Ancestral Dyes and Paints of Mesoamerica with Sari Monroy Solís- June 8

Description

Taught by Sari Monroy Solís 

Sunday, June 8th from 10am - 4pm (with 30 minute lunch break)

All experience levels welcome

Rooted in Mesoamerican tradition, this class will explore the history and uses of natural materials from Mesoamerica to make dyes and paints (watercolors and oil-based paints). You will begin by preparing cotton and other ancestral fibers for dyeing. Then, you will learn how plants and insects make colors and how ancestral dyeing techniques work to dye fabric and thread. You will dye cotton and other fiber samples using dyes such as cochineal, Mexican tarragon, and local native plants.

After a morning of dyeing fibers, you will learn to use the remaining dye water to make paints. First, you will learn to extract the pigment from the water; then, you will discover some fundamental recipes for making water and oil-based paints using ancestral materials. You will learn how recipes varied depending on whether the intent was to paint critical architectural structures, draw on paper, decorate a musical instrument, or paint your skin.

Materials needed: please bring three large mason jars for the afternoon pigment extraction.

There is a limited amount of spaces in this class and the studio would like to encourage  individuals who have a cultural connection to natural dye traditions of The Americas to register. 

Instructor  

Sari Monroy Solís is a Mayan fiber artist and backstrap loom weaver living in the Bay Area (Ohlone Lands). The backstrap loom called to Sari ever since she was a child, and she saw the loom her father brought with him when he migrated from Guatemala. Sari first learned to weave from elders in her father's Mayan community in Guatemala. Working with the loom inspired Sari to research ancestral Indigenous fibers, dyes, and weaving techniques throughout Mexico, Guatemala, and the Andes. She teaches fiber arts, natural dyes, and botanical/fungi paint-making with the blessing of her teachers and elders.

Sari enjoys restoring old güipiles and documenting their stories and intricate motifs. When she is not in California, Sari spends time in Mexico and Guatemala with her family and elders. In addition to fiber arts, Sari studies plant medicine. You can follow her as she continues to document ancestral traditions on IG: @theblueweaver

Health, Safety & Accessibility

Community care and inclusivity lay at the core of Sooki. We believe that creativity requires vulnerability and over the last four years we have worked to foster a feeling of safety within the studio. This intention is reflected in our policies, studio setup, and collective efforts.

We are fortunate to have an indoor/outdoor space that offers a safe haven, particularly for our immunocompromised community members who are at higher risk for Covid, flu, RSV, colds, and other infections. 

To ensure a safer space for everyone, we now require masks for all programming and are providing N95 and KN95 masks. Masks also protect us from clay & glaze dust that can become harmful with longterm inhalation. We ask that everyone work with us, so that we can collectively create a feeling of safety, community and connection. 

We are adjusting to the tragic new reality within our city, post-LA wild fires, and are evaluating how best to adapt our space as both a resource and to improve air quality within the studio. We are working on installing commercial grade air filters and would love to hear from those who are most affected and may need other any other accommodations.

Our property is ADA accessible. The bathroom has 3 steps and a ramp can be fitted upon request. On-site parking is available when needed along with other accommodations.

Please reach out with any questions, ideas or concerns to info@sooki.studio. We’re always happy to hear from our community and are constantly working to improve.

Sliding Scale Pricing

Sliding scale pricing is a tool for social equity, designed to make ceramics education accessible and affordable.

When signing up for a workshop, please choose the pricing tier that feels right for your current finances. This is a trust-based system, and only you know what’s comfortable and possible for you.

The high end of the scale reflects the true cost of the workshop. If you’re able to pay this, it helps subsidize others and makes our offerings more affordable.

There are limited spaces per tier to ensure balance and coverage of workshop costs. If a tier is sold out, it means all spots have been filled. An interest-free payment plan is available, allowing you to split the cost over time.

We strive to make our workshops accessible and continually improve our pricing system. If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out!

Cancellation Policy

Workshops are non-refundable. If you can't attend, you may transfer your spot to someone else—please confirm with the studio when doing so.