Museum offers Fiber Arts Class In Lifelong Learning workshop

With the support of a grant from Aroha Philanthropies Seeding Vitality Arts, the Union County Heritage Museum in New Albany is offering a series of eight classes Fiber Arts : Shibori, Creative Dyeing and More.

The classes will begin September 1 at the Museum Art House.   Teaching Artist Rebecca Browning will teach the classes which feature several dying techniques as well as simple sewing.

The classes are designed for the age 55 and over and are few.  “We ask that if you start the class that you commit to all eight classes,” said Museum Director Jill Smith.  Shibori is a type of Japanese dyeing technique that can produce a number of different patterns based on folding  and stitching.   The classes will involve both resist dyeing with black cotton and bleach as well as dyeing white cloth with indigo.  Table runners, tea cloths and other useful things will be made from the dyed fabrics.

Class dates are September 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15 & 16  and 20 & 21.  The class time is 1:30 to 3:30.

“We are very grateful to Aroha Philanthropies for giving us this opportunity to offer these classes to help lifelong learners learn new skills as well as create opportunities for socialization.  Many people suffer from loneliness and isolation.  These classes are designed to combat that as well as teaching new skills.

This is the fourth series that the museum has done in 2021.  The first three were  pottery both hand building and using the pottery wheel.

“There has been widespread interest in the lifelong learning classes that we have offered. People come from all the surrounding counties to learn from the great teaching artists that we have hosted and they have created some very beautiful things.

This is the second year for the Aroha Philanthropies grant.  COVID was a problem in 2020, but the classes shifted to virtual and were completed by participants through the Zoom platform, Smith said.

“While we are preparing for another round of COVID, we are hopeful that the classes can be safely completed by being safe with social distancing and by using masks and sanitizing the stations. “

The classes are limited to 10 participants and if there is a great enough demand, we will work to offer it again, “she said.  If you are interested call the museum at 662-538-0014 or email at uchm@ucheritagemuseum.com and leave  your name and contact information.

Jill Smith, Director

Union County Heritage Museum

114 Cleveland Street

New Albany, MS 38652