Natalie Boyett – March 4-6
Website: https://www.natalieboyett.com/
Natalie Boyett is a visual artist who works in two and three-dimensional media. She is the founder and head instructor of The Chicago Weaving School, where she teaches the art and craft of handweaving. The school is celebrating its 20 years of ongoing loom weaving classes and basketry workshops. With a Master of Fine Arts in Fiber from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as a friendly supporter of her local weaving guilds, Natalie enthusiastically embraces the full spectrum of weaving practices from “high art” to lovingly handmade dishtowels. Her goal is to make you self-sufficient, confident, and in flow with your creative practice.
IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL LECTURE: Tues, March 4: 9:30 am (CT): Tradition Inspires Exploration
The forms, motifs, and techniques of traditional fiber crafts are taught and passed from generation to generation and become expressions of a culture. Fiber artists will often take these traditional forms as the starting point of an evolving exploration of individual expression. Natalie Boyett’s lecture will present an overview of fiber art of the past fifty years whose seeds begin with craft and tradition. Using individual artists as examples, Natalie will talk about their process of discovery and show the steps that led to their unique visions.
In-Person Workshop: Ribbed Constructions: Classic and Wild
Tues, March 4: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Wed, March 5: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Thurs, March 6: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Participants will have time to weave two forms: a traditional egg basket, and a sculptural weaving, both using the classic ribbed construction. Starting with an introduction to ribbed constructions, very small versions of both traditional and non-traditional forms will be worked on. After working on ribbed constructions, participants will be able to choose to make the classic basket one day, and the sculptural basket the other, or they may choose to spend more time focused on one basket.