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Join us at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum to celebrate the launch of Wild Dyes of the Pacific Northwest: A Forager’s Guide to Colour from Plants, Mushrooms, and Lichens by Zoe McDonell, with contributions from Sesemiya (Tracy Cameron) and a foreword by Nadine McSpadden.Discover the hidden palette of the Pacific Northwest, from goldenrod yellows and mushroom reds to lichen blues and seafoam greens. Zoe’s beautifully illustrated guide explores more than 50 wild dye sources, with practical advice on foraging, processing, and dyeing, alongside Indigenous perspectives and ethical wildcrafting practices.
Celebrate the book with an evening of music, natural dyes, and biodiversity during our monthly Beaty Nocturnal.
Please RSVP below and let us know if you’d like to reserve a copy of the book for pickup at the event. The author will be signing copies throughout the evening!
About the author:
Zoe McDonell is a fibre artist of Scottish descent whose work is rooted in an intimate relationship with land, ecology, and living systems. Her work bridges ancestral craft with scientific knowledge, drawing on foraged plant and fungal materials to produce natural dyes and hand-processed fibres that reflect the landscape. She has been teaching historical natural dye techniques and other fibre arts for 25 years. Her main focus is using a two-eyed seeing approach with her co-instructor Nadine McSpadden, balancing science and traditional ways of knowing. Zoe is a biologist, conservation practitioner, and writer with a background in wildlife ecology. Over the past two decades, she has worked alongside First Nations, communities, and environmental teams throughout British Columbia on projects related to wildlife conservation, cumulative effects, and land stewardship.
Event Schedule:
5:00 PM — Doors Open
Museum doors open with admission by donation. Explore the collections and enjoy the evening at your own pace. Copies of Wild Dyes of the Pacific Northwest will be available for purchase in the museum gift shop.
5:45 PM — Welcome & Land Acknowledgment
Join Elder Jeri Sparrow beneath the whale for a welcome and Land Acknowledgment.
5:55 PM — Welcome from the Beaty Museum
Linda P. J. Lipsen (Jennings), Collections Curator – Vascular Plants & Algae, welcomes guests beneath the whale.
6:00 PM — Welcome & Author Introduction
Zoe McDonell, author of Wild Dyes of the Pacific Northwest, shares a welcome and introduction beneath the whale.
6:35 PM — Music & Dye Talk
Head to the auditorium for an evening of music and natural dye exploration with Martha Owen.
Until 8:30 PM — Explore & Enjoy
The museum remains open until 8:30 PM. Visit interactive stations, explore the museum, and have your book signed by the author.
* Complimentary refreshments and appetizers will be available at Niche Café from 6:15 pm until 7:45 pm.
RSVP and reserve your book below:
https://beatymuseum.ubc.ca/events/event/wild-dyes-of-the-pacific-northwest-book-launch/
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Event venue
2212 Main Mall , Vancouver, BC, Canada, British Columbia V6T 1Z4
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