The category is for the coloring of fiber or fiber products (thread, cloth, etc) for spinning, weaving, sewing, etc. Dyeing of non-fiber products such as leather should be entered in MATERIAL PREPARATION. Entries in this category should be in an uncrafted stage (Ex. fleece, a skein of yarn, a piece of unsewn cloth) UNLESS the dyeing was done on an already crafted product. The entry should be appropriate for some use; swatch samples are not sufficient. Multiple pieces for the same dye batch may be entered to show quantity or to demonstrate a series of color variations. Entrant should note fiber and dye process used.
DOCUMENTATION (0-4 points) Must have at least a 3X5 card. More is acceptable. Give one point for each of the following that is present:
- Identification of fiber used.
- Description of dye process.
- Approximate date and place in history method is modeled upon.
- Cites at least one reference, either illustrative (pictures) or descriptive, relating to period use of such method.
AUTHENTICITY (0-4 points) Consider dye, mordant, fabric/fiber, process. Give score based on the following:
- 0:Blatantly modern in some aspect (e.g. Rit dye)
- 1:Generally period with some obvious out-of-period elements (e.g. fabric is obviously machine made) OR obvious mixture of materials, techniques or pattern from radically different cultures or periods.
- 2:Period product or process, with some inconsistencies (e.g. shortcuts in methods).
- 3:Period product or process; color, fiber, methods all appropriate to period, to each other and to intended use, with few/minor inconsistencies.
- 4:Period product or process; color, fiber, methods all appropriate to period, to each other and to intended use, with no inconsistences OR special effort to achieve completely period effect by utilizing one or more of the following: period materials (handspun yarn), tools (made own dye and mordant from scratch), techniques (dyed over an open fire), etc.
COMPLEXITY (1-5 points) Keeping in mind that this entry is at Novice level, rank the ambition of the entry, NOT the workmanship, on a scale of 1-5, based on the following:
- Difficulty of dye and mordant preparation methods used (consider number of colors, number of steps in dye-making process, etc).
- Difficulty and variety of dyeing process(es) used. NOTE: High points should be given in multi-step process (top dyeing, pattern-dyeing, period batik).
- Difficulty and variety of fiber/fabric preparation methods used (shearing, scouring, combing, spinning bleaching, etc).
- Scope of the endeavor (amount of product, etc)
- Amount of time involved including research and/or material preparation.
WORKMANSHIP (1-5 points) Keeping in mind that this entry is at Novice level, rank the success of the entry on a scale of 1 to 5, based on the following:
- Choice of dye and mordant preparation methods used (consider number of colors, number of steps in dye-making process)
- Form (Is dyeing of desired uniformity? Is color of desired strength and hue?)
- Function and durability (Did the material survive the dyeing in good shape? Will dyeing stand up to intended use?)
CREATIVITY (1-6 points) Give score based on the following:
- 1:Project is NOT logical to context of period (used standard, modern process with no alteration or innovation).
- 2:Project fits the context of period, but an adequate understanding of the process being used is missing.
- 3:Entrant used a modern process, that resulted in period-appearing work.
- 4:Entrant reproduction an actual period recipe/method.
- 5:Project has evidence of original work that is logical to period context.
- 6:Project has creative interpolation in developing techniques (e.g. Adapted own dye recipe with ingredients available in period. This could include unusual but logical combination of colors, techniques, etc.) ; might have been done by a creative period artist.
QUALITY (1-6 points)
Rate the aesthetic effect and appeal, beyond the mere technical proficiency. Consider how you react to the entry (intuitive response). NOTE: This category is subjective; however, the judge should take into account prior category scores, aesthetic appeal, presentation, and other such items not previously addressed. Keep in mind that this entry is at Novice Level, regardless of the skill of the entrant.
DOCUMENTATION (0-4 points) Must have at least a 1 page, 2-3 pages preferable. More is acceptable. Give one point for each of the following that is present:
- Identification of fiber used, description of dye process and approximate date & place in history method is modeled upon.
- Listing of materials used in entry's production.
- Describes method(s) used to create entry (may include reasons for why a certain process or material was used).
- Cites at least two references, either illustrative (pictures) or descriptive, relating to period use of such method.
AUTHENTICITY (0-4 points) Consider dye, mordant, fabric/fiber, process. Give score based on the following:
- 0:Blatantly modern in some aspect (e.g. Rit dye)
- 1:Generally period with some obvious out-of-period elements (e.g. fabric is obviously machine made) OR obvious mixture of materials, techniques or pattern from radically different cultures or periods.
- 2:Period product or process, with some inconsistencies (e.g. shortcuts in methods).
- 3:Period product or process; color, fiber, methods all appropriate to period, to each other and to intended use, with few/minor inconsistencies.
- 4:Period product or process; color, fiber, methods all appropriate to period, to each other and to intended use, with no inconsistences OR special effort to achieve completely period effect by utilizing one or more of the following: period materials (handspun yarn), tools (made own dye and mordant from scratch), techniques (dyed over an open fire), etc.
COMPLEXITY (1-5 points) Rank the ambition of the entry, NOT the workmanship, on a scale of 1-5, based on the following:
- Difficulty of dye and mordant preparation methods used (consider number of colors, number of steps in dye-making process, etc).
- Difficulty and variety of dyeing process(es) used. NOTE: High points should be given in multi-step process (top dyeing, pattern-dyeing, period batik).
- Difficulty and variety of fiber/fabric preparation methods used (shearing, scouring, combing, spinning bleaching, etc).
- Scope of the endeavor (amount of product, etc)
- Amount of time involved including research and/or material preparation.
WORKMANSHIP (1-5 points) Rate the success of the entry on a scale of 1 to 5 based on the following:
- Choice of dye and mordant preparation methods used (consider number of colors, number of steps in dye-making process)
- Form (Is dyeing of desired uniformity? Is color of desired strength and hue?)
- Function and durability (Did the material survive the dyeing in good shape? Will dyeing stand up to intended use?)
CREATIVITY (1-4 points) Give score based on the following:
- 1:Entrant used a modern process, that resulted in period-appearing work.
- 2:Entrant reproduction an actual period recipe/method.
- 3:Project has evidence of original work that is logical to period context.
- 4:Project has creative interpolation in developing techniques (e.g. Adapted own dye recipe with ingredients available in period. This could include unusual but logical combination of colors, techniques, etc.) ; might have been done by a creative period artist.
QUALITY (1-8 points) )
Rate the aesthetic effect and appeal, beyond the mere technical proficiency. Consider how you react to the entry (intuitive response). NOTE: This category is subjective; however, the judge should take into account prior category scores, aesthetic appeal, presentation, and other such items not previously addressed. Keep in mind that this entry is at Intermediate Level, regardless of the skill of the entrant.
DOCUMENTATION (0-4 points)
- 0:No documentation
- 1:Some documentation, time, place, fiber, dye process
- 2:Same as #1 with at least one citation of a period example, but little or no discussion of period practice, OR some discussion of techniques or materials, but no period examples used.
- 3:Same as #2 with citation of at least one period example, but little or no discussion of period practice, OR some discussion of techniques or materials, but no period example cited
- 4:#3 with very complete examples and discussion, including rationale for all techniques and periods used, their appropriateness to each other and to period, and appropriateness of product to intended use. Explains original research or experiment. Explains any deviations from period norm.
AUTHENTICITY (0-4 points) Consider dye, mordant, fiber/fabric, process
- 0:Blatantly modern in some aspect; Ex. Rit dye, mordant, fiber/fabric, process
- 1:Generally period, with some obviously modern elements (Ex. fabric was obviously machine made, etc.) OR obvious mixture of materials , techniques or pattern from radically different cultures or periods.
- 2:Period product or process with minor inconsistencies (Ex. shortcuts in methods, materials to produce results equivalent to period).
- 3:Period product and process with no inconsistencies; color, fiber, methods, etc. all appropriate to period, to each other and to intended use.
- 4:Special effort to achieve a completely period product by use of materials and process start to finish, without modern shortcuts. (Ex. entrant used handspun yarn, made dye and mordant form scratch, dyed over an open fire, etc.)
COMPLEXITY (0-6 points) Rank the ambition of the attempt, NOT the workmanship, on a scale of 0 to 6 based on the following:
- difficulty of dye and mordant preparation methods used (consider number of colors, number of steps in dye - making process, etc.)
- Difficulty and variety of dyeing process(es) used (highest points in multi-step processes such as top dyeing, pattern- dyeing, period batik)
- difficulty and variety of fiber/fabric preparation methods used (shearing, scouring, combing, spinning, bleaching, etc.)
- scope of endeavor (amount of product, etc.)
WORKMANSHIP (0-6 points) Rank the success of the attempt on a scale of 0 to 6 based on the following.
- choice of dye and mordant preparation methods used (consider number of colors, number of steps in dye-making process, etc.)
- form; is dying of desired uniformity? Is color of desired strength and hue?
- function and durability: did material survive the dyeing in good shape? will dyeing stand up to intended use?
CREATIVITY (0-4 points)
- 0:Entrant uses standard, modern process with no alteration or innovation
- 1:Entrant followed modern directions for a process equivalent to that used in period, with no innovation or original input.
- 2:Evidence of logical, original work in choice or use of materials or methods.
- 3:Creative interpolation in developing techniques; much innovation logical to period context (Ex. adapted own dye recipe with ingredients available in period, unusual but logical combination of colors or techniques, etc.)
- 4:Original, innovative combination of period materials and techniques to crate a product appropriate for a specific period use. Start to finish processing. Development of original methods or shortcuts that would have been possible in period and logical to the period craftsman.
QUALITY (1-6 points)
Evaluate the work as a whole. NOTE: This category is subjective; however, the judge should take into account prior category scores, aesthetic appeal, presentation, intuitive response, and other such items not previously addressed.