STITCHING SOULS WITH THE PALE ROOK
Oaxaca, Mexico
October 15-23, 2022
Oaxaca has a rich history of textiles, with small villages dedicated to the carding, spinning and dyeing of wool that makes their rugs and other products so sought after. It is here in the small villages where we will gather materials and ideas from these artisans that will inform our dolls that we create with The Pale Rook.
Join Scottish doll artist, Johanna Flanagan, for an art doll making workshop using the stunning local textiles of Oaxaca. We will gather bits of materials and yarn to weave into a story of our dolls. These are not ordinary dolls as each is hand stitched with bits of fabric added for color or for a memory to keep forever.
Through doll making we can open up to aspects of ourselves that we've lost sight of - our playfulness, our fierceness, our desires, our needs. When you hold a doll in your hands, they can act as a mirror for what we keep hidden inside ourselves. In this workshop, you will learn how to craft your own unique art doll. Johanna will guide you in connecting to your creative intuition, learning how to respond to your materials, and in reflecting your environment, feelings and experiences in a doll.
We will also take time to explore a few of the villages surrounding Oaxaca. We will visit our favorite black pottery artists in Ocotlan with a demonstration on how they create their magical pieces.
Nearby is San Martin Tilcajete the village of woodcarvers where we will have the opportunity to watch the master carvers and painters create these beautiful alebrijes at Jacobo and Maria Angeles’s studio and workshop.
ITINERARY
Welcome
Day 1, Saturday October 15
Everyone will arrive on October 15. After you arrive at the hotel, porters will take your luggage to your room and we will gather for a quick introduction, a margarita or agua fresca and a light snack before you head up to your rooms.
Day 2 - Sunday October 16
8:30 We will gather for formal introductions, go over some housekeeping items while we enjoy our first breakfast. Class with Johanna will begin at 9:30 where she will give you an overview of the week.
At 1:00 we will break for lunch followed by a short walking tour around the neighborhood to give you a sense of where you are. We will return to the hotel and resume class.
Class is over at 5:00 and you will have free time before we have our fiesta at our friend Pilar’s rooftop above her restaurant, La Olla.
Day 3 -Monday October 17
Travel Day
Breakfast at the hotel then class with Johanna until comida. We will then leave for a special cooking class with our amiga, Reina Mendoza in the weaving village of Teotitlan del Valle. Here her brothers will show you their dyed wool, their looms and weavings that they create.
Reina Mendoza with a group at the Teotitlan market
Day 4 - Tuesday October 18
Breakfast and then at 9:30 class with Johanna. We will break for lunch at 1:00 then continuing creating until 4:30. You will have free time before we meet for dinner at 7:00.
Day 5 - Wednesday October 19
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will be taking a botanical eco dyeing class at Central Textil. The fabrics can be used for your dolls. You will have free time after class and lunch is on your own today. This evening we will meet for cooking class with Ane Elena Martinez.
Day 6 -Thursday October 20
Travel Day
After breakfast, we will travel to Octolan where we will visit with one of the black pottery families where they will demonstrate their beautiful creations. They are the only family that creates the black pottery angels. I have several in my collection.
Adelina creating one of her sirenas.
Next is San Martin Tilcajete, the village of woodcarvers where we will visit Jacobo and Maria Angeles’s workshop and atelier. These exquisite alebrijes are made from soft copal wood. There will be demonstrations on carving and painting. You will also learn about natural dyes that they use to paint these animals.
Maestro Jacobo holding the alebrije that Jacquelyn purchased
As a special treat, you will be painting your own alebrijes today. Comida will be nearby at a local restaurant. When we return to Oaxaca, dinner will be on your own this evening.
There is one space available.
THIS ESCAPE INCLUDES
8 nights at Hostal de Noria, double occupancy
Instruction by Johanna Flanagan
Welcome reception and fiesta
All breakfasts, seven lunches and 2 dinners (one lunch and two dinners on your own)
Visit to markets
Two cooking classes
Eco dyeing class
Free time to explore
Visits to local artisans
Farewell dinner at Origen with Rodolfo Castellanos,
A new art tribe
Price: $3,950, limited to 12 people based on double occupancy, limited single rooms are available for an additional $600.
A $1,000 non refundable deposit is due upon registration with the final payment due June 1, 2022
Price does not include airfare to/from Mexico
Accommodations: Located in a colonial building just two blocks from the zocolo, Hostal de La Noria has free wifi, a restaurant, a pool, bar and rooftop terrace. It is located across from the Textile Museum.
Hostal de La Noria
Airport: Xoxocotlan International Airport is an international airport located in Oaxaca City, in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The Airport has only one terminal that handles domestic and international air traffic. Code: OAX.
COVID REQUIREMENTS
Each participant will need to show proof of vaccination and a rapid test result three days before departure to Oaxaca. We will wear masks whenever we are in a public place and especially in the small villages where we will travel. There are no exceptions. We will also follow any local/country requirements as needed.
Supply List
1 metre ( or 1 yard ) of medium weight calico fabric.
Hand sewing needles - all purpose mixed sizes.
Sewing threads in white or cream to match the calico
Sewing threads in your choice of colours ( there will also be a selection of coloured threads from Johanna's studio).
Fabric scissors
Glass-headed sewing pins
A pin cushion
A small bottle of Fray Stop
Toy Filling - Johanna uses recycled polyester, but you are welcome to bring any toy filling you prefer. You'll need between 5-8 ounces, depending on the size of doll you choose to make.
Basic writing/drawing pencils
A pencil sharpener
A pencil eraser
A small, soft paint brush (this doesn't need to be specialist or expensive)
A sketchbook
Sketching paper (for drawing and cutting your doll pattern)
Paper scissors
A measuring tape
A ruler
We will be working with local textiles, but you are also welcome to bring any fabrics, trimmings, beads, buttons or embellishments from your own collection to incorporate into your doll.
You can also bring acrylic paints and suitable brushes if you would like to paint features on to your doll.
We will Provide
local huipil fabrics
some yarn
some thread
Day 7 - Friday October 21
Breakfast at the hotel then class all day with Johanna. We will break for lunch and end the day around 4:30. You will have free time until we meet for dinner at 6:30
Day 8 - Saturday October 22
Breakfast and then back in the studio to finish our dolls. We will clean up around noon, then have our show ‘n tell. Lunch will be on your own today and you have the afternoon free.
7:00 This evening our farewell dinner will be at our favorite restaurant, Orijen with Chef Rodolfo Castellanos, a Top Chef Mexico winner. Our meals are always memorable here and we can’t wait to share this meal with you.
Day 9 - Sunday October 23
The trip is over and for most of us, we will be flying out very early. I know that there is so much to see and experience in Oaxaca, but our hope is that we have given you a brief glimpse of Oaxaca and all of her magical gifts. Have a safe journey home, our new art tribe!
This itinerary may change due to weather, new opportunities or the whim of the group.
Please note that Johanna will not be sharing how she makes her bird headed dolls.
This image is an example of Johanna’s labor intensive pieces that are month’s in the making.
Johanna Flanagan
Picture by Janica Honey
We are so thrilled that Johanna Flanagan of the Pale Rook is teaching a Bellissima Art Escape. She is a Scottish textile artist, doll maker and costume designer, trained in fashion, constructed textiles and historical costumes. Doll making was her first love, and she has been making dolls for as long as she can remember. In the last fourteen years, Johanna has taught in art schools, museums and colleges throughout the UK and Europe, as well as writing and tutoring correspondence courses for the last two years.