In addition to all the other celebrations getting attention this year, 2009 is also the International Year of Natural Fibres. It officially started on 22 January 2009 and I think it’s an idea that we could all cotton onto. And while not officially tied to the IYoNF events, you can also appreciate natural fibers by taking an art class at Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, FL.
Intro to Nature Printing
April 6 & 7, 10 am – 3 pm
Achieve beautiful and accurate botanical prints by transferring plant images to both paper and fabric. If you are interested in “instant gratification” this is the course for you. Be amazed at the results! Materials list available.
Instructors: JoAnn Migliore-Urban and Marilynn Shelley
Members, $60; Non-members, $70
Materials fee: $8 (pay instructor)Plant Printing on Silk
April 11 & 18
2 Sat., 10 am – 3 pm
Create beautiful scarves with patterns of flowers and leaves with interesting and varied backgrounds using silk textile paints. Ms Frey is passionate about printing with plants and the effects that can be produced on silk. Materials list available.
Instructor: Barbara Frey
Members, $60; Non-mem, $70
Materials fee: $20 (pay instructor)
While not listed as one of the 15 examples of natural fibres, you can appreciate some plantlike products from the ocean while at Selby too. One of my fellow Florida Master Naturalist alums is teaching an art class on seaweeds next week.
Celebrate Seaweed
Feb. 9, 11 am – 3:30 pm
Begin with a field trip to a local beach to collect seaweed and then return to the classroom at Selby. Float the seaweed in fresh water and arrange specimens on rag paper prior to the drying process. Beautiful color copies suitable for framing can be made from your pressed specimens. Materials list available.
Instructor: Heather J. Fortner
Members, $35; Non-mem, $45
Materials Fee: $10.00 (pay instructor)
Heather is an amazing lady who has spent a lot of time in the sea. As a final project in our Coastal Habitats module, her group made seaweed salads and served us all lunch. Nothing like macking on some edible Gracilaria or spongy Codium fresh from the brine. And she makes fabulous fish prints (Gyotaku) too, which you can check out at the links below.
- Heather Fortner
- Sarasota Hearld Tribune: Woman combs shoreline to find edible seaweed
- Heather’s Etsy store: Orchid Street Studio
- Selby Botanical Gardens: Art Class Schedule