Tell Me How Long We’ve Been Gone: an exploration of natural dyes

800 Homer Plessy Way,New Orleans LA 70117

16 February, 2022

Description

Tell Me How Long We’ve Been Gone: an exploration of natural dyes and an introduction to Orais Hand Farm Join River Queen Greens Assistant Grower Kristian Bailey as he presents the work he's been doing exploring natural dye- and fiber-making and their relationships to history and place. Before the advent of synthetic chemical dyes produces around the end of the 19th century; all colors produced by various cultures and groups of people were done so with the help of our natural environment. Indigo, synonymous with blue jeans and the American cowboy in our modern world, has its deepest roots in Africa and the West African cultures that honored and cherished not only its deep blues, but the plant itself. Lincoln Green, being the colors Robin Hood and his merry men wore, was created through Woad (blue) being over dyed with Weld (yellow). These are examples of different cultures interacting and experimenting with plants to produce a range of colors we now mainly associate with synthetic processes. However there is a way back. A way to reconnect with plants, fungi, bark, and lichen that helped our ancestors pull color from our natural environment. These very ways of the “past” may help us preserve the present and future beauty of the environments that surround us.