Join Tanasi Arts & Heritage Center as we journey through the Functional Artways of Appalachia over the next year. At the Fiber Arts event, you will have the opportunity to observe the process of natural fiber dyeing and create a doll made of corn husks. Jennifer Bauer will teach attendees how to extract color from native plants over an open fire. Yellows, golds, tans, browns, and even shades of pink and purple will be displayed along with the plant source of each color. You will be able to the process of spinning fiber into thread on the spinning wheel first hand and participate in a demonstration! Over an open fire, the minerals of iron, copper, and brass pots will alter the finished color of the fiber and set the dye. There are always new discoveries and outcomes with each dye bath! Susan Acito will share the art of corn husk dolls by allowing attendees to make a stand up corn husk doll approximately ten inches tall. The process involves soaking corn husks, twisting, tying, and shaping them into dolls, and applying hair with a hot glue gun. Corn shucks provided will be natural in color, but some color-dyed shucks will be available to create a unique doll. If you need hearing, vision, or Spanish language translation assistance, please mark the appropriate selection in the registration form online. Register to participate or volunteer at the event at www.tanasiarts.org.
