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Judy Dominic


Bogolan Fini (Mudcloth) Modified

Course Description
The strikingly simple white design on black background cloth represents the serious artistic manner of telling the stories of village life in Mali, Africa. Participants in this workshop will learn about the non-scientific traditional method of bogolanfini, dyeing cotton cloth with mud, as well as how that process can be modified to work outside of Mali. We will create our own story designs during the workshop, using local muds on cotton and/or other natural fiber cloth. Participants may be as serious or laid back as you like, and enjoy the beauty of the earth while gaining an appreciation for the people and culture of Mali.

Artist's Biography
Judy Dominic is a native of southwest Ohio. She has been using fibers in some fashion since 1979, and though she indulges in all sorts of fiber techniques, her use of natural and odd materials has become somewhat of a signature. Dominic exhibits throughout North America in invitational and juried shows and teaches internationally. She has been honored locally for enhancing the quality of community life through art. She lives in Ohio with her “wonderfully supportive husband” and claims three handsome sons and two lovely daughters-in-law - and “no grandkids or pets but herds of dust bison”. She says that she inherited a collector gene and has a basement full of potential creative stuff. Her constant question is “What if…?” or “Why not…?”

Artist's Statement
I take recycling seriously, using the vines, leaves, limbs, shavings, junk mail, or other odd materials that would otherwise go into the garbage or litter the ground. I use the ground, too. Each material has a character of its own which I feel duty bound to discover and disclose. My efforts at nudging, coaxing, pinching, shoving, holding, mixing, adding, layering, balancing, reforming, etc. allow those unique personalities to unfold and bless the world with wonderful sculptural forms and colors. What fun they are as they develop! Artists typically are expected to give serious statements about the world through their work; I seriously strive to let the humor and beauty of the Creator show through in surprise, wonder, and simple joy. In the process, an unplanned sensitivity often emerges from the work, letting me know that the material and the Creator are in control.

 Dominic 1

Dominic 2
Supply List:
  • Pre-washed (no softener added) 100% white cotton: shirt and 3-10 yards cloth (e.g. for curtains, pillows, placemats) as yardage or pre-made into item (cloth may also be any 100% natural cellulose fiber: e.g. cotton, linen, hemp, ramie - silk also works) – I have found many useful items at Goodwill stores - you know how fast you work, so plan accordingly for the whole five days.
  • 4 days worth of newspapers
  • Apron - Masking tape
  • 2-24 cups or containers to hold mud mixtures (clear plastic 9 oz variety works well as do yogurt cups with lids)
  • Paint brushes, stiff bristles, various sizes/widths – I prefer bristles, but others have had success with foam (don’t use good ones as the bristles will be abraded by the grit in the mud)
  • 1-3 pair old knee-highs or panty hose - 4-5 rolls paper towels - box of plastic baggies (sandwich, quart and/or gallon size – all sizes will be handy to have, but I don’ t know how many you will need of each)
  • Music to share that the rest of us might or might not know about
  • Optional supplies:
    • Container/s of local mud/dirt/soil with interesting colors – no sand (approx. gallon or less)
    • 1-6 empty plastic bottles (8-64 oz. sizes – the larger the easier to use) with lids – to hold your washed dirt
    • Bucket
    • Stamps, stencils
  • Students are welcome to contact me before the workshop with any questions.