Join Us In Welcoming Our 3rd Artist-in-Resident, Lilith Dorsey

We’re thrilled to announce that Lilith Dorsey, M.A., renowned artist, writer and cultural practitioner, is joining us as the NOLA Artist Incubator’s new Artist-in-Residence! Over the course of their residency, Lilith will lead a series of four inspiring and educational workshops designed to engage participants of all ages in the world of art, nature, and cultural exploration. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or simply looking to explore your creative side, these workshops promise to be enriching and memorable.

Lilith Dorsey, M.A., Galvez Garden Artist-in-Resident

About Lilith

Lilith Dorsey M.A., has always loved plants. Their traditional education focused on Plant Science, Anthropology, and Film at the URI, NYU, and University of London. They are honored to have worked as the garden designer for the Jazzfest Peace Garden and a choreographer and performer for Dr. John’s “Night Tripper” Voodoo Show. They are proud to be a published Black author of Voodoo and Afro-Caribbean Paganism, Orishas, Goddesses and Voodoo Queens, Water Magic and the newly released Tarot Every Witch Way. For the past few years they have been steward of the Bulbancha Blooms Community Garden in the Upper 9th Ward of New Orleans.

Website: https://lilithdorsey.com/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lilithdorsey

Workshop Topics

Please Please Pollinators: A Workshop for Kids and Their Caregivers

Kick off your creative journey with this delightful workshop tailored for kids and their caregivers. This workshop involves a series of great art projects and activities all about pollinators. We will begin with a scavenger hunt where we look for signs of pollinators and beneficial bugs in our garden. We will then make and decorate our own bee/bug hotels using upcycled and found materials. Finally we will gather fallen leaves and twigs to use in our creation of a butterfly leaf art.

Block Fabric Printing and Natural Dyes

Dive into the world of textile art with Lilith’s exploration of block fabric printing and natural dyes. Many people are aware of the beauty of plants like marigold and indigo, fewer are aware of their colorful history as dye plants in use by both indigenous and enslaved people in North and Central America for hundreds if not thousands of years. This session will discuss both the history of block root vegetable printing and natural dyes and then try our hand a creating some art works of our own using these materials. A number of wild indigo seeds and marigold seeds will also be distributed to all who want them. A number of scarves and fabric pieces will be available but feel free to bring your favorite cotton clothing item to dye if you like.

Using Natural Dyes to Create Wearable Art (All Ages)

Building on the previous workshop, this session takes the concept of natural dyes a step further. Lilith will guide participants through the process of creating wearable art using natural dyes. Many people are aware of the beauty of plants like marigold and indigo, fewer are aware of their colorful history as dye plants in use by both indigenous and enslaved people in North and Central America for hundreds if not thousands of years. This session will discuss both the history of block root vegetable printing and natural dyes and then try our hand a creating some art works of our own using these materials. A number of wild indigo seeds and marigold seeds will also be distributed to all who want them. A number of scarves and fabric pieces will be available but feel free to bring your favorite cotton clothing item to dye if you like.

Crafting Cemetarium: Living Terrariums to Honor the Dead in Our Ancestors’ Gardens

In this thought-provoking workshop, Lilith will introduce participants to the practice of crafting living terrariums as a way to honor and remember our ancestors. No city loves the dead as much as New Orleans. Join us for this workshop making special terrariums to honor those no longer with us. Terrariums became popular during the Victorian Age. They are making a resurgence as people become more aware of ecosystems and attempt to green up their lives. Making a cemetarium puts a new spin on an old art form. Participants will make use of the found materials they have brought with them along with mosses, twigs, rocks, and small cemetery themed items that will be available. Please bring your favorite spooky miniatures or containers if you like, although all items to make a single cemetarium will be provided.

A Journal to Journey to the Past

To round off their residency, Lilith will offer a workshop focused on creating a personal journal that serves as a tool for exploring and documenting your journey to the past. This class allows participants to unlock their creativity in every way. We will begin by gathering natural materials to create the front and back covers of our handmade journals. While this is happening we will talk about the traditional plants used by both indigenous and enslaved people on this land. After crafting our covers we will hand stitch our journals together. Then we will take some time to explore the garden pondering some of the ecological challenges we face currently or those that our ancestors faced here in New Orleans and create a piece based on that in our journal. This could be a drawing of a native plant or pollinator, it could be a sketch for a possible butterfly garden, it could be a poem about your ancestor’s garden. The possibilities are endless, and at the end we will regroup and share what we have created. Please bring your favorite drawing or writing materials, all other items will be provided.

We’re incredibly excited to welcome Lilith Dorsey and to offer these transformative workshops to our community. Each session is designed to not only foster artistic expression but also to deepen our connection to nature, history, and ourselves. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to engage with a talented artist and explore new creative avenues.

Lilith at their garden, Bulbancha Blooms

Stay tuned for dates and registration details, and be sure to mark your calendars for these exceptional workshops at the NOLA Artist Incubator!

This residency is made possible with support from Artspace USA and our participation in the Artspace Immersion New Orleans Cohort.