Saturday 14th March
10am - 4pm
Hataitai Community Centre (The Bowling Club)
157 Hataitai Road

Learn the fundamentals of bark-tanning with guest artist Imo McRae! In this workshop we’ll finish some fish skins that have been bark tanning for a week, and also start some fresh fish skins for you to take home in bark tea and finish at a later date. Fish skins are a lovely accessible material to tan, but the same knowledge can be applied to tan larger hides so this could be the start of your tanning journey!

Please bring a packed lunch as this is a whole day workshop. There is also the opportunity to walk to the nearby Hataitai shops. All tools and materials will be provided and no prior tanning experience is needed. You are welcome to bring your own fish skins, but please contact us in advance so we prepare enough bark tea!

We recommend also signing up for the Leather Craft workshop on the 22nd of March! You can use your fish skins at this class to make a Sámi-inspired kaffepose. 

Imogen/Mo is a traditional craftswomen, born and raised in Aotearoa but spreading knowledge about crafts she learned in Norway. Hide tanning is her favourite craft, for it transforms animal hides into beautiful and durable leather, that is long-lasting but can be returned to the soil at end of life. Through discovering the art of tanning, Mo believes the answers to many modern problems lie in traditional knowledge and crafts practiced for generations before us. Now she teaches to help more people discover crafts and the delights of working with natural materials between your fingertips.

Follow Mo’s journey via the channels on her website.