April 22nd 7-9pm
Creative Demo: A T-Shirt “Revival” - Drawing & Tie-Dye with Sharpies!
Facilitator: Erin Candela

Got an old T-shirt that needs a makeover?! Join artist Erin Candela for a casual demo and experimental T-Shirt "Revival” session, and make yourself a new wearable art piece for you or your fashion-forward best friend! This is a hands-on work session for you to have some fun with simple supplies and old clothes. No experience necessary!

If you have access to permanent markers and the alcohol-based liquid hand-sanitizer, why not attend a collective art-making session to renew old clothes (and feel free to get out any other supplies at home for extra snazzing-up). We suggest using an old cotton t-shirt, but you could just as easily use pants, a scarf, or a pillowcase if you prefer. While this is a virtual event, we hope that we can inspire and delight each other by collectively experimenting with a couple easy fabric-altering techniques. Erin will demonstrate how to draw with permanent markers and create a Tie-Dye effect on cloth with Rubbing Alcohol.

You don’t have to be an expert, just get yourself set up with some supplies (listed below), and get ready to go! It's a chance to get creative in a relaxed and casual setting. Feel free to invite a friend, grab a drink, and exercise your creativity in the company of others (virtually)!

SUPPLIES - The first 4 are necessary, the rest are optional...Hopefully you can find most of these at home or buy them at your local convenience store:
- An OLD COTTON T-shirt, pillowcase, canvas tote or other organic fabric to work on. (A light-coloured cotton fabric is preferable as some other materials do not take ink or dye easily and you want a smooth surface that can allow for fine lines). NEW fabric must be WASHED first to get rid of sizing which blocks ink absorption. If you don’t have an old cotton T-shirt that you want to use, you can likely grab one at a secondhand store!
- A couple black or other-coloured PERMANENT MARKER(S) that have lots of ink. (While Sharpies and other “permanent” markers are not entirely colour-fast, heat pressing the t-shirt afterwards with an iron for 5 minute on high will ensure your design goes through multiple washes). You can also buy fabric markers, or laundry markers which are designed to last on fabric, although they still should be heat-set.
- A piece of CARDBOARD backing (this will go inside your t-shirt and prevent ink from spreading to the other side).
- An IRON. (After drawing or dying your fabric it is necessary to HEAT SET the ink or dye for 5 minutes on the highest appropriate setting to avoid bleeding or washing-out of the design).
- Liquid RUBBING ALCOHOL. (Needed for the Tie-Dye effect, Rubbing Alcohol is also the key component in Hand Sanitizer and so this may be used if on-hand, but please note that hand sanitizing GEL WILL NOT WORK. If it feels sticky it’s probably got a gel component in there so grab yourself some liquid stuff instead.)
- A cookie sheet or pan with raised edges (to lift the fabric above a protected surface).
- A few elastics. (These last three items will be used in the “TIE DYE” process).
Optional Supplies:
- Acrylic paint, water and paintbrushes. (You can also paint on your fabric with acrylic paint. It is recommended that one dilutes the acrylic with a little water or fabric medium and to use multiple layers to avoid the paint getting too thick and breaking or chipping off of the fabric when washed or with age.)
- Spray Paint (You’ll need a ventilated room or to use spray paints outside. It gives a great effect, but you’ll also want to let the material off-gas outside for an hour or two before bringing it back inside to work on.) If you know you’re going to use it, plan ahead.

Accessibility:
Have a computer or mobile device? Then you're good to go as soon as you click this Google Meet Link: meet.google.com/voj-uwqj-wht
(or copy and paste it into your browser). Captions available on-screen. Mobile phones may require a downloadable app from Google Hangouts. Please contact us regarding any specific accommodation requests or concerns, and we will do our best to support.

About the facilitator: Erin Candela is an artist and workshop facilitator who specializes in print, painting and drawing on ceramics. Her practice is multidisciplinary and she can be found at www.erincandela.ca or on instagram at @candles_ . Erin also works as a Studio Manager and Program Coordinator for Akin Collective.