I was awarded a Churchill fellowship (2022) to research educational programs that support the transfer of traditional plant knowledge with a focus on Tropical dye plants. in 2024 I took a 10 week journey to research this in Bali, Thailand, Hawa’ii and Mexico
Growing our own plants locally for food and materials cultivates connection to place and each other. Using locally sourced plant dye is culturally important and there is growing interest to re-establish such practices and to encourage traditional knowledge transfer to new generations.
My research involved visiting organizations that have established educational programs on the growing, harvesting and processing of tropical dye plants. I will gather information from this experience to use in the tropical region of the Northern Territory to assist in
the running of educational programs in processing and sustainable harvest and what frameworks are useful to keep traditional plant knowledge alive and relevant
development of online resources for community members including artists and educators
the establishment of dye garden or wild harvest enhancement techniques.
The research journey overview
25th- -29thMarch
Near Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Threads of Life
I started my journey, not too far from our home in the Northern Territory in Bali, to visit the organisation Threads of life, which works throughout the Indonesian archipelago to support traditional dye, plant and textile knowledge in communities. In Ubude, they have their head office, dye garden and dye workshops for visitors, outside artists and students.
As well as taking part in a 4 day plant residency I interviewed founder William Ingram and founding Balinese educator Pungi Made.
I also learnt about their wider work and the data base being created to hold cultural plant knowledge of fibre, colour and plants of significance from across Indonesian archipelago.
1st April- 5th April
Singapore
Wild Dot
Singapore is very urban and amongst it is Wild Dot studio run by Liz Liu and Surin eho run educational programs using wild collected dyes and making inks; I visited their home studio and interviewed themabout their work and Liz’s research into the tropical dye plant Morinda citrifolia
Gardens on the Bay
I took the opportunity to visit to Gardens on the bay- a display garden showing tropical ecosystems and interest in Singapore.
Singapore Botanical Garden and Ethnobotanical centre
The world famous botanical garden is in Singapore and I visited their ethnobotanical centre and garden; interviewing staff about the role of the centre in education around cultural plant knowledge in a context of a multicultural city.
9th - 13th April
Chang Mai and Chang Dao, Thailand
Studio Naeena;
I started in Chang Mai with a Studio tourof Patricia Cheeseman, renowned textile expert and author of “Lai Tai textilesi of Xam Nuea and Muang Phuan and her daughter Lamorna Cheeseman who now run Studio Naeena and support indigenous women weavers to continue traditional culture and craft through a fair trade enterprise. I also recorded an interview of their journey and insights into keeping textile and plant knowledge alive in the region.
Chang Dao blue with Siriphon
I spent a very enjoyable 3 day residency with Siripohn and her husband in the Chang Dao region, welcomed like family. Siripohn is a Thai natural dye artist and indigo grower, and an inspiring educator; she is the first to farm indigo in the Chang Dao region and here I got to experience an indigofera (Indigofera sp.) harvest for the first time from field to ferment. We also spent sometime dyeing with a few other colours including Sappan wood and experimenting with colours. I also recorded a long interview about her role in education.
20th April
Hae’iwa, O’ahu, Hawai’i
Malama Loko Ea Ka fish Pond
I was invited to take part in a community day clearing the traditional fishpond and I got an insight into the passion of Young Hawaiians to reconnect with their cultural practices and have a strong and inspiring voice. I got the chance to meet other participants and see how community connection and interest is grown by and within this organisation. I met with leading members of the organisation- Sayo Constantito and others and learnt about their extensive education programs and perspectives on the future of cultural knowledge exchange in Hawaii; particularly with an emphasis on food sovereignty and plant use.
21st April
Waimanalo, O’ahu,Hawai’i
Puko’a Studios, Page Chang, Waimanalo
Spending a day with Kapa artist Page Chang and her intern at her home studio was a real highlight, learning about the harvesting and making of kapa and the process of using natural dyes to decorate it. The kapa making process is tangible, engaging and connected to plants and place. During this time together I learnt of Page’s art practice, how she came to be passionate about revitalising cultural knowledge and has a role as an educator to young people in schools. I recorded an interview with her capturing some of these insights.
22nd and 23rd April
Waimanalo, O’ahu, Hawai’i
Sustainable Ideation, Waimanalo, O’ahu,
While staying in Hawaii I tried to choose native Hawaiian owned accommodation; this included on a regenerative farm at Waimanalo. Against the incredible green mountain range I spent time with Melia Smith; the co-owner of the farm and founder of “Sustainable Ideation”; the underpinning organization; I learnt about the nutrition camps held on the land that promote food sovereignty and cultural knowledge exchange of Hawaiian medicine and food plants and also about visions for the future (captured in a recorded interview).
23rd April
Honululu, O’ahu, Hawaii
Manoa Heritage Centre
I was invited to the Moana visitor’s centre and was given a really personal guided tour by Keala Llinsey/ Wong, who has the role as educator at the centre- I learnt about the centre’s history, cultural knowledge programs and its kapa and dye activites for schools as well as capturing Keala’s personal perspectives in an interview.
Thurs 25th April
Kauii, Hawai’i
Limahuli Tropical Botanical Garden
I went on a Garden tour of Limahuli; learning of its cultural significance; seeing it’s traditional taro gardens, plants and buildings and got an insight into the canoe plants bought to Hawaii.
Monday 29th May
Kauii, Hawai’i
Tropical Botanical Garden
I was invited to TBG to learn of their research and conservation programs within the islands and their cultural education programs. I had a Garden tour and interview with Dustin and educator Kim Mauga about their educational camps that focus on cultural plant knowledge and stories for youth.
Wed 1st May
Waimea, Big Island (Moku O Keawe) , Hawai’I
Waimea Garden School
This garden program had included a dye plant project- I met with garden program coordinator Zoe and interviewed her about the roles of school gardens and cultural plant knowledge and food sovereignty in Hawaii.
Friday 3rd May
Volcano, Big Island (Moku O Keawe) Hawai’i
Volcano Art Centre
I took part in a Lei making workshop at the volcano art centre and interviewed Norman Kduahi and Zennie Sawyer about the significance of Lei and how this cultural plant knowledge is linked to hula and being passed on through generations, particularly in context of a colonised place.
Wednesday 8th may
Near Waimea, Big Island, Hawai’i
Roen Forrester home studio
After connecting with other educators in Hawaii I was very fortunate to be invited to join a Kapa making art collective at Roen Forrester’s home. She is a renowned Kapa artist and educator and runs community kapa making sessions once a week to keep the practice alive and connect community. I met other kapa members who shared their love of kapa making as well as getting hands on harvesting kapa, and preparing it. I also was able to interview Roen about the gatherings and passing of this important practice and upcoming art exhibitions.
Friday 10th May
Volcano, Big Island (Moku O Keawe) Hawai’i
Volcano Art Centre
I spent time with Lei Maker, artist and printer once again at Volcano arts. Here I learnt about print techniques derived from taro stems and other fruits that were reflective of the stamps used on kapa for traditional clothing and blankets.
Tues 14th- Thursday 16th May
Oaxaca, Mexico
Tenido O Mano
In Oaxaca city I spent 3 days with Elsa, a Maestro of natural dye at her house and studio (Tenido O Mano) learning which plants/ insects are used and getting her insight into life here. The main dyes used with Elsa were Marigolds; Pericon, Pomegranet, cochineal and we dyed wool yarn. I learnt recipes, got an insight into local life and the history of cochineal and textiles in the region.
Tues 21st May- Sun 26th May
Teotilan deValle, Oaxaca, Mexico
Huelle Carmin
Ray David and family
I spent 6 days with a wonderful Zapotec family in the nearby town of Teotitlan de valle, famed for weaving a, (rugs) and natural dyes. They run a home workshop where they run short workshops and tours as well as having working educational displays and many looms where they make rugs. I observed the day to day running of their business, helped on their farm, took part in workshops, visited local growing areas and interviewed them about their culture, knowledge exchange and hopes for the future, while feeling part of the family.
Sun 26thMay- Tues 28th May
Teotilan deValle, Oaxaca, Mexico
Demitrio Bausita
I spent my final research time with world famous dye master Demitrio Bausita. He was one of the first in the area to document traditional dye techniques and then teach others as the practice was being lost. We spent time dyeing many different yarns of wool with 6 different plants. I witnessed his visitor groups and interviewed him about his work, connection to plants, role as an educator and hopes for the future.
