Join us at the beautiful Fibershed Learning Center on Black Mountain Ranch near Point Reyes Station for a three-day workshop on Fermented Mineral Mud-Dyeing taught by textile artist Aboubakar Fofana. The virtual instruction runs from 9:00am to 12:00pm each day. Students are invited to stay until 4:00pm to continue working on their pieces.

The workshop will focus on traditional Malian mud as the medium and your own creativity as the path to working with this amazing substance. Malian mineral mud dyeing, or bogolan, is a deeply cultural and spiritual art practice to create textiles imbued with status, symbolism, protection and hidden meaning. The textile is a uniquely West African tradition, associated with Mali and the Bamana culture. We are fortunate to experience bogolan and mineral mud dyeing with Aboubakar. This is the only workshop to use authentic African materials including fermented mud dye, indigenous cotton and tannin sources.

We will provide traditional tannin-dyed strip fabric for embellishment and fermented mud to create your designs. Each participant will work on small samples and then complete a larger project during the 3-day class.

The class will practice on traditional Malian strip cloth (finimugu) and cotton fabric, using special fermented mud paste that Aboubakar gathered.

The workshop includes:

• • Three days intensive study on mineral mud-dyeing (in-person) with Aboubakar on Zoom
  • All sampling materials and mud and dyes from Mali including finimugu handwoven cotton fabric and fermented mud paste, tannin, and paintbrush.
  • Aboubakar will present videos and stories of his mud-gathering feats
  • Present at Fibershed will be Sari Monroy who was in Aboubakar’s 2022 Mud-Dyeing class to support the students

Optional: Participants may bring 1/2 yard of any cotton, linen, or hemp fabric for additional projects

Please bring: personal snacks, lunch, and beverages (a selection of teas will be provided).

If you are unable to attend in person at Fibershed Learning Center, Botanical Colors is offering an online-only version of the workshop, with all workshop materials shipped to you.

Botanical Colors has also set up a donation page to support Aboubakar’s indigo farm project in Mali. If you’re not able to take his class, please consider a donation.

The backstory: Many of us were excited to welcome Aboubakar to the US this summer for a series of in-person workshops from SF Bay Area to Brooklyn with a magical month in Santa Fe to conclude his visit. Sadly, unforeseen circumstances forced the cancellation of his summer program depriving us of Aboubakar’s wonderful presence. To help Aboubakar recoup some revenue, we are focusing on his most distinctive workshop, fermented mineral mud, and offering it in a hybrid in-person/Zoom format. This is an opportunity to learn a traditional art technique from a gifted instructor — as we gather together at the Fibershed studio. We will provide you with specially prepared Malian finimigu (stripcloth), fermented mud paste, and fabric to create your own designs.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds (minus Eventbrite fees) are available up to 7 days before the event. If you cancel after 7 days before the event we can only offer a refund (minus Eventbrite fees) if we are able to fill your space from the waitlist. Otherwise, there will be no refunds or transfers.

Tuition Scholarships & Transportation/Childcare Stipends
Fibershed is offering two scholarships to most workshops; one scholarship if it’s a small class. In addition to scholarships for tuition, we are offering a limited number of stipends for transportation and/or childcare. If you would not otherwise be able to attend, and would like to be considered as a scholarship and/or stipend recipient, please answer a few brief questions on this Google Form. Responses will be reviewed by Learning Center staff and kept strictly confidential.

BONUS: The Clothing Swap Closet is now open during workshops and events at the Fibershed Learning Center!

Visit the Clothing Swap Closet when you attend a workshop or event at the Learning Center and exchange your 100% natural fiber garments and accessories. Your clothing contributions must be clean and in good condition. Each contribution entitles you to choose one item of comparable value.

You may depart up to an hour after the workshop ends, to allow time to browse and try on items in the closet, and make your trade!