Discover the artistry of nature’s palette as you join in a guided search outdoors for colorful treasures and then transform them into beautiful works of art.
Offered in conjunction with the exhibition Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color, this free summer workshop aims to inspire in you a deeper connection to art and nature and foster an appreciation for the vibrant world of color that surrounds us.
There are four different projects planned for two Saturday sessions each month. The first session of each month will take place at Lehigh Parkway, and the second session will take place at Cedar Beach.
• Paper Making: June 1 & June 15
• Watercolor: July 6 & July 20
• Fabric Dying: August 3 & August 17
• Anthotype Printmaking: September 7 & September 21
The first half of each session involves foraging for a rich assortment of plants, minerals, and organic materials in parks across the Lehigh Valley. You’ll then return to the Museum to transform these materials into works of art. The juice from pokeweed berries, for example, can be turned into ink; gilled mushrooms make fine-lined spore prints; and ground mica stone can create an iridescent watercolor wash. Your guide is artist Rain Black, who will help you on your hunt and then teach you how to make your own paper, create watercolor pigments, dye scarves, and print anthotypes using colors naturally derived from plants.
To ensure the workshop is accessible to all, transportation will be provided from the Museum to the foraging locations and back, free of charge. Of course you can drive yourself and meet us at the locations, too. AAM will provide a Spanish-language interpreter at each session, and ASL interpreters are available on request.
Interested? To register for any of the sessions or for more information, contact Rei Ukon at rukon@allentownartmuseum.org or call Rei at 610-432-4333 ext. 138. Please note that there is limit to the number of participants for each session, so register now to reserve your spot.
Participants are encouraged to visit the Language of Color exhibition at the Museum before attending the workshop to receive a coupon for a free foraging kit, which includes small sample containers for specimens and a journal for notes and sketches. Workshops can host up to 30 students and are available by reservation on a first come first serve basis. No additional items are required to participate, but you are asked to come prepared for outdoor activities with appropriate clothing and shoes for extended walking, sunscreen, bug repellent, water bottle, etc.
The sessions are expected to run rain or shine, but if weather is severe you will be contacted to reschedule.
Program schedule:
- Arrive at Museum: 9:30 a.m.
- Bus departs Museum for foraging location: 9:45 a.m.
- Foraging expedition: 10–11:30 a.m.
- Bus returns to Museum: noon
- Lunch break: Bring a bag lunch or visit one of the nearby restaurants
- Art making on the lawn: 12:30 p.m.–2 p.m.
Reserve your spots at the links below!
7/20: https://sales.allentownartmuseum.org/Performance.aspx?pid=269
8/3:https://sales.allentownartmuseum.org/Performance.aspx?pid=270
8/17: https://sales.allentownartmuseum.org/Performance.aspx?pid=271
9/7: https://sales.allentownartmuseum.org/Performance.aspx?pid=272
9/21: https://sales.allentownartmuseum.org/Performance.aspx?pid=273
Artist Bio:
Rain Black, MPH, CPH (fae/he) is a watercolor artist and forager with bachelor’s degrees in biology, public health, and art from Cedar Crest College and a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology from the University of South Florida.
This program is made possible through a multi-year, multi-institutional partnership formed by the Philadelphia Museum of Art as part of the Art Bridges Cohort Program.
