Lectures and other night activities

List current as at 25 March 2012 but subject to change without notice.

TUESDAY JULY 3 David Higgins Lecture - my life with animals Drawing animals, SOS Save our Species series:Animals, plants, humans in nature -

David's career has spanned over 30 years as an artist, designer and teacher. He has worked for institutions around the globe, including zoological parks and gardens, museums, governments and universities. He has produced wildlife postage stamps for Australia and has worked for advertising agencies and publishers. David is unique in that his creative output is wide ranging across the artistic disciplines. He comfortably makes art in painting, drawing, illustration, sculpture, graphic design, and ceramics. David is widely commissioned, commercially sold, exhibited and collected. He is the writer and artist of "One world : a journey" - A collection of art of the natural world with an ecological message. We at Beautiful Silks are concerned about the contribution of synthetic dyes to the destruction of the environment: specifically the poisoning of the habitat of the world's fauna and ddestruction of flora. Since antiquity, fabrics have been dyed with extracts from minerals, plants, and animals. In fact, dyeing historically was a secretive art form; the most beautiful and exotic pigments reserved were for those who had the status to wear them. Things began to change around 1856 when scientists discovered how to make synthetic dyes. Cheaper to produce, brighter, more color-fast, and easy to apply to fabric, these new dyes changed the playing field. Scientists raced to formulate gorgeous new colors and before long, dyed fabric was available to all, and natural dyes had become obsolete for most applications. This brightly colored, changed new world was not without a down side however. The chemicals used to produce dyes today are often highly toxic, carcinogenic, or even explosive. The chemical Anililine is the basis for a popular group of dyes known as Azo dyes which are considered carcinogenic and dangerous to work with, and are also highly flammable. In addition , other harmful chemicals used in the dying process include 1) dioxin – a carcinogen and possible hormone disrupter; 2) Toxic heavy metals such as chrome, copper, and zinc – known carcinogens; and 3) Formaldehyde. Fast forward a century and unprecedented economic growth in all sectors of industry had created pollution levels by the1960s that turned many rivers in industrialized countries into poisonous streams and the air over large metropolitan areas into a significant health hazard. We're still having these arguments nearly 50 years later. In Mexico, fields and rivers near jeans factories are turning dark blue from untreated, unregulated dye effluent. Factories dying denims for Levi and Gap dump waste-water contaminated with synthetic indigo straight into the environment. David writes, As we enter an age of ecological challenge it is time to reflect upon our common humanity. Who we really are, our links to the natural world, to each other and how we can make positive change have impact. The natural world is in danger of becoming a dream of paradise lost for our species and for many others. Today, we witness human impacts create change to natural phenomena at ever accelerating and unsettling rates. We are in unknown waters as the future unfolds. The movement towards natural dyeing will help save not only our species but our planet.

also introducing -Aki Kurihara, a Japanese natural dyer will introduce Earth Network, a Non Profit Organization working for sustainability and ecological safety on natural dye and pigment in her country.  $15 or free with registration

Night activities

opening night$9.90 AUD Thurs 28 June - these are a few of my favourite things$9.90 AUD Mon 2 July- networking night$30.00 AUD Tues 3 July- David Higgins/ Aki Kurihara$15.00 AUD Wed 4 July- India Flint$15.00 AUD Thurs 5 July - these are a few of my favourite things$9.90 AUD Mon 9 July- Ilka White$15.00 AUD Tues 10 July- Naomi Stevenson and Jon Yaakov Gorr$50.00 AUD

INDIA FLINT - lecture -

Poisonous plants-

India will explain the importance of knowing the correct binary nomenclature of the flora you use, what potentially toxic species lurk in suburban gardens and the precautions that ought to be observed if you feel you must use these plants in your work.

While the poisoners of the past used the world of plants to their advantage and wise persons throughout history knew the beneficial properties of their regional flora; many of us who live lives removed from nature may have no idea what we are dealing with.

The correct binary nomenclature of your garden flora is a good starting point, assuming you are fortunate enough to enjoy such an amenity. It is equally important to be able to identify plants in the event you work with florist waste, as species cannot be assumed to be harmless simply because they are sold as cut flowers.

Some garden plants are very toxic and may result in death of people or animals. Others can cause illness if consumed. For example, hydrangeas provide a colorful display in any garden with their differing colors and distinctive shapes -but there are toxins in the leaves and buds of the plant in the form of Hydragin (not hydrogen!!) and sensitive individuals may develop contact dermatitis from handling the plants, so it is wise to take precautions when in contact with the plant. More from the source

In this lecture India will discuss plant nomenclature, the need for identification, risk management and common sense in regard to selecting plant material for dye-making.

Ilka White Lecture:

Responding to the Natural World in textile practice.

Price $15.00

An expansive encounter with the mystery of the natural world, Ilka White’s way of being in the landscape allows for different kinds of knowledge and understandings. A blend of poetry and document, her sculptural works move us beyond the distant, observing eye to convey a sense of presence and immersion. Correspondences and rhythms inherent in the gathered organic materials and natural surrounds are echoed in the stitching and basketry techniques used to construct these works. With a gentle eloquence White creates a place where the unknown and familiar converge.' (Martina Copley)

'I hope you will come away from this lecture with a feeling of wonder about the world. I'd love you to catch some sense of the rhythm of the places these works came from and I hope you will have a desire to get out into your own country; to really look and feel and listen to it. I guess this work and the sharing of it acts as a reminder of how precious the land is.” (Ilka White)

Ilka White's art practice has spanned woven textile research and production, commercial commissions, design for theatre, cross disciplinary collaboration and exhibition based work in textiles, sculpture, installation and video.
An inspiring teacher, Ilka has for the last 12 years taught History of Textiles, Contemporary Art and Design, Textile Design and Weaving in the School of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT University. An abiding interest in world textile traditions has informed many aspects of her work. In 2000 Ilka was awarded a Churchill fellowship to research and learn from makers of traditional textiles in Indonesia, India, Nepal and Bhutan. Her more recent work is strongly influenced by the natural environment and the forces at work therein. In May 2005 she travelled into Central Australia to produce work about Newhaven station, Birds Australia’s desert reserve. In 2006 a three week walk with a group of artists in far South West Victoria furthered this approach to art making. Ilka exhibits internationally. Her work is represented in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria and appears in a variety of publications including Art textiles of the World – Australia vol. 2.

A session for teachers to discuss their professional development requirements.

A structured time for reflection on past workshops and lectures, including an evaluative stage, provides an opportunity for high-quality professional development for teachers. In turn, teacher expertise is the most important factor in student achievement. A session for commencing a process of inquiry that encourages teachers' understanding and articulation of the rationale for their own practices, and where teachers can give feedback on the assistance they need both as individuals and for their organization to improve by offering resources, information and a means for networking. Our networking and duscussion of the past week or so will allow connection to the classroom context.

Naomi Stevenson is one of the NDS Presenters and its Techical director; Jon Yaakov Gorr's Ph.D thesis was on an alternative model of legal education which he contends spans disciplines, so that teachers learn by doing instead of listening.

7pm - 8.30 pm.

Night activities

opening night$9.90 AUD Thurs 28 June - these are a few of my favourite things$9.90 AUD Mon 2 July- networking night$30.00 AUD Tues 3 July- David Higgins/ Aki Kurihara$15.00 AUD Wed 4 July- India Flint$15.00 AUD Thurs 5 July - these are a few of my favourite things$9.90 AUD Mon 9 July- Ilka White$15.00 AUD Tues 10 July- Naomi Stevenson and Jon Yaakov Gorr$50.00 AUD