Jovencio de la Paz

FIBER 614 001
1 credit hour
Lab Fee $50 

Indigo is the most utilized dyestuff on the planet. Both in its natural and its synthetic form, Indigo blue has a mysterious and contentious history: from the mystery cults of Indigo in Southeast Asia to the slave trade in the New World. This course will cover fundamental techniques in preparing both natural and synthetic indigo dye-vats, and we will use those vats to explore traditional Japanese tie-dye (Shibori) as well as traditional Indonesian resist dying (Batik). Furthermore, we will also utilize the metaphoric notion of "blueness" and "bluing," in relationship to the natural landscape. While surface design and the production of textiles will be emphasized, students will be challenged to consider how the production of color and cloth can manifest itself in performance, installation, and other alternative forms. This course is open to all levels of experience.