Katelynn Ulmer - Virtual Workshop: The Art of Story Cloth
Image: Rosa Lidia Cubur Solloy, Life During the Pandemic. Hand-Embroidery, appliqué with fabric from recycled secondhand clothing, cotton, 30.48 x 40.64 cm. Image credit: multicolores.org.
Join us on Zoom on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March 2021 for a two-day virtual workshop on The Art of Story Cloth. This workshop will be hosted by Multicolores, a Guatemala registered non-profit organisation that supports Maya women in their process of self-discovery and artistic development. Multicolores works with groups of Maya K’iché, Kaqchiquel, and Tzutujil women artists from the Guatemalan highlands to create original works of art using embroidery and rug-hooking. Multicolores encourages the use of art as a tool for exploration and expression.
Image: Concepcion Coo Quieju, The Legend of the Characoteles. Hand-Embroidery, appliqué with fabric from recycled secondhand clothing, cotton, 30.48 x 40.64 cm. Image Credit: multicolores.org.
This two-day contemporary embroidery workshop explores the art of hand-stitched story cloths. By combining a vocabulary of stitches with needle turn appliqué, story cloths visually narrate vibrant and detailed expressions of local celebrations, folklore, and personal experiences. Mayan embroiderers will begin this workshop by showcasing their own work and sources of inspiration. They invite participants to consider a multitude of sources for their own stories; anything from family lore to one’s own vivid imagination is encouraged as inspiration. The instructors will then guide participants through the design process beginning with the initial sketching of concepts, to playing with placement, scale, and composition, choosing colour combinations, and finally transferring the design to fabric.
Image: Marina Juracán, Dancing Shadows. Hand-embroidered, appliqué with upcycled fabric, cotton, 22.86 x 22.86 cm. Image credit: multicolores.org.
During the workshop, the artists will review five stitches that can be used to add texture and depth to the designs. Whether a beginner embroiderer, or advanced, the workshop is open to all. Participants are encouraged to come prepared with two to three personal stories that can be translated into visual designs. A material list for this workshop is provided on the registration page, and upon registration, participants will receive a downloadable design guide which includes several of the artists’ original templates.
Buy your ticket to The Art of Story Cloth, Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 March 2021, 2-5pm GMT. Hope to see you there!