Block printing is one of the oldest types of printmaking. Developed in East Asia, the technique spread throughout China and into India during the 7th century; the earliest form of block printing used wooden blocks with patterns carved into them and were used on fabric and paper alike. In this class on Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Maggie Pate will guide students as they design and print on a naturally dyed cotton bandana. The first hour will be dedicated to carving a stamp design on rubber Speedy-Carve. Students will also use wood blocks that Maggie has collected throughout her time in India and Southeast Asia. Together we will mix a mordant paste, create a neutralizing bath, then watch as the color attaches to the applied block-printed design and stained fiber. 

Maggie Pate is the designer and purveyor of Nåde Studio. Maggie began her career in fashion modeling, then retired to work for a clothing label in New York City. Her work in textiles is a cross-section that explores the synthesis of textures, repetition and geometry. It forms a poetic visual language that ignites the potential of figurative rhythm. In the last few years, Maggie's focus has shifted to cultivating a 100 percent sustainable and eco-friendly studio by capturing color with plants grown in her dye garden and regional forages as well as collections of food waste from local restaurants and farms.