Christiana

I went on a VAWAA to learn directly from a master artisan and to deepen my practice through hands-on, in-person mentorship. I specifically chose this experience because I wanted to explore natural dyeing and weaving in Guatemala — a place with strong textile traditions — and to learn techniques in their cultural and ecological context. My goal was to expand my technical skills, strengthen my research for future textile work, and experience a deeper, more embodied way of learning that cannot be replicated online.

The result was extremely valuable. I developed new practical skills, but I also gained new ways of thinking about process, colour, and textile traditions. I left the VAWAA with a broader creative vocabulary, deeper confidence in experimentation, and a stronger understanding of how techniques evolve through different landscapes, fibres, and plant materials.This experience will help me in the future by influencing my artistic work, improving the depth of my teaching and workshops, and supporting my long-term research and writing around natural dyes and textile culture.