& Other Ways Workshop Series

& Other Ways is a research project by Tristan Sober-Blodgett, Sena Cleave, and Ysabel Gana. The artists gather knowledge on sustainable material practices and relationships between textiles and land. They research the ecology, historical uses and stewardship of fibre and dye plants, creating an understanding and rapport with their local ecosystems in unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səlilwətaɬ territories. They share information and best practices to encourage others to learn textile crafts and deepen their relationship with the land.

Visualizing our Fibershed with Tristan Sober-Blodgett

Saturday, September 13
12pm – 3pm

What are our clothes made of?
Where do the materials come from?
What happens to them when we are done using them?
What happens to fibers that don’t biodegrade?

In a workshop discussion, we will create a landscape tapestry from discarded fibres, unwanted yarn, used clothing, and other second-hand materials. Turning these items into artworks with new life reduces the waste stream and sequesters dangerous petrochemicals that otherwise end up in the environment. No experience or previous knowledge is necessary. Participants will learn basic tapestry techniques on simple equipment that they can replicate on their own.

Minimum recommended age 14. Maximum capacity 8.

Making Monsters — Experimental Needle Felting Workshop with Ysabel Gana

Saturday, September 20
12pm – 3pm

This workshop will teach basic techniques in needle felting and explore different ways to incorporate/play with non-felting elements. Thinking through how we relate to, value, and choose to discard everyday materials, we will learn to transform wool into different shapes, play with the unique properties of different fibres, and create little material monsters that participants can bring home. This workshop is open for beginners and materials will be provided. Minimum recommended age of 13.

Participants are encouraged to bring small amounts of any fibrous or decorative matter (e.g. old yarn, scrapbook papers, dried flower petals) to play with and explore as experimental material.

Fold, Knot, Dye
with Sena Cleave

Saturday, September 27
12pm – 3pm

Join & Other Ways artists for a free fabric dyeing workshop at FLEET Edmonds Park. Participants will be folding, tying, and knotting fabric in shibori patterns, and will dye the fabric using plants and food scraps grown locally or that are easily accessible. Shibori is a Japanese dyeing technique that creates repeating patterns of circles, lines, grids, and more. Like tie-dye, it involves creating a resist by folding and knotting fabric so that only parts of it take on colour.

Participants can take home their dye experiments. No experience needed. All materials will be provided until they run out, just come prepared to get messy! Minimum recommended age of 10.

About the artists

Tristan Sober-Blodgett is a multidisciplinary artist with three decades of experience working with fiber and textiles. He learned traditional fiber arts skills from family and community elders in his Southern California community. His work in general focuses on orienting oneself culturally, socially, historically, and geographically. In his textile work, he includes ecological practices such as the use of natural materials and dyes, and re-use of discarded fiber materials. Because the processes used in traditional spinning and weaving are slow, they allow the artist time to meditate on the work. This is invaluable to Sober-Blodgett’s process. Sober-Blodgett holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia. He lives and works in the unceded territory colonially known as Vancouver.

Ysabel Gana is a visual artist born in Manila, Philippines and currently working and residing in unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (also known as Vancouver). Through poking, prodding, painting, and carving, they explore how objects imprint themselves within our collective and personal histories, exploring how objects attempt to bridge or manage emotional, migratory, and interpersonal distances. They have received a BFA in Visual Arts from the University of British Columbia.

Sena Cleave is an artist working in sculpture and language. Using found and readily available materials, they draw on personal history and cultural knowledge to explore alternative methods of support and sustenance. Cleave lives in the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations. They hold a BFA from Simon Fraser University. Recent exhibitions include Centre A, The Fifty Fifty Arts Collective, Seymour Art Gallery, Mónica Reyes Gallery, and Audain Gallery. Their writing has appeared in Contemporary Art Gallery's Timelines, The Only Animal Theatre's Slow Calendar, and various self-published projects. From 2021 to 2023, they curated DIY exhibitions in galleries, a lobby, and their living room.