my work
wild foraged and homegrown natural dyes, tiny clay sculptures, one-of-kind-clothing and more
01. collaboration with Lu Dale
inspired by a handmade patchwork vest from the Lu Dale archives. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, crafted from vintage denim scraps and naturally dyed with locally foraged and homegrown plants.
Photos and styling by Keely Degenhart
02. community quilt project
handmade quilt made with naturally dyed squares collected from natural dyers all over the country, auctioned for charity
03. concept and choreography for “Coexist”
Coexist is a dance that explores our relationship with wolves through the lens of our unconscious or shadow. Through the embodied practice of dance we examine our unconscious thoughts, habits, and programmed reactions in an effort to bring into consciousness creative ways to be in a more symbiotic relationship with wolves. By transcending dualistic thinking we open up to the vast nuance that comprises true wild.
Coexist, 2023. Dance perfomance at Tinworks. Dancers: Sara Mannheimer, Dorothy Burns, Ellie Oakley, Mariah Palmer, Dana Terzi, Blair Bodie, Naomi Worob. Choreographers: Mariah Palmer and Sara Mannheimer. Photo: Blair Speed. Costumes: Meghan Purcell. Styling: Celeste Johnson
Coexist, 2022. Dance film. Dancers: Sara Mannheimer, Dorothy Burns, Ellie Oakley, Mariah Palmer, Blair Bodie, Cathy Werner. Choreographers: Mariah Palmer and Sara Mannheimer. Film: Nathan Norby. Costumes: Meghan Purcell and Shauna White Bear.
04. local color story
locally foraged and homegrown natural dyes: st john’s wort, sunflower, alder, sage, yarrow, dock, hollyhock, coreopsis, tansy, dyers chamomile and more
05. choreography and costumes for “Grief”
Grief is a contemporary dance film that evolved from a desire to process the loss of interconnectedness with the land that results from living within an ever more extractive and commodified society. The piece uses movement to process our grief over this loss, and to resensitize ourselves to the feelings and rhythms of the natural world.
Grief, 2021. Dance film. Dancers: Anna Allen, Sara Mannheimer, Dorothy Burns, Ellie Oakley, Mariah Palmer, Dana Terzi. Choreographers: Mariah Palmer and Sara Mannheimer. Film: Nathan Norby. Watch the full film here.
Informed Source: Resensitizing Ourselves Through Dance by Mariah Palmer & Sara Mannheimer: “The performance engages with the tensions and dualities around land use through costumes, filming location, and choreography. We dyed the fabric for our costumes using St. John’s wort, a plant that can be invasive but is also a valuable herbal treatment for depression. We filmed on an area of land that is partially protected as wilderness and partially open to motorized four-wheeler recreation. And through our concept and choreography we explored feelings of both sadness and joy. In the sections below we discuss each of these aspects of the performance: costumes, location and choreography.”
Read the full article here.
06. miniature
handmade doll clothing and doll furniture