Aaron Sanders Head

about a year ago, i bought an early 1800s cottage on nearly an acre in downtown Greensboro, AL. it started as one room before being added onto considerably, and then later partially demolished and abandoned—it only had 3 exterior walls! once home to a jeweler and amateur astronomer, it’ll soon be my new studio + dye garden, and one of the most gorgeous spots to take workshops and see art in Alabama. after nearly a year, we’ve finally found the right crew and work has started on bringing this spot back to life—as you can see, there’s a lot to be done. it has been a long road, and i can’t express the wash of relief i felt when i saw lumber delivered and cement being poured—like a giant weight lifted, and new roots able to sink in. i’ve taken to calling it Sumac Cottage, and it’s gonna be gorgeous. i’ll share lots as things progress. i’m hopeful for events starting in Summer 2024, so stay tuned. thanks to @realtimhiggins for the soundtrack

Some snippets of new work getting polished up for summertime shows, each about 40 x 40 in. All made from vintage linens that i’ve naturally dyed, mostly from plants grown here in Hale County. The madder + indigo + goldenrod + sumac color combinations are some of my favorites.

“Ain’t gonna study war no more,” naturally dyed clothing + linens, about 96 x 100 in., hand-tied with a blanket as batting. I am so beyond excited to share new work with you all. “Ain’t Gonna Study War No More” (title of this piece and the whole show!) opens at @kentuckart on 6/1 and will be up through 7/2. These works are explorations of conflicts in my life, and ways I’m trying to leave those conflicts behind. These works (and this quilt especially) were more taxing, in every way, than most other work I’ve made, but it’s a joy to have made it. I’ve really felt like I’ve been circling around something from a distance with my work for a long time, and when I thought of this quilt, it helped me nosedive right down to the heart of things—the other works seemed to fall out dislodged after it. Come see! I’ll share lots more leading up to the opening, which is 6/1 from 5-8 in Downtown Northport. [Title is from the transcendental (i think) song Down By the Riverside, my favorite version of which is Mahalia Jackson’s]

what a beautiful weekend @douglas_baulos and i had at @sumaccottage leading a 2 day wearable workshop with a group from 3 states who was totally willing to dive headfirst into anthotypes, cyanotypes, toned cyanotypes, indigo + natural dyes (all in one day!), before bringing them all together on garments on day two. here’s @clothandpaperarts ’ in-progress jacket. grateful for it all!

Gee’s Bend Spring Yard Show 🌸 Step into Gee’s Bend for a one-of-a-kind, community-led experience. Along County Road 29, quilts, stories, and history unfold in the yards where they were made—inviting you into a living landscape of creativity and tradition. With no central hub, each stop offers a personal connection to the people and place that define the Bend. Move at your own pace and discover something unexpected along the way. A suggested $25 donation supports the event. Pre-registration encouraged—visit the link in bio to plan your visit. #GeesBend #YardShow #AlabamaBlackBelt #CulturalHeritage #Quilts @FQBLegacy.org @alabamaBlackbeltadventures @Alabama.travel @sewgeesbend_heritagebuilders cover image: Matt Arnett, artist portraits: steve pitkin

i’ve been having a blast deep diving and getting a little feral with cyanotypes, prepping for my workshop on 3/21 at @sumaccottage . there are two spots left if you want to join. in this bend-the-rules primer (my favorite kind of workshop!), we will learn the basics of cyanotype printing on fabric and paper, before moving on to explore toning our cyanotypes with natural dyes to push beyond the blue and white color scheme. you’ll leave with a stack of samples made in class and the abilities to continue your wild and wonderful cyanotyping at home. link in ☣️ for details.

stocking @sumaccottage full of new work for this friday’s sumac sundowner, featuring music from @realtimhiggins and beautiful new works from @briefcase1997 . things get going at 6 with music at 7. swipe for a new tote, iron on patches, my favorite Casey piece, and the first buds on the persimmon tree + fragrant sumac—spring is bringing me back to life more than ever this year. see y’all soon!

spend the day exploring cyanotypes with Aaron Sanders Head! cyanotyoes photography is a camera-less technique that involves laying an object on paper or fabric coated with a solution of iron salts before exposing it to light, and washing with water to create blue and white images. in this bend-the-rules primer, we will learn the basics of cyanotype printing on fabric and paper, before moving on to explore toning our cyanotypes with natural dyes to push beyond the blue and white color scheme. participants will leave with a stack of samples made in class and the abilities to continue their alternative printing journey at home. link in our bio for all the details—class is already about half full, so jump on it!

Spots are filling up, but we hope you’re coming too! Register today for one of these beginner workshops — swipe to see all the details!

i needed a little palate (maybe palette too?) cleanser today. homegrown indigo on a bundle-dyed handkerchief.

“honeyholes,” 30 x 80 in., naturally dyed and mordant-painted linens, found objects i’m really happy to have several new works included as part of “Humble: Cloth Stories,” an exhibition at the Wiregrass Museum about honoring materials, respecting what already exists, and the quiet endurance of the everyday. a “honeyhole” refers to a treasure trove, a secret spot that contain a bevy of something you really want. i’ve found trusty honeyholes all around hale county—for goldenrod, sumac, black walnuts, chestnut burrs—and the paths on this piece are versions of the backroad paths i wind around to get to those spots. i think i live in a place many would consider humble, but I always think if you look at just the right angle, it can also be shangri-la. pieced together, mordant-painted, plant dyed, then dissected and refinished. scroll to the end for progress shots. sidenote: when i was really little, maybe 7 or 8, i remember my grandparents pronouncing “humble” as “umble,” with a silent “h.” i briefly got hooked on saying it, and would casually refer to things as “umble.” so come see (H)umble, which i have been pronouncing as Umble. opening on 1/16, on view til 6/27, curated by @douglas_baulos at @wiregrassmuseum .

Aaron Sanders Head returns for From Scratch with a deep dive into Indigo Dyeing! Participants will learn to set up and maintain an indigo vat, then learn to make a wide array of surface designs using the plant-based dye. We’ll cover manual resist shibori techniques as well as clay paste resist for hand-drawn patterns. Participants will leave with a treasure trove of dyed fabrics, and the ability to continue their indigo journey at home. This workshop is ideal for anyone with an open mind and any experience level. Link in bio to register! Thank you for the beautiful photos @jennasheaphotojournalism