Fibershed L.A. pop-up features locally sourced crafts, artisans, farms
Visitors to the Los Angeles Fibershed opening Saturday found themselves surrounded by more than just a surplus of handmade goods crafted from locally sourced fibers.
The two-week pop-up is more of a happening than a show, demonstrated by the members of the Spinning Guild who were on hand to spin, shown above, while curious onlookers touched and felt their way around a room filled with soft bundles of fleece, delicate pine needle baskets and felted alpaca carpets.
Hand-knitted tops by Amabelle Aguiluz were installed like artworks throughout the temporary space, now home to the Los Angeles Fibershed pop-up organized by local fiber artists Aguiluz, Niki Livingston, Nina Koske and Ashley Thayer, among others.
What is a fibershed? Like a foodshed, a fibershed is a small geographical landscape, or bioregion, where artisans produce goods using natural dyes, materials and farms located within 150 miles of their front door.
Whereas some fibersheds focus on creating sustainable clothing, Livingston said the Los Angeles event is about educating the community through “re-skilling” classes like spinning, lap loom weaving, knitting, sewing and dyeing. “We are trying to create a community and let them know there are resources nearby,” Livingston said at the opening. The ultimate goal for this collective? A sustainable textile mill, or network of cottage mills, to serve Los Angeles.
During the pop-up, visitors can experience -- as well as purchase -- raw fiber and yarn from local farms as well as participate in the following lectures, workshops and events:
Today-Friday: Punch card knitting machine demonstrations with Jennie Taylor. 1 p.m.
Friday: Movie Night: “Trashed.” 7 p.m.
Saturday: Wet felting with KKIBO designer Jo Abellera. 1 to 4 p.m. Participants will work with raw, uncarded fleece, shorn from alpacas.
Sunday: Cottage mill talk and spinning demonstration by Mette and Tom Goehring of Ranch of the Oaks. Noon to 1 p.m.
Sunday: Wildcrafting lecture by Rebecca Altman of Kings Road Apothecary. 1 to 3 p.m.
Sunday: Acorn dying with Niki Livingston of Lookout & Wonderland Studio. 3 to 6 p.m. Bring your own scoured (detergent wash) natural fiber yarn.
March 26: Designer Eugene Ahn will demonstrate how to use locally foraged and reclaimed bamboo to build an external frame backpack. 7 to 9 p.m.
March 28: Movie night: “Weaving Worlds.” 7 p.m.
March 29: Cochineal (a red dye derived from the dried bodies of insects) dye workshop with Ashley Thayer of Maricolous. 3 to 6 p.m.
March 30: Pine needle basketry workshop using a traditional coiling technique with Nanette Sullano. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
March 30: Plant-based watercolor workshop with Jo Newman. Noon to 3 p.m.
All workshops are $60 and are held at the Los Angeles Fibershed pop-up at Space 15 Twenty, 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. The pop-up ends March 30. Register for workshops online.
ALSO:
Artist’s spirit takes wing at the Brecht house in Santa Monica
Interior designer Heather Ashton’s playful spirit shows at home
‘My Pet Chicken Handbook’: Practical advice for raising backyard chickens
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: @latimeshome | pinterest.com/latimeshome | facebook.com/latimeshome | facebook.com/latimesgardenar
