Eco Creative Cluster Conversations Series #002 “Ardalanish” Monica Haddock (Mull, Scotland)
Posted by CHARTS
Join us for the second of Eco Creative Cluster's “conversations with artists” series. This series explores and connects different practitioners and practices working in specific localities with a similar focus on nature-based materials and dyeing techniques such as Ecoprinting.
Facilitated by Oban-based curator Naoko Mabon, we will be speaking to Monica Haddock, the Head Weaver at Ardalanish, a farm and weaving mill on the Isle of Mull. Monica will talk about the daily practice of the busy mill: including how the wool of their native Hebridean sheep is transformed into beautiful tweeds, and how they use natural dyes, an ancient and slow process of dyeing wool.
Monica’s presentation will be followed by a live Q&A session.
Ardalanish farm, home of Isle of Mull Weavers, covers over 1500 acres of moorland with sheep, cattle and horses. With the stunning coastline of the Ross of Mull as a backdrop, Ardalanish produces a range of tweeds and woven goods from the wool of native breed Hebridean, Shetland and Manx Sheep and natural dyeing. In normal time, visitors can view the weaving process in the workshop involving Victorian Dobcross power looms, and a wide range of tweeds and beautifully designed garments as well as yarn for knitters are available to purchase in the Weavers Shop.
Further information on the current operation of their farm & mill shop, is available on their website.
Eco Creative Cluster is a project to weave a network to connect different creative practitioners and practices with a similar focus on nature-based materials and dyeing techniques such as Ecoprinting. It involves developing a Dye Garden with the lead artist Deborah Gray and local volunteers in the grounds of The Rockfield Centre, a newly refurbished cultural and heritage hub located in the heart of Oban. The fruits of the Dye Garden will create workshops such as Natural Dyeing, Ecoprinting and Shibori, led by Deborah. In parallel, with Oban-based curator Naoko Mabon, the project also aims to weave a broader network of practitioners working across localities based on ecological and sustainable approaches and consciousness, which will generate further collaborations locally, nationally and internationally. Eco Creative Cluster is a project of The Rockfield Centre supported by CHARTS, as part of their Place Makers: Micro-cluster Networks programme. This programme is developed in partnership with Innovation School at The Glasgow School of Art, and funded by Creative Scotland.
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