Learn about the art, craft, and design of the Wiener Werkstätte and the thriving cultural center of Vienna between 1900 and 1930.

The Wiener Werkstätte was founded in 1903 by the designers and architects Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser, and textile manufacturer Fritz Waerndorfer. They sought to elevate design and production, with an appreciation for an object’s material and both its artistic and handcrafted qualities. They wanted to elevate the applied arts to the level of fine art with the idea of the “total work of art,” Gesamtkunstwerk. The textile department of the company was the most successful with over 1800 designs created by 80 people between 1910 and 1932.

In this two-part workshop, learn about the history of the Wiener Werkstätte, the cultural milieu of Vienna in the early 1900s from Gustav Klimt and the Secession to Egon Schiele and other luminaries of the day. We’ll look at the new “modern” woman, the effects of World War I, the work of women designers, and teh evolution of designs inspired by Central European folk traditions. In class I, stitch a white leaf pattern inspired by an embroidered blouse created in the Werkstätte in 1912 that I viewed at the MAK Museum Vienna in 2024. In class II, stitch a pattern inspired by a textile print designed by Dagobert Peche in 1927. In this class, you’ll learn the basics of painting fabric to stitch and working with line stitches to fill forms.

Enroll in one or both classes! Each class will begin with a slide talk for cultural and historical background to enrich our embroidery work and provide creative inspiration.

Each class will be recorded. The recording will be emailed by the following Monday and will be available for one month.

I will email you the class pdf and Zoom link on Thursday before we meet.

Materials needed:

Perle cotton no. 8 thread in white (class I) and black, light gray and dark gray (class II)

Black cotton or linen for class I and unbleached muslin or a light-colored cotton or linen for class II

Embroidery or crewel needle that is easy to thread

White chalk pencil or white gel pen for black fabric / Frixion pen for light-colored fabric

Optional: If you’ll be painting fabric for the Class II embroidery, watercolor paint in hot pink and black. This will not be washable. If you need to be able to wash your work, purchase water-soluble fabric paint from your local art supply store.

Hoop (optional)

Photos: 1. white work on black fabric for class I and black and gray on painted fabric for class II 2. Women of the Wiener Werkstätte: Charlotte Billwiller, Mathilde Flögl, Susi Singer, Marianne Leisching, and Maria Likarz, Photograph, 1924, © MAK 3. Gustav Klimt and Emilie Flöge, Heinrich Böhler 1909. 4. Gustav Klimt, Detail of Portrait of Emilie Flöge, 1902, Wien Museum. 5. Egon Schiele, Portrait of Poldi Lodzinsky, 1910, Leopold Museum. 6. Engel Apotheke, 2024. 7. various prints by designers of the Wiener Werkstätte.

DATE:

Saturdays, May 17 and/or 24, 10 from 10am - 12pm Pacific/ 1 - 3pm Eastern/ 7 - 9pm Central European Time