(2017 - ongoing)

We are dyeing wool with dyestuff from invasive and non-native organisms living on Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands archipelago in California, investigating the complex and intertwined influence humans have on our ecosystems, and the aesthetic, emotional, magical, and medicinal interrelationships between humans, plants and color.

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A project by Lisa Jevbratt, Artist and Professor in the Department of Art, University of California Santa Barbara and Helén Svensson, Artist, Stockholm, Sweden

With contributions from Julia Ford, Amanda Hackelton, Jennifer Harman, Soren Johnson, Lizzie Lewis, Lynn Moody, Elizabeth Oriel, Barbara Rosén, and Sydney Wylde

The project is supported by a Perl Chase Research Grant from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a grant from IASPIS (The Swedish Arts Grant Committee International Program for Visual and Applied Artists)

Writings

Texts by Elisabeth Oriel (Dye Visualizations by Lisa Jevbratt)

Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood acacia)
Alcea rosea (Hollyhock)
Callitropsis macrocarpa (Monterey cypress)
Carpobrotus chilensis (Sea fig)
Centaurea solstitialis (Yellow star-thistle)
Cichorium intybus
Convolvulus arvensis (Bindweed)
Cynara scolymus (Artichoke)
Dactylopius coccus (Cochineal)
Eucalyptus globulus (Blue gum)
Ficus carica (Fig)
Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel)
Juglans regia (Persian walnut)
Malva assurgentiflora (Island mallow)
Malva nicaeensis (Bull mallow)
Malva parviflora (Cheeseweed)
Marrubium vulgare (Horehound)
Olea europaea (Olive)
Pelargonium X hortorum (Garden geranium)
Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort plantain)
Raphanus raphanistrum (Wild radish)
Robinia pseudoacacia (Black locust)
Rumex crispus (Curly dock)
Verbascum thapsus (Mullein)
Vicia benghalensis (Purple vetch)
Vitis vinifera (Grape)
Wisteria sinensis (Wisteria)

Exhibitions/Events/Press

04/2025 'Standing Up for Invasive Species', Zoë Lescaze in the New York Times

05/2024 'UC Santa Barbara Art Professor Lisa Jevbratt Explores History of Plants Through Textiles', Debra Herrick in the Santa Barbara Independent

04/2024 - 10/2024 Interlopings – Experiencing the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements at Chrisman California Islands Center, Carpinteria

12/10/2022 to 04/16/2023 Interlopings – Colors in the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (Opening Reception December 10)

3/18/2023 Invasive Dye Workshop at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

2022/2023/2024/2025 Natural Dye Experiments Class in the Department of Art at UCSB

03/2021 The Color of a Weed, a presentation and an international zoom workshop in Textiles from Home, a conference organized by the Center for Design and Material Culture at the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology.

03/2018 Invasive Species/Endemic Breeds – A Sensorial Mapping of The Channel Islands, a workshop/gathering at the Art, Design and Architecture Museum at UCSB