The Textile Museum | Summer Arts Workshops

Summer Arts Workshops at The TM

In conjunction with the exhibiton Green: the Color and the Cause, The Textile Museum is offering a series of hands-on workshops this summer where you can discover and experiment with a variety of textile techniques - from natural dyeing to digital printing.

Register for any multi-day workshop and receive a complimentary Individual level membership to The TM for one year (a $60 value).

To register, call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64 or register online by clicking the link that follows the event description.

	“UP-CYCLE” YOUR PLASTIC BAGS Saturday, June 18, 10 AM-4 PM Green exhibition artist Jackie Abrams teaches you to make a strong, colorful and multi-purpose carrier using everyday plastic bags and the simple technique of crocheting. No experience is necessary. Although you may not be able to finish during class time, instructions will be provided to complete your bag at home. A short presentation of the development of a plastic bag crochet cooperative in Ghana is included. Fee: $35/members, $45/non-members. Participants must bring plastic bags (about 50), crochet hooks (size J or K), scissors (with long sharp blades), and a tape measure (optional). Register online for this workshop.
	TEXTILE STORAGE AND MOUNTING Part I (Storage): Wednesday, July, 20, 10 AM-4 PM Part II (Mounting + Display): Thursday, July 21, 10 AM-4 PM Anyone from the seasoned collector to the fiber artist needs to know how to properly store and mount their treasures. Attend this special two day workshop led by Esther Méthé, The Textile Museum’s chief conservator, and learn the techniques and standards used by the experts. Fee (includes materials); $170/members, $200/non-members. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64 to register.
	SHADES OF GREEN: NATURAL DYEING WORKSHOP Part I: Friday, July 22 10:30 AM-4 PM Part II: Saturday, July 23, 10:30 AM-4 PM Part III: Sunday, July 24, 1-4 PM Led by artist, weaver, and independent textile conservator Louise Wheatley, this vegetable dye workshop explores the three-part process of creating the color green. The first day will focus on mordanting various fabrics and fibers. During the second and third days participants will prepare dye pots with yellow producing plants, and then overdye them in an indigo vat to create many shades of green. Fee (includes materials): $275/members, $335/non-members. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64 to register.
	TEXT IN DESIGN: SCREEN PRINTING WORKSHOP Saturday, August 6, 2-4 PM Explore the use of text in creating patterns on recycled wall art and textiles with artist Kristina Bilonick in this screen printing workshop. Participants should bring a favorite piece of text (such as a poem, quote, love letter, or lyrics) to use in their design. Using the drawing fluid technique for screen printing, you will create a stencil to print on recycled cardboard. In addition, attendees are encouraged to bring in old textiles to experiment on and give new life to old tee shirts, jackets, pillowcases, and curtains. Fee (includes materials): $45/members, $55/non-members. Participants should bring a favorite quote, and may choose to bring any additional textiles they wish to screenprint. Register online for this workshop.
Images (top to bottom): Carrier bag. Courtesy of Jackie Abrams; Heather Ujiie, Resurrection (detail), 2010. Courtesy of the artist; TM conservators. Photo by Katy Clune; Yellow fabrics before an indigo over-dye. Courtesy of Louise Wheatley; Screenprint detail. Courtesy of Kristina Bilonick.