Dyeing with laser cut resists & more
In my explorations into laser cutting designs using Cuttle (a new, parametric design software for 2d fabrication), I stumbled upon this gallery featuring works from a shibori fabric dyeing workshop. The image that caught my eye was this one:
The template is a stiff, 2d material, where cuts are made equally spaced apart, and fabric is squeezed through in order to create a pattern in the dye. The picture sparked the idea that digital fabrication can be used to make the tools that aid crafting in new ways. What new processes might arise if I combined digital fabrication with traditional dyeing?
I pinned the picture in Pinterest and shelved the thoughts away, figuring it might be a fun exploration but that it would probably be one of many many projects that I never get around to trying.
But OMAR (Oregon Mini Art Residency) has a laser cutter, and this idea resurfaced. The experimental nature both of my project and the residency itself provided a safe space to feel like I could just try stuff out. I learned a lot, and still have a lot more to learn.
Experiment links
Photo documentation
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kjEk9VaQzNbNC9Fv9
Additional Thoughts
When you look up dyeing and shibori on the internet, you come across a lot of crafty DIY websites showing weekend tie-dye projects. This is wonderful, and I certainly used these sites to get started myself. However, what is missing is the deep connection to the culture and history of the practice of dyeing. I really like World Shibori Network's mission:
"Celebrating the visual languages of PEOPLE, COMMUNITY, CULTURE, and ENVIRONMENT through the global practice of resist-dye traditions and innovations, keeping in mind authenticity, reciprocity, and networking."
– World Shibori Network, shibori.org
And I certainly have a lot to do to learn and give back to the craftspeople who have spent their lives on this art.
Future experiments include:
- Herringbone tesselation/tesselation shibori?
- Mimicking the cardboard tool depicted at the top with a plastic sheet & vinyl cutter
- Leaving fabric in dye for 4-5 days?
- Natural dyes in place of synthetic
Relevant links: