What
we do: We will teach your
group as much about Navajo weaving techniques as we can in
three days.
Students may weave on an inexpensive loom constructed from a
picture
frame or art stretcher bars, on a Deschinny, C-Cactusflower or similar
lap loom, or on a small traditional loom that they construct prior to
the workshop based on plans that we will send you. Students
will
typically complete one-third to one half of the weaving during the
workshop and finish it with instructions that we will give them.
Students receive yarn, warp, incidental materials used in
warping, and a detailed handout on
warping, mounting and finishing techniques. Students also
receive a
small pin when they finish their first weaving. The workshop
will also
cover enough spinning techniques to enable students to spin the side
selvage and edging cords used in Navajo techniques, and spinning Navajo
style will be demonstrated. Vegetal dyeing will also be
demonstrated
using plant materials that will will bring with us. We will also share
as much Navajo culture as possible while we are with
you, and Jennie will make her famous frybread for a group meal if you
would like her to. We will have rugs, yarn, books and tools
for sale.
Mary will also be happy to do a one hour session on rug
analysis, and
can do a Navajo Rug Reunion before or after the workshop if you would
like to do that as a program. The Reunion is a chance for
people to
have a textile evaluated verbally and is usually a lot of fun as a
guild or public service program.
Hosting groups generally
charge $150-$175 for the workshop and we can accomodate up to fifteen
students. Ten to twelve students is ideal.
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What
it costs:
Jennie receives $400 per day ($1200) for her
services as instructor. There is a $30 per student fee for
yarn, warping supplies and handouts. The hosting group pays
travel costs and Mary will work with you to hold these to a minimum
consistent with reasonable comfort. We typically stay in the
home of a member of the hosting group, and can provide our own bedding
if necessary. A Navajo Rug Reunion program costs $150 extra.
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What
the hosting group has to do:
- Contact Mary to schedule as far in advance as possible. This allows Mary to work with other groups who may be interested to minimize travel and other costs.
- Locate
a facility that will accomodate the number of students you expect us to
teach. For a quality experience, we should be
able to move easily between the students, and the students should be
able to weave without injuring each other. That works out to about
eight square feet per student for those using standard small looms, and
five square feet for those using lap or picture frame looms.
We will try to teach in the space you provide and we can
improvise if we need to. The facility you select should have
adequate lighting for weaving.
- Provide
Mary with a list of people who are signed up for the workshop.
Mary will work with them to make sure that they
know what they need to bring based on the option that they select.
- Provide
us with plenty of advance notice. At the current
time, we do only two boot camps per year. If you want to
schedule with us, please let us know. There is a possibility
that we can accomodate more, but we have to make sure that the other
areas of our business are adequately staffed.
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| Our schedule is open for 2008. Please
contact us if you would like to discuss having a session for your
group. |
| Be sure
to check the class
list for other great opportunities to study Navajo techniques. |
Previous Boot
Camps (references provided on request)
Florida Tropical Weavers Guild (2003)
Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild, Ann Arbor, Michigan (2005)
SWIFT, Conner Prairie Arts Center, Indianapolis, Indiana (2005)
Copper Village Art Center, Anaconda, Montana (2006)
Bingham Family and Friends, Bear Lake, Idaho (2006)
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| Click
here to
see
pictures of the 2006 boot camps |
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