Upcoming class: Joan Morris, Ohio, March 30

Know of any upcoming classes on shibori, dyed textiles or similar?

Here in the USA, spring workshop classes should be starting in juuust about a month. So if you've heard of any, are teaching any, or are still kicking yourself for having missed one last year, fill us in. We'll post the info here for others to hear.

------------------------------------------------------

That said...

Joan Morris will be teaching a workshop in central Ohio in the lovely, rural, peaceful setting of the Crow Timber Frame Barn.

"Natural Dye Extracts & an Indigo Pot: Shibori Textiles"
Joan Morris
March 30 - April 3
beginning to advanced levels
more info here

Taiwan: lecture w/ Yoshiko Wada at National Palace Museum

"World Indigo Dyed Textiles," an overview lecture of the world's various indigo cultures and their textiles, will be given by Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada at Taiwan's National Palace Museum. The 2-hr lecture will take place 10:00-12:00 on Feb 12, 2009.

Visit www.yoshikowada.com for more of her events in Taiwan this February.




Thanks to the National Palace Museum and Dr. Lee Jui-Tsung of the Taiwan Indigo Dyeing Society for forwarding this announcement.

Gunma Silk pre-orders

Excuse the plug but we know some of you readers have been inquiring about Gunma silks:

Yoshiko is currently traveling in Asia. Later this month while in Japan, she will be visiting the Koshimitsu Mill. For those who are interested, you can place a pre-order for any of the Gunma silk varieties to ensure you'll get the type of silk & quantity you need. Pre-orders must be placed by Feb 14 (USA time).

To learn more about Gunma silks and pre-ordering, visit the fabric section on Yoshiko's online shop: shop.yoshikowada.com


* Yoshiko will be re-stocking some of the silk varieties in April. But without a pre-order, she can't guarantee she'll have enough of what you want.

Australia Naturally (6 Feb-8 Mar '09)

Lucky day for Australian textile enthusiasts. For those of you who didn't get a chance to see the lovely exhibition, "Australia Naturally," held at the Paris American Academy gallery this past November, drive on over to Strathnairn Homestead Gallery.

[6Feb - 8 Mar 09] "Australia Naturally"
at Strathnairn Homestead Gallery (Australia)

A glorious exhibition of small shibori works created exclusively by World Shibori Network Australia members as a showcasing of their use of natural and synthetic dyes. These works have recently been on exhibition in Paris as part of the 7th International Shibori Symposium at the Musee Quai Branly. 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt, ACT (20 min drive from Civic) || weekends 10.00 - 4.30

Thanks to Joan James, WSN-Australia rep, for forwarding this info.

Anne Selby

We're well into January and, with it, the new year's winter season. But here in California, even up in the rainy northern parts, we've been getting very odd weather: 70s to 30s F all in the same week. Meanwhile, I'm sure our friends in Australia are reading this while under a shady tree, taking refuge from the summer's sun. It's funny how far reaching the internet is. It really is a time for global consciousness.

We received a really great email from Anne Selby of UK (www.anneselby.com), inventor of the Compleat Arashi machine. In addition to some helpful feedback about the ISS, she also had something to share with all of her new friends from the France event. Anne writes:

It's been a couple of busy months since ISS08, yet I find myself referring to my notes, or recalling conversations with other delegates almost every day. It was a unique event, very ambitious, and for the short time I was part of it, hugely memorable and valuable. I feel I have an international network of colleagues that I can reach out to in the future. A grateful thanks to Yoshiko and Peter for being so visionary and incredibly organised, to make such a complex venture work.

An afterthought - I emailed everyone who asked me to keep in touch with them about my Compleat Arashi machine - but this depended on my [being able to] successfully read their writing correctly!! If you have not heard from me and had expected to, please email me so I have your correct address. anne [at] selby [dot] cc


Thanks for the feedback, Anne. Hope to see you in Kansas at SDA in June.

Articles in Magic Patch magazine

Happy new year everyone! Hope you're all looking forward to the promise of new opportunities in 2009.

We're pleased to announce that Magic Patch magazine has published two articles about the ISS08 in issue #78.

"7ieme Shibori reportage," written by Gül Laporte, author of Quilts from Europe: Projects & Inspiration, is a great report of the overall event.
"Renoué" exhibition report, written by Clarisse Bioud, is a lovely review of the art show produced by the association Trame de Soi for musee de l'imprimerie de Lyon (3-30 Nov 2008). Have a look-see and enjoy!

Both are written in French and rich in images. Download the full article and see all the photos! (file available here on our main website)

Yoshiko reflects on the ISS & WSN

The following is an excerpt of an email response written by Yoshiko to a longtime WSN supporter. This person asked Yoshiko to offer some of her own personal thoughts on the ISS and to share her perspective on the event as its Co-Chair and as WSN President. With Yoshiko's permission, I post it here for everyone to read. She writes:

My focus on our symposia is always on how to create a gathering of creative minds where everyone feels ownership in what we organize. The event and opportunities should be reciprocal and gratifying for all involved. I wish we had more time at the MdQB plenary sessions for the audience and presenters to exchange views and explore the subjects further. I hope frank expression of opinions and correction of facts should be allowed.

Reflections:
RE:natural dyes: After our experience in Provence, especially after talking with Barbara Barois, Director of the Conservatoire des Ocres et Pigments Appliques, it became clear to me that it would be more appropriate to address "Natural Colorants: Dyes and Pigments" to view the dyes in a larger context.

And also studying with Michel Garcia. This made made me realize that artists, artisans and designers need to fortify ourselves with the understanding of chemistry and we need to approach the art of natural dyeing with analytical mind.

From our experience in France: Between all these great people (Dominique Cardon, Michel Garcia, Anne de la Sayette, Isabel Brouillet, Pauline Duponchel de Bary, and Roussillon Ochre Conservancy (Conservatoire des Ocres et Pigments Appliques) and Association de Couleur Garance in Lauris), you/we all have so much more perspective on this. It was wonderful to see the dye plants at the garden in Lauris.

(ed note: this was in response to a specific comment about the artist) RE: Genevieve Dion: yes, many people were enthusiastic about her vision. We need to always redefine what we do, where we are, and where we want to be -- especially in educating the young people as well as ourselves. You see, we, including you, are truly shaping our field and community together. This is not only about cloth. The Jacquard and Entrepreneurial conference sounds very interesting. The designing of fashion and interior furnishings begins where the designer can create the canvas with the understanding of the entire process all the way to the end-products.

Web revamp

Hey all,
We've been silent here for a while because we've been focusing our attention on revamping our website for www.shibori.org. Why? We wanted an easier platform for in-house updates. Closer control means better content for you, timely updates and a richer website. We're also rethinking some aspects of the site (special web membership access) and other excellent things to make this not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization function more smoothly and efficiently.

In the meanwhile, you can see some new ISS08 pic uploads to our flickr and here are some additional feedback comments from Barbara S and Sara K. THANKS, Friends! If you are not yet on our mailing list but want to be, click here

Barbara S writes:
Dear Peter and Yoshiko,
ISS France 08 was just outstanding. You provided us with a very inclusive and informative event and the best of French food, wine and culture! Thank you so much.

Sara K writes:
I thoroughly enjoyed the symposium and would like to thank everyone who was involved with the organisation for such a diverse and interesting programme. I look forward to the next one!.......

Gunma Silk + NZ merino wool

This note from Deb Donnelly offers some nice feedback about the ISS and it also raises a common question we repeatedly receive: how to purchase Gunma silk. So read on for our response. And, if you're ever curious to find the best NZ merino wool, Deb is a great resource. She specializes in textile design for fabric prints and fashion using natural dyed merino wool, fine silk cloth and hi-tech garments & fibers.

From Deb:

A note to say how much I enjoyed the wonderful textile and visual
experiences you and Peter put together for the tour of France at ISS08.
It was exceptional not to mention the location and I have made a number
of technological advances, finds, treasures and future teaching contacts.
I now look forward to being the NZ shibori rep and three upcoming
exhibitions to celebrate our National Day in NZ on 6 February.
This means sampling wool and silk treatments for dye and shibori
experiments in the coming months. My request to you is how do I purchase Japanese gunma silk by yardage? Do you have any in stock? How much is it? I am also happy to advise shibori artists on the best NZ merino wool supplies for fine felt shibori and nuno works.


Well, Deb (and others): you can purchase meterage of gunma silk (a specialty silk with sericin that responds incredibly well to shibori) through our office. Stock fluctuates so it's always best to inquire directly with the office. Prices are not available online yet but we're working on a separate website / online shop for these such purposes. You can email us at:

orders [at] yoshikowada [dot] com

More: ISS08 feedback

Belated Happy Thanksgiving to our fellow American friends! Wanted to share more feedback from folks across the globe. It is really great to hear how worthwhile the ISS was for those of you who were able to make it. We know that to travel so far, and especially in these economic times, was a big commitment for you and, as well, a huge uncertainty for us and for PAA. It's really helpful to hear about your experiences so thank you for sharing them. Today's messages come from Mary Mortenson (USA), Clara Schreiber (USA) and Yvonne Wakabayshi & Cindy Do (Canada).

Mary writes:
I want to express my gratitude for all that you did to make the International Shibori Symposium so incredible. You both are incredible and made it possible for us to have experiences we would never have otherwise had. It was very special and memorable. - Mary

Clara:
Thank you again Yoshiko and Peter for a wonderful experience!

Yvonne writes:
Cindy and I are home reflecting on our ISS08 experience and we both were so happy to be there to take advantage of all the programs and events. In the short time, we can say that we managed to do so much and enjoyed all of it...the plenary sessions, the many exhibitions, all of it..... Oh yes...all the food! It was Cindy's first time in Paris and she even took advantage of free time to use the Museum pass and Metro pass to see all that she dreamed of.....ex Mona Lisa (no line-ups) etc etc. Thanks for all the details of organizing (with Peter) many many details. Both the stay in Lyon and Paris were much more than we expected. We both thank you and Peter for your dedicated work in the planning of such an event. We are very appreciative and now I will try to share much of what I have learned with students and fellow shibori enthusiasts. Thank you again and when you are in touch with Peter, please thank him for us too. - Yvonne & Cindy