1. 10 Dec


    Here is my progress of the double wide cloth I have been weaving.  Thus far it has been three months in the making, where I originally measured out the warp for this cloth to open up to be five and half feet wide.   I am in the final stages of my inlay to head the top of the cloth.  I have been using natural and synthetic dyes to color this cloth for a specific color pallet.  The neutral color for the warp have been cleaned, carted, and hand spun with raw animal fibers; mostly Australian and Merino sheep wool.  I actually know the animals whose fibers I have been using.  

    It’s been a while since my last post, but there has been a lot of different pieces in the works as of late.  I will post the in progress shots for these pieces at a later date.  Also, I have a lot to say about this weaving and will post the content when I publish the finished photo.  

    Progress photos and woven work by Stephany Latham.

    (Source: asuncame)

     

  2. 7 Nov


    If you have four minutes please watch this video about one of the oldest and most widespread forms of textile decoration.  IKAT. It is a process in which the artist binds and dyes the warp or weft fibers to create an image.  

    Video and artwork created by artist: Whitney Matalone

    (Source: urban-prairie-dye-project, via urban-prairie-dye-project)

     

  3. 26 Sep


    Alkanet Root Dye, Alkanna Tinctoria The alkanet dye plant was collected in the neighborhood of Ravenswood in Chicago, Illinois.  This entire plant can be used to extract different colors, however, I used the roots to create this dark grey scale purple.  Also, alkanet is a traditional Scottish dye plant used to make the famous plaid tartans that symbolizes and differentiates each historical clan (families) that lived in Scotland for generations.   For each dye plant that I find in Chicago, I uncover more cultural truths about how this city became uniquely rich in biodiversity and resilient with its citizenry. I recently started a new blog entitled, the Urban Prairie Dye Project, that capitalizes off of my thesis research that I completed this past year -linking cultures to dye plants I collect in Chicago and use them in my artistic and art therapy practice.  Only this blog also lets other artists and natural dyers submit work to the page and share their stories.  Feel free to check it out and submit your work.

    Alkanet Root Dye, Alkanna Tinctoria

    The alkanet dye plant was collected in the neighborhood of Ravenswood in Chicago, Illinois.  This entire plant can be used to extract different colors, however, I used the roots to create this dark grey scale purple.  Also, alkanet is a traditional Scottish dye plant used to make the famous plaid tartans that symbolizes and differentiates each historical clan (families) that lived in Scotland for generations.  

    For each dye plant that I find in Chicago, I uncover more cultural truths about how this city became uniquely rich in biodiversity and resilient with its citizenry.

    I recently started a new blog entitled, the Urban Prairie Dye Project, that capitalizes off of my thesis research that I completed this past year -linking cultures to dye plants I collect in Chicago and use them in my artistic and art therapy practice.  Only this blog also lets other artists and natural dyers submit work to the page and share their stories.  Feel free to check it out and submit your work.

     

  4. 25 Sep


    Mountain and prairie wildflowers collected from the fields of Ballyvaughn, Ireland.  These dye flowers were identified, harvested, and printed on fabric. Artwork by Stephany Latham

    Mountain and prairie wildflowers collected from the fields of Ballyvaughn, Ireland.  These dye flowers were identified, harvested, and printed on fabric.

    Artwork by Stephany Latham

     

  5. 12 Aug


    Kidneys by Stephany Latham, 2011

    Kidneys by Stephany Latham, 2011