Floras Localis
Presented by Sally Evans + Heather Thomas & Australian Tapestry Workshop
DETAILS
Free, no booking required
Australian Tapestry Workshop
262-266 Park Street, South Melbourne VIC, Australia
DATES
Thu 14 May 4 – 8pm
Fri 15 May 4 – 8pm
Sat 16 May 1 – 5pm
Sun 17 May 1 – 5pm
Fri 22 May 4 – 8pm
Sat 23 May 1 – 5pm
Sun 24 May 1 – 5pm
This collaborative project brings together two practitioners connected by a shared exploration of colour, materiality and place. Combining expertise in natural dyeing and design, the project develops a palette drawn directly from the Australian landscape through the use of locally sourced natural materials.
Through an iterative process of research, experimentation and making, the collaboration examines how colour emerges from environment – revealing how natural hues can embody place and carry the narratives embedded within it.
The resulting body of work will take form as a series of textiles, accompanied by process material that traces the dialogue between nature, design and site.
Participants
Sally Evans FDIA
Sally Evans is a designer exploring colour, materiality and the experience of space. She co-directs studio x us, a design collective collaborating across disciplines to deliver thoughtful, human-centred design outcomes.Previously at Nexus Designs, Sally led multidisciplinary teams for high-calibre clients including BlueScope COLORBOND®, PGH Bricks, Armstrong Flooring and CSR Limited, with projects recognised by Dezeen Awards Longlisting, Graphis Gold and Silvers, Transform Awards and the Victorian Premier’s Design Awards.Awarded a Fellowship of the Design Institute of Australia (2025) for her transformative influence on Australian design through colour innovation, Sally also mentors emerging talent, speaks at industry events and has judged the DIA GOTYA Awards and ATW Tapestry Design Prize.
Heather Thomas
Heather Thomas is a Melbourne/Naarm-based textile artist and master dyer specialising in natural, plant-based colour, with a focus on Australian native flora.She operates the natural dye studio and label Wild Heather, conducting workshops, collaborating with artists and design studios and contributing to projects including NEWNEW with Nexus Designs + Cultivated and the public art commission Ragazzi dei Millefiori at Federation Square.At the Australian Tapestry Workshop, Heather works in the colour laboratory, leading yarn-dyeing processes and supporting artists across major tapestry projects.She was awarded a Churchill Fellowship (2019) to research botanical dye studios in Japan and North America, further informing her expertise in natural fibre and colour applications.