Instructor: Nathalie Miebach
June 17 - June 21
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
9am - 1pm
4 sessions

Open Studio: Mon, Tues, Thurs, 1pm - 4pm

This workshop will introduce participants to basic basket-weaving techniques (twining, random weave and plaiting) and their endless sculptural possibilities. You’ll learn multiple ways of starting a piece, variations of the basic weaving technique and how to integrate solid objects. To help us think outside the traditional basket form, we’ll approach this workshop from the perspective of a storyteller, in which you will weave multiple components to be integrated into a sculpture that tells a story. You’ll build, destroy, unravel, reweave, glue, drill, hammer, cut, tape and do whatever needs to be done to problem-solve your own way to success. We’ll be working mainly with fiber rush, papers and whatever you like to bring with you. The emphasis in this workshop is on play and using these sculptural approaches from the perspective of a tinkerer, willing to take risks with materials and the outcome of the work. Open to all levels. 

Nathalie Miebach explores the intersection of art and science by translating scientific data related to meteorology, ecology and oceanography into woven sculptures and musical scores/ performances. Her main method of data translation is that of basket weaving, which functions as a simple, tactile grid through which to interpret data into 3D space. Central to this work is her desire to explore the role visual and musical aesthetics play in the translation and understanding of complex scientific systems, such as weather. Miebach is the recipient of numerous awards and residencies, including a Pollock-Krasner Award, Virginia A. Groot Foundation Award, TED Global Fellowship and two Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowships. She did her undergraduate studies in Chinese and Political Science at Oberlin College. She received an MFA in Sculpture and an MS in Art Education from Massachusetts College of Art. Her work has been shown in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia and has been reviewed by publications spanning fine arts, design, and technology. She lives in Boston.