In the middle of the Covid Pandemic, I started to grow Japanese Indigo in the Glasgow Botanical garden, two beds, 1000 seeds to see if I could make the blue dye in the center of Urban Glasgow.
It worked… two years later “Feeling Blue” 2023 the exhibition came live in the glorious Kibble palace of the Glasgow Botanical garden. A local festival of fiber and colour organised by Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw textile artist and Indigo grower in Urban Glasgow. During two full days some glorious pieces of Indigo dyed fabric are exhibited together with some items lent by dyers. Some slow textile techniques are demonstrated by volunteers and we rub Fresh Indigo leaves onto small section of silk. On Sunday Rosie Bristow, demonstrates how to transform Flax into Linen yarn and all of this comes together in a desire to share with the local community a free of cost small festival.
Grateful for The Glasgow Botanical garden for sharing the space to grow and the space to exhibit, to the Glasgow Doors Open days to share the information, to many volunteers to share time… and to you glorious visitors to come in to enjoy.
This year we will be :
Opened from 11 to 4pm both days.
Be free of charge but a donation towards the garden upkeep would be appreciated.
Demonstrate Indigo vat Shibori on the Saturday together with some spinning of wool
Demonstrate Flax processing and Fresh leaves Indigo rubbing (need to book a space) on the sunday.
During the week end we will dye some scottish wool fleece with natural dyes from the garden towards the making of a banner for FIBRESHED SCOTLAND a conservation organisation we are a member of.
Laura will make a Woad vat with the Woad from the garden… and more.
Exhibit some Indigo dyed pieces work of local dyers and the artist Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw including pieces dyed using different forms of Indigo from around the world.
Visit the dye garden on Sunday afternoon as part of Glasgow Doors Open days (book a free space soon).
Do some fresh leaves dyeing to sponsor the garden planting next year by booking a space below… (Pre-bookings only see below )
Sell seeds of Woad plants for you to grow at home
We cant wait to see you there…
And if you want to yourself try your hand at growing Japanese Indigo … read my blog here and make sure you book a course at my next year 6 months online class :
Feeling Blue is a yearly exhibition
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Glasgow, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Glasgow? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Glasgow's Book Fair, Books at the Botanics, is held every month in the Hopkirk building at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens!
READ MORECome along to the Glasgow Botanic Gardens on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May for the annual Orchid Fair hosted by the Scottish Orchid Society!
READ MOREJoin artist Elisabeth Viguie-Culshaw for this weekend Botanical Printing workshop where you will learn how to create wonderful prints on paper using local plants.
READ MOREBard in the Botanics are delighted to be returning to Glasgow Botanic Gardens for Summer 2025 with their 'magic - mayhem - and murder' season!
READ MOREGlasgow Women’s Art Collective are thrilled to bring their individual works into one space, displaying a diverse range of artworks reflecting the individuality of each artist.
READ MOREA major new presentation by one of Brazil's most renowned living sculptors, Solange Pessoa, will be hosted at Tramway Glasgow between Saturday 10th May and Monday 22nd September!
READ MOREMeet founders and designers from 33 watch brands from across Europe when The Glasgow Watch Show is held at Platform on Saturday 10th May!
READ MOREA visit to The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the SEC Glasgow is a must if you're planning a home upgrade!
READ MOREThe Glasgow Gallery of Photography is hosting a 6 week long photography exhibition, showcasing the theme Portraiture in photography at their gallery on High Street between May and June.
READ MOREThe Glasgow Gallery of Photography is hosting a 6 week long photography exhibition, showcasing the theme Nature in photography at their gallery on High Street between May and June.
READ MOREThe Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust opens its Bridgeton Bus Garage to the public for their Super Sunday events throughout the year!
READ MORERADIOMATON delves into themes of truth construction, media contamination, fake news, and the body's role in perceiving information.
READ MOREThe House Arts Collective are thrilled to welcome Julie Brook for an artist talk, presentation and screening of a short selection of some of her work on film.
READ MORE