Treetops | A Montessori and International Baccalaureate School

Art and Culture at Treetops

In Term 2 at Treetops, local Artist Dimity Gregson ran shibori workshops for our Secondary students. They were shown two different shibori tie dye techniques (arashi and itajime).

Arashi is the Japanese word for storm. The pattern created using this technique displays diagonal lines that can be likened to the driving rain of a heavy storm. The process of creating the arashi shibori involves wrapping your desired shirt or fabric around a pole, then scrunching and binding it with twine. It took some finesse, but our students quickly got the hang of it and were able to successfully transfer their newly developed skill to the other Secondary students and to staff members who got on board.

During NAIDOC week, our Years 3 – 6 students researched various native plants, animals, and weather patterns of the six Noongar seasons to choose for creating their lino print designs. This project saw them complete individual work that will be made into a large collaborative piece.

The itajime shibori involves folding the fabric between two pieces of wood, held in place with string. It creates a beautiful, often kaleidoscopic-like pattern that the students thoroughly enjoyed.

During this project, students used their creativity to explore and connect to Australia’s Indigenous culture. Learning through individual and collaborative research, enquiry and creativity really solidifies this connection, and deepens students’ understanding of and respect for history and culture.