Instructor: Nelly Agassi
Format: In Person, 4-day workshop intensive
Date(s): August 10-13, 2026
Day/Time: Mon, T,ues, Wed, Thurs, from 10 am - 2 pm
Soft Matter is a four-day fiber art workshop designed for adults of all experience levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners.
Throughout the workshop, participants will explore foundational fiber techniques such as finger knitting, needle knitting, Sashiko stitching, quilting, fabric collage, shibori dyeing, and various fabric manipulation methods. The focus will be on examining the emotional and material connections involved in creating soft sculptures.
Using gathered secondhand clothing and fabrics, participants will engage in a self-portrait project that investigates material memory. This work will draw inspiration from art history, personal narratives, and experimentation with the materials and techniques learned during the workshop.
We will also look at the works of artists such as Sheila Hicks, Nick Cave, Gabi Abrão, Louise Bourgeois, Do Ho Suh, Ghada Amer, and Faith Ringgold, among others.
What to Bring: · Scissors and sewing pins, needles and thread (various colors), fabric and soft material scraps, any yarns you are drawn to, garments to donate for the Objects exercise, images, or materials with personal resonance, and a sketchbook or journal
What is provided: · Knitting needles and a selection of yarn, Natural dye supplies (tea, turmeric, paprika), Embroidery hoops, thread, Stuffing, batting, and base fabrics.
Instructor: Nelly Agassi
Format: In Person, 4-day workshop intensive
Date(s): August 10-13, 2026
Day/Time: Mon, T,ues, Wed, Thurs, from 10 am - 2 pm
Soft Matter is a four-day fiber art workshop designed for adults of all experience levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners.
Throughout the workshop, participants will explore foundational fiber techniques such as finger knitting, needle knitting, Sashiko stitching, quilting, fabric collage, shibori dyeing, and various fabric manipulation methods. The focus will be on examining the emotional and material connections involved in creating soft sculptures.
Using gathered secondhand clothing and fabrics, participants will engage in a self-portrait project that investigates material memory. This work will draw inspiration from art history, personal narratives, and experimentation with the materials and techniques learned during the workshop.
We will also look at the works of artists such as Sheila Hicks, Nick Cave, Gabi Abrão, Louise Bourgeois, Do Ho Suh, Ghada Amer, and Faith Ringgold, among others.
What to Bring: · Scissors and sewing pins, needles and thread (various colors), fabric and soft material scraps, any yarns you are drawn to, garments to donate for the Objects exercise, images, or materials with personal resonance, and a sketchbook or journal
What is provided: · Knitting needles and a selection of yarn, Natural dye supplies (tea, turmeric, paprika), Embroidery hoops, thread, Stuffing, batting, and base fabrics.
