Eco-Creative Cluster

Dye Garden Project

Developed by the Eco Creative Cluster, the Dye Garden project at The Rockfield Centre transformed an overgrown space into a natural dye resource for textiles and plant based art techniques.

The Eco Creative Cluster project focused on nature-based materials and dyeing techniques. The Dye Garden was developed with Oban-based textile 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.

Produce from the dye garden can be used for workshops and artworks with techniques such as Natural Dyeing, Ecoprinting and Shibori.

What’s On

Saturday 13th September | 6pm

The Rockfield Centre - Oak Studio, PA34 5DQ

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Join us to watch 'The Nettle Dress'. A remarkable documentary following textile artist, Allan Brown's 7 year process of making a dress out of locally foraged nettle fibres. Once the film is finished, there will be an in-person Q&A with Allan himself. Not to be missed!

This project has been described as 'Hedgerow Couture', the greenest of slow fashion and also his medicine. Its how he survives the death of his wife and finds a beautiful way to honour her.

A modern day fairytale and hymn to the healing power of nature and slow craft.

Part of the EcoCreative Cluster

Lead Artists

Naoko Mabon

Curator Naoko Mabon

Naoko (born in Fukuoka, Japan) is a curator based in Oban on the west coast of Scotland. Informed by a lived experience as an immigrant and ethnic minority, in her curatorial practice, Naoko aims to weave relationships among differences with what we see as “disparate others” beyond common ground.

In- and outside of the professional practice, Naoko cares about and continues to be something small, fragile and slow.

Naoko’s ongoing and recent work includes:
‘Eco Creative Cluster’, a project focusing on natural dye led by The Rockfield Centre, Oban (2021–ongoing);
‘Torry Ecomuseum Project’, a community arts project led by Old Torry Community Centre, Aberdeen (2021–ongoing);

‘Ilana Halperin: The Rock Cycle’ (Yamaguchi), a cross-disciplinary project between Yamaguchi and Scotland (2019–ongoing);

‘Kyojitsu-Hiniku: Between the Skin and the Flesh of Japan’, an exhibition as part of the 110 Years of Japanese Immigration in Brazil, ‘Pavilhão Japonês’, São Paulo, Brazil (2018);
‘Leaves Without Routes’, an exhibition at a Japanese-style house originally built during the Japanese colonial period in Taipei Botanical Garden, Taipei, Taiwan (2016);

‘Ilana Halperin: Geologic Intimacy’ (Yu no Hana), a cross-disciplinary project between Beppu and Aberdeen (2015–17); among others.
Visit Naoko’s website wagonart.org to find out more about her work and projects.

Deborah Gray

Lead Artist Deborah Gray

Deborah is a textile artist based in Oban. Recent work examines the links between land(scape), the natural materials (fibre, plants) which grow there, and the work created from those materials, reflecting elements of the land(scape) in the created works. Techniques include spinning, natural dyeing, knitting, ecoprinting and stitch, with photographic documentation. Deborah teaches spinning, natural dyeing and knitting techniques in Oban and at international textile festivals.

Deborah’s current project as Lead Practitioner for the Eco Creative Cluster project at The Rockfield Centre since January 2021 aims to develop a dye garden and deliver natural dyeing workshops.

Artist-in-Residence at The Icelandic Textile Centre, Blönduós, NorthWest Iceland in 2018 and 2019
Participant in ArtMap Argyll Open Studios 2019, 2020, 2021
Exhibitions:
Of the land: Icelandic wool (2019): Blönduós; Rockfield Centre, Oban; Shetland Museum and Archive
Land, sea and sky (2020): Rockfield Centre, Oban
Colours of the land: natural dyeing (August 2021) Rockfield Centre, Oban
Deborah produces original ecoprinted scarves and cards, as well as a variety of items in upcycled textiles, using eco-printing, natural dyeing and a vintage hand-cranked sewing machine. These are marketed under the brand name Maisie’s Emporium.
To find out more about Deborah’s work and practice visit her website www.deborahgraytextiles.co.uk or www.maisiesemporium.co.uk