On September 25 at STILL/ALIVE, explore the beauty of natural dyes and radial patterns in this four-hour hands-on workshop, led by artist Lizz Aston. Radial patterns are designs that repeat around a central point, with shapes, lines, or colours radiating outward to create a sense of balance, symmetry, and movement.

Working with cotton fabric, participants will be introduced to natural dyeing and Shibori resist techniques, including binding and clamping, to create a series of abstract radial designs. Through repetition, mirroring, and symmetry, we’ll explore patterns inspired by petals, flowers, and other forms found in the natural world.

Participants will work with a palette of three plant-based dyes, exploring how colour can be layered through dyeing and overdyeing to create new shades, patterns, and visual relationships. Each participant will leave with a collection of hand-dyed samples and a functional textile piece to take home.

As part of STILL / ALIVE, the workshop considers the relationship between natural materials and creative transformation.

The workshop includes an introduction to natural dyeing and Shibori resist techniques, including binding and clamping. Participants will work with three plant-based dyes to create a series of radial pattern samples on cotton, exploring layering and overdyeing to create different colours and patterns. They will then use what they’ve learned to create a final functional textile piece to take home.

All dye materials, resist materials, cotton sampling fabric, and an organic cotton scarf for the final piece will be provided.

Tickets are $165 and available now at still-alive.ca

STILL / ALIVE is a contemporary exhibition bringing together fifteen artist-florist pairs through sculpture, floristry, and site-responsive installation, exploring how beauty lives within the everyday and the creative energy that emerges from collaboration. Presented by 9th Editions and Toronto Flower Market and open for 11 days only from September 17 - 27 at 152 Sterling Rd. in Toronto.

Examining attention as a cultural practice, STILL / ALIVE is built on the belief that beauty is not rare. It exists in the textures of everyday life, in changing seasons, in thoughtful design, in handmade objects, and in the living landscapes that surround us. Attention allows these moments to become part of how we experience the world.

At its heart, STILL / ALIVE is a celebration of care. Care for materials. Care for craftsmanship. Care for nature. Care for one another. It offers a place where contemporary culture and the natural world meet through shared experience, reminding us that beauty has the power to enrich our daily lives and strengthen our connection to place.

Visit still-alive.ca for more details, including full programming schedule.