Marks in Time: Exploring the Art of Rust Dyeing

  • Talks & More

Sunday May 4th  |  1:00 – 4:30 PM

Registration: $35

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This workshop is open to participants ages 15 and up. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Basic hand-stitching skills are helpful but not required.

This workshop will begin with a brief walkthrough of the Elana Herzog exhibition to consider how the Brooklyn-based artist (re)uses fabric and textiles in contemporary art. Participants will then proceed to an art-making space for an immersive, hands-on workshop, led by Toronto-based artist Rachel Miller. They will explore the fascinating technique of rust dyeing and mark-making on textiles. Using rusted metal objects, the natural process of iron oxidation — initiated by air, moisture, and time — creates compelling, organic marks on fabric. Through binding, stitching, and shaping, participants will create unique, exploratory pieces that reflect personal expression and the beauty of the process.

Please note that rust dyeing is a time-sensitive technique, requiring aftercare at home, including rinsing the fabric. Participants will also be encouraged to share photos of their pieces after the aftercare process for gallery documentation.
 

Materials/Supplies

  • All materials and supplies are provided, including cotton yardage and pre-washed T-shirts. However, for a more personal artwork/apparel, participants are encouraged to bring ONE old and/or pre-washed, lightly coloured cotton T-shirt, pair of pants, or yard of cloth.
  • Participants are also welcome to bring their own rusty objects to work with (ex: chains, springs, hinges, nails, chicken wire, etc.) to work with.
  • Masks and gloves will be provided during the workshop, as some participants may be sensitive to rust or vinegar smells; however, personal discretion is advised.

 

Rachel Miller is an artist, educator, design consultant, and researcher from New York, now based in Toronto. Through sculpture, installation, performance, textiles, and garment, Miller’s interdisciplinary works reveal how the body and environment might overlap, conceal, and integrate — creating frameworks for growth, regeneration, and narratives of coexistence. Cycles of nature and ancient traditions have always been touchstones for her work, and her diverse investigations into historic rituals and texts, archaeology, architecture, and ecological principles have yielded work rooted in identity and place. Miller’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and can be found in private and public collections. She has taught at educational institutions in New York (Fashion Institute of Technology, Pratt Institute), Philadelphia (University of the Arts), and India (National Institute of Design, Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology). She is currently a Professor (and former Department Head) in the Textiles Department, Craft & Design Program, Sheridan College. Miller received her BFA from the University of the Arts and MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art.