Textile Arts

Your signature tactile and visual language will bloom to its fullest potential under the guidance of our artist experts in the School of the Arts Textiles Program.

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Textile Arts

  • Length of Study 8 Months
  • Accreditation Certificate
  • Campus Victoria Street Campus

Fibre objects and textiles are an integral and component of our lives and contemporary aesthetic. To create with beauty and style is to infuse our environment with adored art with function.

In the Textile Arts Certificate Program, develop skills and a high level of proficiency within a diverse range of techniques under the guidance of true experts in craft. The School of the Arts Textile Program is designed to cultivate an environment of creative problem solving and thinking in conjunction with hands-on studio work supporting students in becoming efficient creative makers in their chosen field of textiles.

Starting this Fall 2021, the Textile Arts Studio will launch a new 8-month certificate running from September to April.

Courses include:

  • Dye Technology
  • Textile Construction and Pattern Drafting
  • Surface and Structure
  • Textile Specific Design
  • Surface and Structure
  • Printing on Cloth
  • Weaving
  • Production and Product Development

Questions about the new curriculum can be directed to the School Chair, Daryl Jolly. Learn more about new courses… 

You will be immersed in a vibrant and rewarding creative experience at the School of the Arts Victoria Street Campus where students are also pursuing the crafts: Ceramics, Jewelry and Sculptural Metal. Follow Kootenay Studio Arts on Instagram…

Discover more about our Victoria Street Campus in beautiful downtown Nelson, BC. Nelson and its surrounding areas are a vital West Kootenay cultural hub. Artists are attracted to the natural beauty, the laid-back attitude, and an atmosphere of acceptance that inspires creativity.

Aimie & Melanie

Student Recruitment Team

Inquiries?

Do you have general questions about School of the Arts programming, please fill out our Find Out More form below.

Recruitment Specialists Aimie Chernoff and Melanie Barber Baribeau are amazing ambassadors ready to share all they know with you. Contact them at hello@selkirk.ca.

Find Out More
Admission Requirements
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Launch Gallery

Admission Requirements

In addition to the general entrance requirements for admission to Selkirk College, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Submit a questionnaire
  • Submit a portfolio of work
  • Participate in an interview
  • Learn more about the admission process.

Courses Include

  • Design for Production
  • Dye Technology
  • Fabric Construction and Design
  • Loom Weaving
  • Pattern Drafting and Clothing Design

  • I appreciated the hands-on learning experience. The small class size allowed for greater access to instructors where skills could be tailored to the individual needs of students.

    Dani Ortman

    Textiles, 2009Self-employed handweaver and instructor

  • Selkirk College gave me a can-do attitude towards making a living as an artist while remaining honest about the joys and stresses of being a creator. I developed friendships with my instructors and they have been mentors to me long past graduation.

    Teyana Neufeld

    Textiles, 2012Weaver and Coordinator for the Morija Arts Centre in Losotho, South Africa
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Instructors

Marilyn Lee

Instructor

Marilyn Lee

Instructor

“Arts education is about creative problem solving that can applied in all facets of life.”

Lee studied at the University of Calgary and the Alberta College of Art and Design, where she received her BFA, majoring in textiles.

Currently, Lee maintains a full-time studio practice and markets her production line of MML Textiles at major craft fairs and wholesale shows across the country. She has also shown herwork in numerous solo and group exhibitions.

In 2006, Lee was one of five people to receive a British Columbia Achievement Award (BCAA) for outstanding applied art and design for her work in textiles.

Lee’s work has been featured in:

  • Blueprint Magazine
  • Canadian House and Home
  • Canadian Living
  • Elemente Magazine
  • Nelson Daily News
  • Niche Magazine
  • Style at Home
  • The Globe and Mail
  • Vancouver Sun

“I am always eager to explore what is new in the field, wanting to bring new ideas and inspiration to the students.”

“Small classroom sizes allow me to mentor the students based more on individual needs and interests within the programs parameters.”

Coby van der Gaast

Instructor

Coby van der Gaast

Instructor

Beginning her textile studies at Cherryville and at Handcraft House Textile School in North Vancouver in 1974, Coby has continued her studies and research over the years with celebrated weavers such as Suzanna Lewis, Robert Loewe and Madelyn van der Hoogt. In 1989, she collaborated in the design and production of 50 official sweaters for the BC Winter Games, and in 1990 received a Knitting Guild of America Design award.

Coby has over 27 years of textile practice in weaving, dyeing, knitting and basket-making, as well as 10 years of teaching experience. Travelling extensively, she have been influenced and enriched by cultural textiles and have taught fibre techniques in Teotitlan, Mexico.

Krista Patterson

Instructor

Krista Patterson

Instructor

A graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a Jewelry major and an Art History minor (1993), Krista has also taught for Nunavut Arctic College in northern Canada. Her studio experience includes the creation of one-of-a-kind jewelry and sculptural objects, as well as production craft and design.

Sharon Batcheller

Instructor

Sharon Batcheller

Instructor

Cameron Stewart

Faculty Assistant

Cameron Stewart

Faculty Assistant

Melody Diachun

School Chair

Melody Diachun

School Chair
“My approach to teaching promotes transparent technique, musicianship, and freedom of expression.” – Melody Diachun

I believe that singers who are confidant, well-rounded musicians are best able to function, communicate and flourish. I also believe that songwriting is a craft to be learned, and inspiration is most likely to spark when songwriters are encouraged to be themselves.

I am a vocalist, songwriter, educator, recording artist, and JUNO nominee. In 2009 I was nominated for ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ at Canada’s National Jazz Awards. I have released three critically-acclaimed albums, and appeared on award winning recordings of other artists. I am a favourite on CBC Radio and have made television appearances on BRAVO, COOL TV, Joy TV and The BET Network.

My love of music has provided me with a deeply satisfying career, one which continues to inspire and challenge me. I enjoy sharing my enthusiasm with fellow music lovers, and believe this enthusiasm, combined with my education, open mind, and professional experience, make me a valuable asset to the music program at Selkirk College.

My own career has been greatly enhanced by a solid music education. An early interest in singing and writing songs lead to piano lessons and later to an involvement with the school band program. By age fifteen I was doing professional singing “gigs.” I am a graduate of McGill University’s Jazz Performance program “with distinction” in Jazz Vocal Performance. In the mid-90s I was awarded a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to study with Sheila Jordan in New York City.

My learning has continued on the West Coast with an invaluable, fifteen-year-long education on the bandstand, in the recording studio, and in the practice room. I enjoyed a successful singing career in Vancouver for twelve years, then joined the faculty of the music program at Selkirk College in the fall of 2012.

In 2018, I released my EP Get Back to the Groove which reflects my love of funk while letting my soulful voice shine.

Instructor: Voice, Ensembles, Songwriting, Business of Music

Frequently Asked Questions About Textile Arts

What is the application process like?

The application process involves meeting admission requirements, applying online and then submitting a questionnaire and portfolio. We also require an interview. Find complete instructions here…

Why do I have to interview for Craft Programs?

The interview allows us to discuss the program. We will be asking you questions but our instructors will also give you an overview of the program and scheduling. This is a chance for you to ask questions as well. We want to ensure the best possible match to ensure student success. The interview takes about a half hour and we will be conducting it in person at the Victoria Street Campus or by phone. We are currently not set up for Skype.

How many images can I send in the online portfolio submission form?

The maximum number of images allowed on the online form is eight. Please send a separate link if you would like to send more than eight images.

Links to an online portfolio are also an acceptable way to submit images.

Do I have to have experience in the Craft studio I want to apply to?

No. Many of our students have completed a workshop or continuing education course in the studio they are interested in, but it is not a requirement.

Do I have to provide my own tools, materials and equipment?

Yes, each studio has its own supply list that is provided to applicants upon acceptance. Most materials can be purchased through KSA; however, students may need to independently source and purchase materials. Equipment such as kilns, forges, wheels, drill press, sewing machines, etc. are all provided for student use.

Will I have access to the studio after hours and on weekends?

Yes. Classes in all studios typically run Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

After-hours access is as follows:

Spring Semester 2021 (May and June)

Monday – Friday: 4:00 PM – 9:30PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Sunday: Closed

Fall 2021, Winter 2022 & Spring 2022 Semesters

TBA

Notes:

  • These hours are subject to change.
  • The studios are closed on all statutory holidays and over the Winter closure in December – January.