Our last Family Day, in September, highlighted the work of textile artist Rachel Hayes. Hayes is an American artist who makes large works of art with colorful fabric. She hangs her art outside, where it moves in the wind and shines in the sunlight. Her work makes outdoor spaces bright and fun to explore.
Hayes’ textiles invite us to slow down and notice light, color and space in a new way. If you were to design your own piece, what colors would you choose to match your current mood or favorite landscape? Would it hang between trees in a forest or float above your house?
Now it’s your turn to create textile art.
You will need the following supplies:
- light-colored cotton fabric (sock, bandana, shirt, etc.)
- squirt gun
- food dye
- water
Directions:
- Go outside or cover your work surface for easy clean-up. Wear old clothes so the dye doesn’t stain.
- Fill the squirt gun with water and a few drops of food dye.
- Spray the fabric with the squirt gun. Watch the colors drip, mix and make patterns.
- Refill squirt guns with new colors if you’d like more designs.
- Leave the fabric out to dry. Grown-ups can heat-set the colors with an iron if you want them to last longer.
