2013 Maiwa Textile Symposium

Indigo Shibori

Akemi Nakano Cohn

$250 includes 60 lab fee

Maiwa East: 1310 Odlum Drive, Vancouver BC

Explore pattern on fabric through the magic of the ancient Japanese resist technique known as shibori. Shades of indigo blue have been applied to textiles for hundreds of years, yet the blues and patterns given by indigo and shibori still have a contemporary look which works well for modern clothing and interiors.

In this workshop students will learn to master the various shibori techniques such as stitching, pleating, twisting, clamping, wrapping, folding, and binding. They will apply these techniques and then learn how to prepare their own indigo dyepot and dye each item.

The excitement of removing an item from the dyebath is matched only by the satisfaction of creating stunning patterns through the application of these ancient techniques.

The art of both historic and contemporary textiles will be discussed through slides.

Akemi joins us from Chicago to give this workshop.

Instructor Bio

For ten years Akemi studied Katazome – a traditional rice paste resist printing technique – under Master Haru Izumi. Then, in 1985, she emigrated to the United States. The cultural shift inspired new work and new ways of working. 

Akemi has pursued an extensive series of international exhibitions and commissions. She is a master of the Nassen technique, which adds a dye to the rice paste to create both colour and resist simultaneously. She joins us from her home in Chicago.