OFF THE GRID

Pre-Conference Workshops
May 23 - May 27

In addition to the conference events, pre-conference and post-conference workshops will provide the opportunity to delve into a specific topic for a rich, hands-on experience. Workshop tuition and studio fees are listed with each description.

Pre-conference

Two-Day Workshop
Tues. May 26–Wed. May 27

Artist Survival Skills

Nisha Drinkard

Making art, but struggling to get into the shows you want? This workshop is for you! Hone your professional skills and presentation tools, including writing a resume and artist's statement, as well as creating a professional portfolio and more. Students will develop self-assessment, goal-setting, research, organizational, networking and event-protocol skills through individual instruction and class discussions. Handouts on resources for artists will be included to help you get your career to the next level!
Level: Beginning to Intermediate Students
Workshop Tuition: $210
Supply Fee: $15
Code: 2a1

Pre-conference
Three-Day Workshops
Mon. May 25–Wed. May 27

Following A Line To Tell A Story

Alice Kettle

We shall start with simple drawing, putting together lines, enjoying the qualities and dynamics of mark-making and using a variety of materials. These drawings will be built into collages by cutting and pasting to form images that tell a story. Using primarily free-machine embroidery, we shall explore the expressive potential of line, seeing how to interpret the fluidity of a drawn line through stitch. These explorations will develop into a narrative—a picture telling a story in stitch.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate Students
Workshop Tuition: $315
Supply Fee: $30
Code: 3a2

Designing For Bead Embroidery
Amy Clarke Moore

Tap your creative energy and create beautiful designs for bead embroidery. In this workshop participants will learn four basic bead embroidery stitches and have in-depth discussions about creating beautiful designs for bead embroidery. Learn how Amy Clarke Moore uses the pragmatic tools of color, line, texture, shape and pattern to create her magical images, and how to apply these tools to your own work.
Level: All Level Students
Workshop Tuition: $315
Supply Fee: $25
Code: 3a3

Hannah and the
Sunflower Cafe
Bead Embroidery

Amy Clarke Moore

Pre-conference

Four-Day Workshops
Sun. May 24–Wed. May 27

The Woven Image

David Brackett

Learn to translate your hand-drawn images into a woven surface. There are many ways for the weaver to manipulate the interlacement of warp and weft to produce images rather than just pattern. Looms will be dressed in a way that will allow for the exploration of three techniques: weft brocade, supplemental warp and pick-up double weave. Specific exercises will be provided, and there will be plenty of opportunity for individual interpretation. Examples from historic and contemporary weavers will be shown.
Level: Intermediate, should be able to dress a loom
Workshop Tuition: $420
Supply Fee: $40
Code: 4a4

Katagami With Color Rice Paste
Akemi Cohn
"Katagami" means cutout, the traditional Japanese process of working with paper stencils. In this workshop, Katagami will be used to print with colored rice pastes. Colored rice paste resist technique (NASSEN) is a contemporary application of rice paste for simultaneous color and resist. Students will experience the entire process by printing on silk fabric, which includes making rice paste and colored pastes, designing and cutting Katagami, and printing through Katagami with colored rice pastes.
Level: All Level Students
Workshop Tuition: $420
Supply Fee: $57
Code: 4a5

Soy Wax Three Ways

Jane Dunnewold

Explore three unique approaches to environmentally friendly and totally addictive soy wax. Cut stamps and then apply hot wax as part of a layering process. Fold, pleat and manipulate fabric, and then dip it into hot wax before dyeing or discharging. The more times the steps are repeated, the more intriguing the fabrics become. Complete the trio of tools by learning to make wax dye crayons. This rich combination of wax processes expands even the most sophisticated surface design toolbox.
Level: All Level Students
Workshop Tuition: $420
Supply Fee: $56
Code: 4a6

Working In A Series
Kerr Grabowski

Investigating images in a series is freeing. It allows for experimentation, discovery and innovation by moving from realism to abstraction and paring down images to reveal their bones. In this workshop, students will use a diverse group of mark-making techniques, interpreting one image many times and playing with the contrast of marks—from the softness of charcoal to the organic quality of deconstructed printing. Leave wide-eyed and inspired. Media/materials include charcoal, deconstructed and “normal” screen printing, mono printing, stitching, fusing, collage, burning and more.
Level: Beginning To Intermediate Students
Workshop Tuition: $420
Supply Fee: $45
Code: 4a7

Katrina I (detail)
Kerr Grabowski

Artful Knitting: A Sculptural Knitting Workshop

Adrienne Sloane

This class in 3D knitting will help students develop a personal language of forms by exploring and using knitting fundamentals to create shapes, while taking advantage of knit’s natural tendencies. By manipulating stitches and experimenting with unconventional materials, students will problem solve while creating a variety of organic forms. We will talk about different ways to create shape and stability and concepts such as short rowing will be introduced. A slide show of knit artists will be shown for inspiration.
Level: Intermediate To Advanced Students
Workshop Tuition: $420
Supply Fee: $31
Code: 4a8

Encaustic For Fiber Artists

Daniella Woolf

The ancient technique of encaustic is an exciting tool that can be used to expand your visual vocabulary. Daniella will demonstrate how easily you can transfer images onto a variety of surfaces, including wood, paper and fabric, as well as gold and silver leafing. Learn how to collage and embed items with encaustic, using a variety of materials, including fabric, thread and other linear elements. This translucent material creates amazing layers and surfaces beyond your wildest dreams.
Level: All Students
Workshop Tuition: $420
Supply Fee: $110
Code: 4a9

Pre-conference

Five-Day Workshops

Sat. May 23–Wed. May 27

Textures And Protuberances:
Felted And Machine Stitched Surface Dimension
Lisa Klakulak

Build a third dimension from a felted ground fabric by sampling an innovative variety of wet felting, needle felting and machine stitching techniques. From subtle textural fields to bold protuberances, achieve dimension by fusing preconstructed fabrics, embedding solid felt forms, needle/ wet felting complex felt forms to the surface and using plastic resists to create flaps, pockets and ridges. Additionally, free-motion machine embroidery will be used to “crater” thick felt and to manipulate thin felt into undulating fabric.
Level: Intermediate, or for those with familiarity handling fleece top
Workshop Tuition: $525
Supply Fee: $50
Code: 5a10

Sumo-Sized Papermaking
Julie McLaughlin

Sumo-Sized Papermaking
Julie McLaughlin

Experience the age-old craft of papermaking in a nontraditional way during this five-day “hands-on, feet-in” workshop creating large 5’x 8’ sheets of handmade paper. Finished sheets can be transformed in a variety of ways by dyeing, printing…even spinning thin strips into yarn. Students will experience the full process, from preparing the fiber (cooking and beating) to pulling sheets. Come prepared to get wet as you may be chosen to disperse the pulp in the vat.
Level: All Level Students
Workshop Tuition: $525
Supply Fee: $30
Code: 5a11

Simple Bookbinding,

Japanese, Matchbook And Coptic Styles

Barbara Setsu Pickett

Create your own blank books. The quick matchbook needs a staple and in minutes you have a miniature book. Sew four Japanese-style books, each with a different decorative binding. Stitch the Coptic binding with its multiple signatures. Learn to back your dyed fabrics with Hosho paper to transform them into book covers and to identify the grain of paper and make your own archival paste. Explore using silk organza instead of paper for the text body of your book.

Level: All Level Students
Workshop Tuition: $525
Supply Fee: $25
Code: 5a12

Barbara Setsu Pickett

Creating Textile Design In Photoshop
Hitoshi Ujiie And Heather Ujiie

This workshop is an introduction to the computer-aided textile design process, using Adobe Photoshop software, from concept to preparing for print. Participants will learn from an industry pioneer to design and develop printed patterns, and to understand the fundamentals of digital file preparation, file formatting, creating repeats and coloring, as well as the basics of digital inkjet printing. Demonstrations, discussions and hands-on projects with technical assistance will enable participants to explore their technological and creative concerns to the fullest.
Level: Beginning To Intermediate Students
Workshop Tuition: $525
Supply Fee: $55
Code: 5a13

For More Information:

Conference Registration starts Jan. 5, 2009. For Registration Information and Registration Form Click here

You do not have to attend the conference to attend a workshop, however you will have an additional $50 "workshop only" fee.
You do not need to be a member of SDA to take a workshop.

Questions:

For all conference related questions, contact:
Kathy Dowell
2009 Conference Coordinator
Surface Design Association
816-471-2115

E-mail: Click here

For all registration questions, contact:
Gerrie Condgon
2812 SE Moreland Lane
Portland, OR 97202
503-788-3322

E-mail: Click here

For all SDA membership related questions, contact:
Joy Stocksdale
Surface Design Association
PO Box 360
Sebastopol CA 95473-0306
707-829-3110

E-mail: Click here