What is a creative playdate? In a nutshell, 2-3 community members are invited to spend a few hours with me to try new tools and techniques, test out curriculum activities, create samples, and just have fun. It's not a workshop. There are no handouts or fancy agendas. I'm providing the inspiration, supplies, and space. You bring your curiousity, creativity, and willingness to take some artistic risks. Together we'll explore and experiment!

The theme this month is chromatography. Chromatography is when a dye or ink breaks into its base colors when exposed to a liquid solution, in our case water. Don't worry, we're not going to focus on the science so much as how we can make use of this phenonmenon in our art. If you're familiar with ice dyeing, this is what makes the magic. Yes, that was a spoiler.

Still confused? Here's an example. The purple food coloring broke down into blue and pink/magenta.

Bring your lunch (or you can pick up something nearby), an apron, and a waterproof container for bringing damp paper home. I also suggest a mask for working with powdered dyes. I will supply plenty of things for us to play with. If you want to try some of your own supplies, here are some good choices: various papers (white/neutral will show up best, but don't let that limit you!), food coloring, and water-based markers. I don't know where the day will lead us, but if you want to bring a piece of fabric or a t-shirt to dye, that might be fun, too. Do a quick search on preparing fabrics for dyeing, if you're not familiar.

Please also feel free to bring a recent project or two you'd like to share and something else you may want to work on if you tire of chromatography.n Also, you are not required to stay for the full time if you start feeling droopy. Being creative is hard work!

Playdates are for participants ages 18+. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE A WAIVER ON FILE. We will have hard copies available on site. Please also refer to our parking and accessibility information.

Instructor Bio:

Christy Matte is a lifelong learner, artist, crafter, and maker with a diverse background that includes youth work, non-profits, consumer technology, public speaking, and freelance writing. She holds an M.Ed. in Technology in Education from Lesley University and has shared her joy for creative and technological pursuits with kids and adults from Manhattan to Manila. She launched Indigo Whimsy as a way to build a creative community, increase access to less common forms of art, and share her interests with others.