Irish times talking about my Lichens!

I recently discovered this article in the Irish time; published on the 9th July 2012; the journal reviews the 2012 summer art offer in Dublin for Babies and parents. My installation "Lichens" is mentioned:
"...But babies of all ages are welcome to attend Ark events, and the centre’s current exhibition, Awakening Curiosity, has much to stimulate the young mind. Inga Hamilton’s Evolutionary Tweak and Natzaret Sindreu’s Lichen are tactile crocheted reefs and giant lichens; a multitude of textures and shapes to stimulate tiny hands and feet..."

Read the full article here:  Young at art

Interview at The Ark's Awakening Curiosity exhibition

 Natzaret Sindreu talks about her work on show at The Ark's Awakening Curiosity exhibition for families, summer 2012.

Felting classes in Barcelona

After 5 happy years living in Ireland, we are moving to Switzerland; but between the two countries, I'll spend more than one month in Barcelona, my hometown! I'm happy to be here spending time with my family and friends, enjoying a real Mediterranean summer and teaching felting.

I'll be teaching in All you knit is love, the coolest yarn shop in Barcelona. they are in the trendy neighborhood of el Born. The shop is owned by a lovely couple, Miquel and Jennifer, he is Catalan and she is from US.(have a look to their video)

I'll be teaching needle felting and wet felting (shibori and others textures for felting). Have a look to my workshop page and.... Why not to combine a Barcelona trip with felting classes?!

To encourage peolpe to sign for the courses, my dress has been placed on the main window.

Needle felting recession session

Last Saturday 16^th of June, we met at the Feltmakers Ireland studio for a needle felting recession session. We were highly motivated and after a quick introduction about wool, needles and technical basics, we started jabbing our pieces.

After struggling with colour choice, tough decisions needed to be taken, Fabienne started a cute orange and purple teddy bear. Susan worked at the speed of the light to be able to finish her doll and collect her son at 4pm. Mary made a clever looking giraffe, she is still deciding if she keeps it for herself or give it to her granddaughter (I understand after so much hard work...). Yvonne made a doll with a bad hair day. And we were all impressed by Luke, 11 years old, who followed his own design, a sitting bunny with a carrot.

There were no major accidents, we only needed three plasters, that's very good!

Every body worked very hard. All the pieces were finished and looked fantastic, definitely it was not a beginner job.

I had a great time, thank you Yvonne, Luke, Mary, Fabienne and Susan for this fantastic day. I think that we all enjoyed it and I hope this is the beginning of many others needle felted creatures!

Full day needle felting workshop with Feltmakers Ireland: 3 places left!

The Needle felting class will take place the 16th of June from 10am to 4.30 pm at Feltmakers Ireland Studio, in Phoenix Park. We'll make a figure of about 15 cm. This class is suitable for beginners, I'll cover all the basics in Needle felting. The cost is 40 EUR, you pay the same day, and includes written instructions, 2 needles and wool for the day. If you have needles and wool, bring them with you and I can help you to understand how to use different needles and wool. You´ll need to bring a lunch box, too. I´ll provide tea and biscuits.

If you are interested, email me at tortuebcn@gmail.com

See you there!

Lichens: the idea behind

Last autumn I started a visual note book, I was looking for patterns and textures in Nature. During my research I came a cross with Lichens. I was fascinated from the beginning, they are not just beautiful to look, moreover they are a vital part in our environment. They can be used as environmental indicators, they don't damage the trees, and they are used in toothpaste and deodorants.


I love hill walking. Usually in our walks, we carry a camera to take picture of the landscapes. Since last autumn I started taking pictures of Lichens. "Lichens" installation has been inspired for those pictures from around Ireland.

Lichen found on a stone bridge in Wicklow mountains.

Lichen found on a stone wall in Aran Islands

Lichen found on a branch in Ardgillan Castle.

Lichen found on a tree bark in Wicklow mountains.

Lichen found on a stone wall in Wicklow Mountains

Lichen found on a tree bark in Dublin.

To achieve these effects I used shibori, nuno and others surface embellishment techniques. If you are interested in shibori techniques, I will sugest you Filz experiment from Anette Quentin-Stoll.

Natural Colours: The idea behind

"NATURAL COLOURS" is about CHEMISTRY, COLOUR and NATURAL SOURCES.

 

All the little creatures that form Natural colours installation has been needle felted...

...with white wool. Here a picture of an Irish sheep from Donegal.

And they have been dyed afterwards with common vegetables. Vegetables that can be found in your kitchen or back garden.

As a yellow dye, I used the skin from the onion. Because I am Spanish and my boyfriend is French, at home there is a lot of cooking that involve onion. For the last two month, I had a shoe box in my kitchen where I kept the skin of the onion. Then I just added them to a pot with hot water, I added my woolly creatures, and after 1 hour, all was yellow!

Red cabbage is my favorite dye. By changing the pH (adding acid or basic substances) you can change the colour.
Just chopped red cabbage and hot water gives a nice purple dye. The woolly pieces need top stay overnight.

By adding a basic substance as hand soap or soda, the purple dye will change to green!

But by adding an acid as lemon or vinegar, the purple dye change to pink. Almost magic!

Teas are great dyers, too. Raspberry and cranberry tea give a lovely red.

Natural colours can be used as water colours (if working with very concentrated and thick solutions); or as a dyers for yarn, felt, cotton, fabric... (just remember to rinse well at the end); or to colour your natural play dough!

Finally, Natural dyeing is about experimenting, transforming, creating and most important: about fun and excitement! 

"Meet the Lichens' world": the book

"Meet the Lichen's world" is the book that support "Lichen" installation. If you want to discover 19 funny and interesting facts about Lichens have a look to this beautifully illustrated book. (Click on Book Preview)

Meet the Liche...

They are everywher...

By Natzaret Sindreu B...

Book Preview

Text by Natzaret Sindreu Box
Designed and illustrated by Riccardo Cereser

Lichen

"Lichen" is the second installation commissioned by the ARK. It is an artsicence installation about texture, colour and environment. The installation include an illustrated book with information, facts and curiosities about Lichens; and three large handcrafted tactile wall placed around 3 columns, made from felted wool, silk and other textiles. The pieces are inspired by Lichen's colours and textures. Nature, Our Environment, Sciences and Art converge in "Lichen", blending the four elements in one and smoothing the borders between them. From an artistic perspective the installation focus on colour and texture, stimulating sight and touch. From a scientific perspective, the visitor is introduced to the fascinating world of Lichens. The installation aim to help the visitor to recognise and identify Lichens; to encourage the visitor to look for them in trunks and branches and use them as environmental indicators.

Enjoy the video!



Video Filmed and edited by Riccardo Cereser (www.rikishere.com)
Music:"Robot Anthem Part II" by Learning Music (http://www.learningmusicmonthly.com/)

Natural Colours

Natural colours is one of the installations that I made for The ARK.

It consists in a serie of colourful hanging pieces.

The pieces has been distributed between two wood walls at the entrance of The ARK.

They consist in cute creatures...

...created from the repetition of balls, different sizes and colours.

The installation is aimed to a young public, children from 2 and 12 years.

The pieces are needle felted with wool and dyed with natural colours from vegetables.

The installation focus on number, shape, size and colour for the youngest ones...

...and pattern and chemist for the eldest ones; as natural dyeing is a pure chemist process were acids and bases play an important role.

Two commissions for The ARK

If this blog has been unattended it is because I have been extremely busy working in two commissions for “Awaking curiosity” exhibition, organised by The ARK in Temple Bar, Dublin.

Early this year, The Ark was looking for installations that fusion art and science.

Considering that I define myself as a Scientist with a passion for Textile Crafts and Nature. And since 2010, I combine my job as a Chemist with Feltmaking. “Awaking curiosity” was just the perfect project for me.

I submitted two proposals, and both were selected. Now finished ans installed!

1)“Natural Colours” is about natural dying with common vegetables.

2) “Lichens” is inspired by the colours and textures of Lichens found in the Nature.

It is the first time that I am working with large installations and that caused few logistic troubles.

First, I need to get my 800g of "Savon de marseille" with olive oil. It is the best and quite cheap in France. My boyfriend bought in his last trip.

Second, I needed an Studio. So, our guest room was converted into a Studio. The bed was removed and a large IKEA table was assembled with big boxes under to store all my wool. The Studio was perfect, south facing, nice light.... But when we had guests, we gave them our bed and we need to sleep on the floor!

Awaking curiosity is running from the 14th of May until the 6th of August. The first six weeks it is opened to schools groups; and since the 23rd of June, it will be opened to all public.

Keep an eye on this blog, I’ll post more pictures and Information!