Japanese Stone Weaving with Susan Raber Bray

Title: Japanese Stone Weaving

Instructor: Susan Raber Bray 

Schedule: Saturday, February 15 from 10:00am-4:00pm

Level: All Levels

Tuition: $85 Member/$105 Non-Member

Supply Fee: $15

Description: Join visiting artist Susan Raber Bray in learning to see your everyday environment in a completely new way! In this workshop we will be learning a very old weaving technique called Japanese stone weaving using a simple loom that will be provided. Weaving possibilities include wall hangings, place mats, table runners, floor mats, window shades, and more. This is a wonderful technique to make large and small pieces.

We will be working with local natural materials, gathering  branches, plant stalks, stems, tree and shrub prunings, and any natural material you can find in your garden or by the road!

An important part of working with natural materials is learning how to gather and store them. Where to find materials and what works best for the kind of pieces you will be making. When we are using the Japanese stone weaving method, we will be gathering materials that cannot be wrapped around your fist. Materials that are pretty straight. We will spend the 1st hour of the workshop gathering materials. For those of you who have worked with me before you may gather materials on your own and get right to work setting up your loom.

Instructor Bio: Susan Raber Bray, born in New York and living in Vermont since the early 70’s, works in several media, including clay, oils, and  local plant materials. After earning her B.A she developed her technique in numerous studios across the country, followed by a two-year apprenticeship with Mirko Orlandini, a master Italian ceramicist living in Brussels, Belgium. On her return to the U.S. she founded her first studio in South Londonderry, Vermont in 1975.

Susan’s work is shown both nationally and internationally. In recent years she has held workshops in France, England, and Italy. As a visiting artist sponsored by the Vermont Council On The Arts (since 1989) Susan has taught in numerous Vermont public schools. She has also taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, the Community College of Vermont, St Michael’s College, and is currently teaching at the University of Vermont and her own studio school, Springhouse Pottery in Charlotte.

Supply Fee Includes:

• Duct Tape
• Hemp Twine
• Basic Loom

Students Should Bring: 

• Notebook
• Garden gloves 
• Garden clippers
• Wear old clothes and closed-toed shoes
• Bring gathered natural materials if possible

Minimum: 6

Maximum: 10