Slow Fiber Studios

Conversations are streamed talks with esteemed textile artists and artisans, specialists, scholars in the field of textile art including in shibori, natural dyes, sashiko and quilt, weaving, fashion and costumes, delivered through Zoom webinar.

Our purpose is to spread and share authentic information substantiated by the presenters’ experiences. The conversations will serve as oral histories that record the lives and works of people who have contributed to the evolution of the textile field by building on tradition with innovation and passing on knowledge to upcoming generations.

Shibori has become an international textile term because no equivalent has been identified. Other languages have no term that encompasses all the various shaped-resist techniques, nor is there English terminology for all of the individual methods, which often have been incorrectly lumped together as “tie-and-dye.” In the 1970s, three terms to describe some of the shibori methods came into international usage: plangi, used for the process of gathering and binding cloth, may be a Malay-Indonesian derivative from the word pelangi (rainbow); banda, bandhani, or bandhej are Indian terms for the process of plucking or gathering and binding; and tritik, used for stitch-resist, may be a Malay-Indonesian derivative from the word titik (dots). However, these three terms represent only two of the most useful processes, stitch-resist and bound-resist. No other term in the international textile vocabulary but “shibori” encompasses the entire range of shaped-resist dyeing techniques. There has been continuing research on global shibori traditions including amaras, a pre-Columbian bound-resist; nuet of Tunisia and Morocco; many shibori variations in Central and West Africa such as adire oniko in Nigeria; and more.

Conversations with Cloth, Fall-Winter 2020-21

Streaming webinar series on Zoom took place on 10/28, 11/18, 12/9, 2020 and 1/6, 2021.

Four-part presentation on SHIBORI hosted by

Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada with Ana Lisa Hedstrom 

 

*SPECIAL OFFER to those who missed the broadcasting of Series ONE with FOUR Episodes*

Do you wish to see the whole series or to see the episode(s) you missed?

You can purchase the recording(s), see details at the bottom.

CWC SERIES 1 RECORDINGS

 

• Episode #1: Arashi Shibori/ Pole-wrap

Wednesday • October 28 • 2020, 1pm-3pm (pacific coast time)

A brief history of arashi shibori in Arimatsu Narumi, Japan, discussing historical examples and processes while explaining the arashi patterns and techniques. Contemporary adaptation in North America of traditional processes will highlight the ingenuity and creative impulse of the artists.

 

• Episode #2: Nui Shibori/ Stitch-resist

Wednesday • November 18 • 2020, 1pm-3pm (pacific coast time)

A brief survey will be presented to view ancient stitch-resist in Japan, and kosode of Keicho and Genroku eras (the early 1600s) along with the Tsujigahana myth and work of Itchiku Kubota who translated the historical textiles into creating his own spectacular art of nui shibori. Presentation of hand-sewing and machine-sewn pleating will cover traditional and modern techniques, concepts, and patterns. Ana Lisa will demonstrate the smocking pleater which approximates mokume shibori stitches, and Catharine Ellis will share her woven shibori process using natural dyes. A contemporary adaptation of traditional processes will highlight the ingenuity and creative impulse of the artists and artisans.

 

• Episode #3: Itajime Shibori/ Clamp-resist

Wednesday • December 9 • 2020, 1pm-3pm (pacific coast time)

A brief history of clamp-resist from the ancient Tang Dynasty China and Japan through the Edo Period to modern Japan and the West. Contemporary adaptation in North America of traditional processes will highlight the ingenuity and creative impulse of the artists.

 

• Episode #4: Exporting Shibori to Africa from Arimatsu Narumi, 1948-49, Machine Sewn-resist, and Complex Substrate

Wednesday • January 6 • 2021, 1pm-3pm (pacific coast time)

Yoshiko and Ana Lisa will discuss creative solutions the Japanese artisans came up with to meet demand in the African market for wide width, quick production, and dramatic patterns. Examples of the artisans’ solutions were to use a sewing machine for compression-resist (kikai-sekka shibori), enlarge the scale of traditional techniques, and incorporate printed substrates. Ana Lisa will discuss her own way of using the sewing machine in her art textiles, and images from contemporary artists’ work will be shared.  We hope our analysis of a variety of artists’ and artisans’ technical and design approaches will inspire shibori practitioners to find innovative ways to scale up their production.

 

CWC SERIES 1 RECORDINGS

 

SPECIAL OFFER to those who missed the broadcasting of Series ONE with FOUR Episodes:

The cost for recordings of the series of four episodes is $75. A single episode is $25. There is a SPECIAL PRICE for a bundle of three episodes: $50. A link to the recording you purchased will be emailed to you and will be accessed until the end of June.

The streaming webinar event series on Zoom took place on 10/28, 11/18, 12/9/2020 & 1/6/2021.

If you purchased tickets totaling $75, you will have a discounted price of $45 for the entire Archival Edition. See below.

Streaming Library Edition:

In mid-2021, you will receive an email announcement when a streaming version of the series becomes available with study guides. This archival documentary will be a valuable tool for educators and scholars of craft, design, textile, and art. This series will also help artists, artisans, and designers to gain creative inspiration and increased technical literacy.

Cost to download the four films with study guides to your computer is $45 for those who purchased a series ticket at $75, or tickets totaling $75.

Cost for each film with study guides is $10 for those who purchased a $25 ticket for a single episode.

Cost for Four Films with study guides is $120 for those who did not register and wish to purchase and download. A single episode with study guides is $35.

Viewing of the film is limited to non commercial use.

 

Special Discounts on DVDs:

Registered participants will be eligible for discounts on shop.slowfiberstudios.com:

Ana Lisa’s shibori DVDs and World Shibori Network’s Arimatsu Narumi Shibori DVD @ 20% off.

You will receive a discount code with the Webinar invitation with a Zoom link a few days after you purchase the registrations/tickets.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact staff[at]yoshikowada.com

 

Presenters:

Guest: Ana Lisa Hedstrom

Ana Lisa is known for her signature textiles based on contemporary adaptations of shibori. Her textiles are included in the collections of museums such as the Cooper Hewitt, the Museum of Art and Design, and the De Young, and her work has been exhibited  internationally. She has taught and lectured at numerous international Shibori conferences and schools, and her awards include two NEA grants and she is a fellow of the ACC.

 

Host: Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada

Yoshiko I. Wada is an artist, curator, and textile scholar, president of World Shibori Network, founder of SFS, producer of the Natural Dye Workshop series, and co-chair of the 1st – 11th International Shibori Symposia. She is the author of pioneering publications on kasuri and shibori. Today she continues to lead a wide range of workshops, lectures, tours, and symposia internationally, emphasizing sustainability & tradition.