Arsty Mending

Day: Thursdays

Dates: October 31 – December 5, 2024

Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm

Location: Carleton University

Price: $200+HST

Parking Info & Room Number will be sent by email 1-2 days prior to the lecture date

Overview

Unleash your creativity and learn methods to revive your beloved torn or discoloured clothing and textiles to give them new life. Fibre Artist Anne Warburton will guide you through a variety of techniques to repair your items, giving them a fresh new look, using fabric, stitch, paint and more. As with the Japanese art of “Kintsugi”, we will highlight the mend instead of trying to hide it, while keeping these old and damaged items out of landfill. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to refresh your items into something beautiful and unique. We will also discuss the importance of such creative activities on our well being and mental health, helping us live in the present moment.

Topics

Week 1: We will discuss the philosophy behind the Japanese Art of Kintsugi and the transformative power of embracing imperfection. Creative exercises will be introduced as we begin to look at repairs for our clothing and textiles.

Week 2: A variety of embroidery stitches and patching will be covered so we can begin work on repairing our textiles. The Slow Stitching Movement will be discussed and the importance of the stories behind our textiles.

Week 3: We will cover layering of fabrics and stitches such as Kantha and Boro, and the history of these styles, as well as the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi. Additional stitches and fabric patching will be introduced.

Week 4: A discussion on the benefits of creating on our physical and emotional health will be held, while we continue to work on our mending.

Week 5: The topic of textile waste will be explored, with billions of pounds of textile going to landfill in Canada and around the world. We will learn two methods of “painting” on fabric using oil pastels and paints, especially useful for items with stains. (Note: no drawing skills are required for this exercise.)

Week 6: For this last week, we will continue the conversations and to work on our pieces with whichever methods you feel work best for you. We will review the supports we have built in our class community as we have worked together to repair and give new life to our textiles.

Lecturer Biography

Anne Warburton creates dynamic fibre art from repurposed materials and is fascinated about how creativity helps our own personal journeys. Lockdowns during Covid-19 led her to learning new ways to repair clothing and textiles through stitch, paint, and other methods, while keeping these items out of landfill, and experiencing the added benefits of how such practices are good for our well being and mental health. Anne is trained in the expressive arts therapies and learning facilitation, and spent her career in event management. She is currently working on certification as a Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapist.