MINNEAPOLIS, MARCH, 2016─ Textile Center is pleased to announce that one of the world’s leading natural dye experts, Michel Garcia of France, will be its first Margaret Miller Artist in Residence, presenting a week of natural dye workshops Monday, July 11, through Saturday, July 16, 2016.
“Because of the growing interest and popularity in natural dyeing, we look forward to welcoming Michel Garcia to the Twin Cities,” says Karl Reichert, Textile Center Executive Director. “An added bonus is having an internationally renowned botanist, chemist, dyer and naturalist to be our first Margaret Miller Artist in Residence, a program we have named in honor of our founding Director who led this organization for 18 years before retiring in 2012.”

During this week, Garcia will present the following two workshops and lecture at Textile Center:

"Color from Plants: A Natural Dye Workshop with Michel Garcia"
Monday, June 11 through Friday, June 15, 9 am - 5 pm
Discover natural dyeing with plant materials in this comprehensive workshop with Michel Garcia, one of the world’s leading dye experts. Students will learn about dye plants by walking through Textile Center’s A Garden to Dye For. They will experiment with mordants and applications to obtain a vast array of shades when dyeing natural fibers. Michel will also teach how to preserve plants and extracts, and record keeping. Tuition for the weeklong workshop are $650 for Textile Center Members and $740 for non-members. Registration information here.

Michel Garcia Lecture
Thursday, July 14, 6:30 - 8 pm

Michel Garcia’s research and teaching has taken him across the globe. He'll tell a captivating personal account of his travels and discoveries and discuss his recent international projects. Tickets for the lecture are $15 for Textile Center Members and $20 for non-members. (This lecture is included in the tuition for the weeklong workshop.)

This lecture will coincide with openings of an invitational exhibition of regional natural dye artists in Textile Center's Studio and Community Galleries. Registration information

Natural Indigo Vat

Saturday, July 16, 10 am - 4 pm
Students will learn methods to prepare a natural organic indigo dye vat and how to maintain it. Using natural fibers and a paste resist method, students will come away with a greater understanding of indigo and its vast possibilities. Tuition is $195 for Textile Center Members and $215 for non-members. Registration information

About Michel Garcia

A French national born in Morocco, Michel Garcia founded Couleur Garance (Madder Color) in 1998 in Lauris, France, an association that hopes to connect young ecologically sensitive artisans with the substantial expertise of an older generation of dyers. Garcia also established Le Jardin Conservatoire de Plantes Tinctoriales (Botanical Garden of Dye Plants) in 2000 as a horticultural resource for chemists, natural dye researchers, and botanists. He has been instrumental in revitalizing the natural dye scene in France and abroad. Michel’s efforts have been pivotal to cultivating a greater understanding of natural dye history and teaching more sustainable adaptations for current practice.

About Textile Center
Textile Center is unique as America's national center for fiber art--which encompasses weaving, quilting, knitting, sewing, dyeing, felting, needlework, lace making, basketry, beading, soft sculpture and multi-media pieces.

With a mission to honor textile traditions, promote excellence and innovation, and inspire widespread participation in fiber arts, Textile Center provides resources such as classes for all ages and levels, exceptional fiber art exhibitions in four galleries, an artisan shop, a professional-grade dye lab, and the nation's largest circulating textile library. It is a dynamic hub where people come together to create, learn, share, explore, and be inspired by fiber art.

GALLERY AND SHOP HOURS
Monday - Thursday 10 am - 7 pm
Friday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm

Other Natural Dye Experiences Coming Up

Micropigments: Exploring Regional Wild Mushroom and Lichen Dyes with Alissa Allen

Friday, May 6, 10 am - 3 pm
Every region has its own palette of mushroom and lichen dyes. This class takes an in-depth look at using local, wild fungi as sustainable, safe dye sources. All of the dyes used are ethically harvested, dried, and weighed. Students learn about mushroom safety, identification basics, habitats and ethical harvest. Participants receive a customized color guide to the best regional dye mushrooms and lichens and learn where to go for help with identification. Participants will take home a detailed recipe card showcasing the rainbow of samples dyed in class. Participants receive a detailed procedural handout, a customized guide to local dye fungi and a beautiful hand dyed scarf. $198 for Textile Center Members, $240 non-members

Registration information

About Alissa Allen
Alissa Allen is an amateur mycologist who specializes in presenting regional mushroom and lichen dye palettes to communities all over the country. Alissa has been sharing her passion for mushroom and lichen dyes and collaborating with other dyers for over 12 years. She has written articles for mycopigments.com, Fibershed CA and Fungi Magazine, and created two active discussion groups: Mushroom and Lichen Dyers United and The Mushroom Dyers Trading Post. She is dedicated to furthering the art and science of mushroom and lichen dyeing through community engagement, open discussion, and friendly encouragement. To read more about Alissa’s work, visit her website mycopigments.com

[Alissa Allen micropigments dyeing]