It’s time to change the way we make and appreciate textiles! For almost all of human history, cloth was created from plant and animal fibers. Over the past 75 years, the textile industry has undergone extraordinary changes and the vast majority of clothing and fabrics are now made with oil and toxic chemicals. 

Find out why we need to move urgently toward sustainable textile practices, what kinds of amazing new fibers are coming down the pipeline, and how you can incorporate sustainability into your fiber arts work and life. Our lecturer, Gigi Matthews, will be supporting this conversation with anecdotes from her family history, her travels over the past 30 years, and her creative journey as a fiber artist. Learn more about Gigi below.

Dates
Friday, May 3rd, 2024

Time
4:30 pm – 6 pm ET

Location
Zoom, a link will be sent to participants the week before class

Cost

Tickets for this event are sold on a sliding scale beginning at $10 with a suggested donation of $25, but if you wish to pay less or more than the suggested donation, you may select a different amount from the drop down menu. As always, we are grateful for your support, which ensures the continuation and preservation of textile knowledge. Thank you for making this series possible. 
Tatter Library is a registered 501(c)3. Our speaker series is part of our community programming and proceeds support the continued success of our talks with artists, scholars, and historians we admire. For this event, all ticket proceeds will go towards keeping this series alive. 

Scholarships

If you would like to apply for a scholarship spot, please email [email protected] with a short letter with insight into your creative journey and how you think this lecture might support your growth

Recording

This lecture will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to all those who register following the live session. This link is live for one month for you to watch at your convenience.

OUR LECTURER
Gigi Matthews

Gigi Matthews’ keen interest in the fiber arts is a result of decades of world travel to over 30 countries. From her native British Columbia to the souks of Aleppo and Damascus, markets in Paris to the pastures of New Zealand and Australia, she has gained a deep respect for textile traditions. An award winning spinner, her recent work focuses on sustainability, making use of reclaimed and recycled materials. Gigi has taught handspinning to guilds, at MidAtlantic Fiber Association conferences, and the John C Campbell Folk School and has published articles in Ply Magazine and Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot. She is on the board of the Handweavers Guild of America.