Unintended Consequences: Eco printing workshop

Quarry Bank Mill is teaming up with Future Everything to explore how the industrial past of this historic site has affected the surrounding climate on local and global levels. Unintended Consequences is a programme of events, installation and workshops looking at the natural environment of Quarry Bank Mill and how it has changed. One of the highlights in the workshop series is a natural printing workshop with Natalie Linney.

you’ll have all the knowledge and tools you’ll need to continue naturally dying clothes, materials and silks at home

In the Eco Printing workshop you’ll be using natural materials to design and make your own silk scarf. Without the use of synthetic dyes, this natural process embraces the warm colour palette and shapes of our surrounding flora. You’ll learn how to fix colours onto the fabric and ways in which you can use the natural shapes of your dye materials to create stunning patterns. After the workshop you’ll have all the knowledge and tools you’ll need to continue naturally dying clothes, materials and silks at home. Most of the materials used to dye can be found in green spaces.

Natalie Linney is one of the makers based in Salford Makers. Working under the name Talie Linseed, her creative practice involves a lot of natural dyeing processes as well as digital printmaking. No matter the medium, there always seems to be a strong connection to natural forms and colour pallets in Natalie’s work.

Outside of the workshops, it’s well worth getting there a bit early to catch Unintended Consequences’ main installation Gathering Downstream. Artist Jen Southern uses projection and linen to capture the effects of climate change on the natural surroundings of Quarry Bank Mill. Her powerful visuals use this micro study of a place to reflect what’s happening to the planet more broadly.

Some of the other activities you can get involved with as part of Unintended Consequences include making terrariums and transforming old t-shirts into coffee coasters. Check out the future everything website for more info.