I am honoured and excited to be featured in a very short documentary about my work with fish leather in an upcoming exhibition at Museum of Vancouver called That Which Sustains Us. My work is being highlighted alongside the amazing Zoe McDonell, a mushroom dyer extraordinaire! So much gratitude to Sharon Fortney, the curator of the exhibition , which explores human relationships with the natural world and traditional ecological knowledge connected to our forests.

Click here to view the documentary and to read more about That Which Sustains Us

REGISTER

Practicing ancestral skills is a way of providing grounding, connection, and healing in a time when the world seems to be tilting sideways. I am offering this special Fish Skin Leather: Tanning with Tea class as a fundraiser for current social justice issues in need of desperate attention. Here’s how it will work:

A percentage of total funds contributed to this class will go to charities as follows:

75% will be split between 2 charities. ONE supporting the BLM cause in Minnesota and ONE supporting indigenous women’s rights in Canada. Of that 75% total: 

Half will go to Black Visions Collective in Minnesota (https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/)

Half will go to the Native Women’s Association of Canada (https://www.nwac.ca/)

The other 25% will cover some of my costs of running the class and a small portion towards my income in this time when I an unable to teach at community events and gatherings.

Here is the CLASS INFO:

The making of fish skin leather is an almost forgotten ancient skill that was once common among ocean and freshwater communities in the Northern Hemisphere in places such as Japan, China, Norway, Sweden, Alaska and the Pacific Coast. It is a beautiful textile that can be tanned in different ways to create a strong leather for clothing, pouches, wallets, footwear and art. In this two part class we will explore tea tanning and will use everyday materials you will likely find in your own home. In Part 1 we will prepare our fish skins for tanning and prepare a tannin liquor. In Part 2 we will soften and finish our skins into a beautiful leather. By the end, you will know all you need to know to have your own simple home fish tannery, and be a part of a growing community of fish skin tanners and revivalists of this ancestral skill. This will be a fun, experiential, and peaceful class where we can immerse ourselves in the teachings of the fish. I may even read you a story or two.

REGISTER

DATES:
Note it is TWO classes: Saturdays, June 13 & 20 at 10am (class is expected to be 2-3 hours to allow for questions and discussion)

Supplies needed:

1. A fish skin or more (from at least a fillet of fish). Salmon, halibut, cod, etc. Take care when skinning to keep in one piece with no holes.

2. Something to scrape with: a tablespoon, seashells with smooth edges, mason jar lid

3. Dish soap

4. Bowls for washing and rinsing

5. Rag, hand towel or apron

6. Paint scraper or old debit card

7. Cutting board

8. Oil (coconut, bacon fat, margarine, etc.)

9. Black tea...a box of Tetley, Red Rose, or any other old black tea you have lurking around

My Usual Registration Fee Scale for both classes (charged after the first class) is as follows: $100 | $50 | $25 (Regular in person class is $125)

Reservation Fee: $10 (to avoid no-shows)

REGISTER

Note: If you are in the Vancouver area and can’t easily access at least one fish skin, please contact me and I may be able to help you out.

I am using a sliding scale model on a platform called We Show Up, where you register for an account, reserve your spot in the event, and then pay AFTER the class and YOU determine the amount.

* This new start up business makes it possible for artists and small businesses to hold virtual events with their support, and all for FREE. A very small percentage (3%) goes towards credit card processing fees.

Fish skin leather is an ancient skill that was once common among ocean and freshwater  communities in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a beautiful textile that can be tanned in different ways to create a strong leather for clothing, pouches, wallets, footwear and art. In this class we will use the oil tanning method resulting in natural and almost translucent leather. You are invited to work along side me in this class in case questions arise during the process.

This is a two part class where we will explore the oil tan method and will use everyday materials you will likely find in your own home. In Part 1 we will prepare our fish skins for tanning and prepare a tannin solution. In Part 2 we will soften and finish our skins into a beautiful leather. By the end, you will know all you need to know to have your own simple home fish tannery! 

DATES: May 26 AND June 2, 7-9pm PST (NOTE: This class is two sessions)

Supplies needed:

1. A fish skin or more (from at least a fillet of fish). Salmon, halibut, cod, burbot, etc. Take care when skinning to keep in one piece with no holes.

2. Something to scrape with: a tablespoon, seashells with smooth edges, mason jar lid

3. Dish soap

4. Bowls for washing and rinsing

5. Rag, hand towel or apron

6. Paint scraper or old debit card

7. Cutting board

8. Oil (coconut, bacon fat, margarine, etc.)

9. 2-4 eggs

10. Canola or olive oil

Registration Fee is a SLIDING SCALE for both classes (charged after the first class): Choose to pay ONE of the following amounts: $125 | $75 | $40 (Regular in person class is $125)

Deposit: $10 (charged upon registration)

Note: If you are in the Vancouver area and can’t easily access at least one fish skin, please contact me and can deliver or have you pick up for a small charge. Inquire for details: janeysea [at] gmail.com

Note: If you are in the Vancouver area and can’t easily access at least one fish skin, please contact me and I may be able to help you out.

Venue: Zoom

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

I am using a sliding scale model on a platform called We Show Up, where you register for an account, reserve your spot in the event, and then pay AFTER the class and YOU determine the amount.* This new start up business makes it possible for artists and small businesses to hold virtual events with their support, and all for FREE. 100% of registration fees paid go directly to the artist/entrepreneur.

*Note that you will be charged the reservation fee if you reserve but don’t show up.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The making of fish skin leather is an almost forgotten ancient skill that was once common among ocean and freshwater communities in the Northern Hemisphere in places such as Japan, China, Norway, Sweden, Alaska and the Pacific Coast. It is a beautiful textile that can be tanned in different ways to create a strong leather for clothing, pouches, wallets, footwear and art. In this two part class we will explore tea tanning and will use everyday materials you will likely find in your own home. In Part 1 we will prepare our fish skins for tanning and prepare a tannin liquor. In Part 2 we will soften and finish our skins into a beautiful leather. By the end, you will know all you need to know to have your own simple home fish tannery!

DATES:
Note it is TWO classes: May 16 & 23, 7-9pm PST

Supplies needed:

1. A fish skin or more (from at least a fillet of fish). Salmon, halibut, cod, etc. Take care when skinning to keep in one piece with no holes.

2. Something to scrape with: a tablespoon, seashells with smooth edges, mason jar lid

3. Dish soap

4. Bowls for washing and rinsing

5. Rag, hand towel or apron

6. Paint scraper or old debit card

7. Cutting board

8. Oil (coconut, bacon fat, margarine, etc.)

9. Black tea...a box of Tetley, Red Rose, or any other old black tea you have lurking around

Registration Fee Scale for both classes (charged after the first class): $100 | $50 | $25 (Regular in person class is $125)

Reservation Fee: $2

Note: If you are in the Vancouver area and can’t easily access at least one fish skin, please contact me and I may be able to help you out.

Event Date and Time:
Wednesday, May 06, 2020 - 07:00 PM PDT AND Wednesday, May 13, 2010 - 07:00 PM PDT

Venue: Zoom

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

I am using a sliding scale model on a platform called We Show Up, where you register for an account, reserve your spot in the event, and then pay AFTER the class and YOU determine the amount.* This new start up business makes it possible for artists and small businesses to hold virtual events with their support, and all for FREE. 100% of registration fees paid go directly to the artist/entrepreneur.

*Note that you will be charged the reservation fee if you reserve but don’t show up.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The making of fish skin leather is an almost forgotten ancient skill that was once common among ocean and freshwater communities in the Northern Hemisphere in places such as Japan, China, Norway, Sweden, Alaska and the Pacific Coast. It is a beautiful textile that can be tanned in different ways to create a strong leather for clothing, pouches, wallets, footwear and art. In this two part class we will explore tea tanning and will use everyday materials you will likely find in your own home. In Part 1 we will prepare our fish skins for tanning and prepare a tannin liquor. In Part 2 we will soften and finish our skins into a beautiful leather. By the end, you will know all you need to know to have your own simple home fish tannery!

DATES:
Note it is TWO classes: May 6 & 13, 7-9pm PST

Supplies needed:

1. A fish skin or more (from at least a fillet of fish). Salmon, halibut, cod, etc. Take care when skinning to keep in one piece with no holes.

2. Something to scrape with: a tablespoon, seashells with smooth edges, mason jar lid

3. Dish soap

4. Bowls for washing and rinsing

5. Rag, hand towel or apron

6. Paint scraper or old debit card

7. Cutting board

8. Oil (coconut, bacon fat, margarine, etc.)

9. Black tea...a box of Tetley, Red Rose, or any other old black tea you have lurking around

Registration Fee Scale for both classes (charged after the first class): $100 | $50 | $25 (Regular in person class is $125)

Reservation Fee: $2

Note: If you are in the Vancouver area and can’t easily access at least one fish skin, please contact me and I may be able to help you out.

Event Date and Time:
Wednesday, May 06, 2020 - 07:00 PM PDT AND Wednesday, May 13, 2010 - 07:00 PM PDT

Venue: Zoom

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

I am using a sliding scale model on a platform called We Show Up, where you register for an account, reserve your spot in the event, and then pay AFTER the class and YOU determine the amount.* This new start up business makes it possible for artists and small businesses to hold virtual events with their support, and all for FREE. 100% of registration fees paid go directly to the artist/entrepreneur.

*Note that you will be charged the reservation fee if you reserve but don’t show up.