taught by Rhonda Khalifeh.
Indigotin, or indigo, is a natural pigment sourced from indigofera plants to create a range of blue dyes. In this workshop, students will be introduced to all things indigo – the pigment, its history, and contemporary dye vat preparation. After learning how to create a fruit sugar indigo vat, students will hand-dye various papers and their own silk handkerchief. Material safety, fiber preparation, and vat maintenance will also be covered. Students are welcome to bring small handmade papers or light colored fabric for further experimentation. Anyone looking to discover the incredible potential of organic indigo dye should come to this class with an attitude of exploration.
Fun Fact: Prior to the discovery of synthetic blue and chemical dyes in the 19th century, indigo was the only viable source available for creating a lasting blue color.
Required Materials:
All materials and tools are provided by CBA.
About Rhonda Khalifeh
Rhonda Khalifeh is a Syrian-American artist and designer based in New York. Her studio practice is an investigation of surface and the ways in which it negotiates, protects, and betrays the human body. Khalifeh often draws from her personal experience with assimilation in the U.S. and stories of immigration—in particular, that of the Syrian Diaspora—to create textile installations and assemblages. In 2018 she published Project Z with Open Projects Press. In producing this publication, Khalifeh conducted a series of in-depth interviews with nine participants with the goal of creating an article of clothing in dialogue with each subject. Upon completion, the participants were given their respective garments to keep and wear. Khalifeh views traditions of dress as case studies for the merging of multiple material cultures. In its simplest manifestations, the garment operates as the protagonist in her work, acting as an agent of conscious visibility. Khalifeh has been an artist in residence at the SVA Bio Art Lab and the Textile Arts Center. Recent exhibitions include Elsewhere:Everywhere (Houston, TX), Before We Were Banned (Santa Fe, NM) and Ojalá (New York, NY). She is currently working on the second volume of Project Z interviews and garments.
All images courtesy of the instructor.
Class size is limited to ensure an optimal participant to instructor ratio. Register now before spots fill up! Registration for this workshop closes on April 2nd at 11:59pm. The price of this class is $130 plus a $25 materials fee.