The second annual Kootenay Fibre Arts Festival is coming April 22, and this year’s event is shaping up to be even more impressive than last year’s. Event organizer Carmen Ditzler is excited to list all the guest artists and vendors, as well as all the hands-on activities that participants can try. New this year will be four mini workshops, where attendees can learn or develop their skills in small groups.
“There is going to be a lot going on throughout the day,” said Ditzler. “Whether you spin, felt, weave, knit, crochet, dye, quilt, needle-felt, print or stitch, there is going to be something for everyone. And lots to try and lots of advice for those that are just beginning or those more advanced in their art.”
Like last year’s festival, a $20 day pass gives participants access to demonstrations, give-it-a-go stations, giant knitting, vendors, all-day stash exchange, a gallery of finished work, and refreshments. Lunch will be available for purchase.
“The goal of this festival is to draw fibre artists out from their studios and homes to spend time with each other – those that understand the passion for their work,” said Ditzler. “We all speak each other’s language, and that’s a big deal. It’s nice to talk to people about what you do, and trade stories, and be inspired and try new things.”
Ditzler has seen a significant resurgence in the fibre arts community lately. “It started when a lot of people rediscovered knitting about ten or fifteen years ago. As that caught on, a generation of younger people realized that the world was becoming less tangible and many felt the need to create something with their hands. We’ve been transforming animal and plant fibres into the things we needed since forever but, now that we no longer have to (with the industrialization of the entire process), we are choosing to for the sake of art. And, as more of us are becoming exposed to different fibre arts, many of are beginning to wonder about the entire process – from sheep to finished product. While there won’t be live sheep at this year’s event, there will be examples of every other step along the way.”
With ongoing demonstrations, give-it-a-go stations, vendors, and mini workshops, it’s going to be a busy Saturday. “It’s difficult to go into lots of detail about everything – I could, but I won’t right now,” joked Ditzler. “Just to scratch the surface, I can tell you that participants can make wool bracelets and finish them off with handmade ceramic buttons made by Creston’s Andrea Revoy. Win Dinn, another artist from Creston, will be demonstrating Gelli printing. Riverstone Yarns from Kaslo is going to be acid dyeing wool. Bill Henriksen from Kimberley is coming to be there with his homemade spinning wheel that he made especially for teaching purposes. There’ll be a chance to try drop spindling, and there’ll be a chance to try Saori, a freestyle type of weaving from Japan. The list goes on and on…”
The demonstration stations will feature batt making, art yarn spinning, art batt felting, art quilting, Zen quilting, and dyeing with acid dyes. The give-it-a-go stations are for those that want to try something new without having to pay for tools or materials. Festival participants can try spinning on a wheel; drop spindle spinning, welt felting, needle felting, Saori-style weaving, fleece washing, and printmaking. Each station will have a teacher or guide and materials to play and experiment with. The vendors at the Kootenay Fibre Arts Festival will include Fly in the Fibre; Blue Moon Pottery; Spectrum Farm; Skimmerhorn Alpacas; Sarah Elizabeth Fibre Works; Riverstone Yarns; Art Barn Studio; and Grizzly Basin Ranch.
“These are all great Kootenay businesses, and it’s going to be awesome having them together in one space,” said Ditzler. “It’s going to be an exhausting day, but there’ll be lots to try out and it’ll be so much fun. There’ll be a collaborative weaving project going on throughout the day, with a basket of material and a big weaving frame, like a primitive loom. We’ll have giant knitting again, and a stash exchange. Brenda Brucker will be doing a quilting demo. Last year there were 75 attendees from all over the Kootenays, so with vendors and instructors there were 100 in the hall at one time. And I expect even more people this year.”
The four mini-workshops will all run at the same time. Eco-printing with Beth Swalwell of the Art Barn will focus on making marks on cloth and paper using plants, found objects, and the bundle and steam method. Spinning Art Yarn with Judy Sysak of Tin Roof Fibre Studio will give participants a taste of spinning the unique, non-traditional yarn. Needle Felt a Fantastical Creature with Leah Wilson of Amazing Gnomes will to take attendees from fluff to finished product. Nuno Felt with Sue Scott of NuFelt will teach you how to bond loose fibre (usually wool) into a sheer fabric like silk gauze, creating a lightweight felt.
“The mini workshops run roughly two hours and cost between $50-$70. They include the $20 day pass. Most include materials, but it is dependent on registration,” said Ditzler. “Those interested in the mini workshops should register soon to guarantee their spot. Actually, the best advice I can give is to register for the entire day soon because those with an early admission ticket receive an invitation to a secret event on Friday night.”
Tickets and further information can be found at www.kootenayfibrefest.com. Tickets can also be purchased at The Fly in the Fibre (139 10th Avenue North).