Ruth Jeyaveeran

Felted Terrain

August 9 - 14, 2026

Open to All Skill Levels

Textiles, Fibers, Mixed Media, Sculpture

Overview

In this workshop, students will explore the endless sculptural and surface possibilities of wool by treating the material as terrain—building, layering, eroding, and excavating the surface as if working with soil. Using various wet felting techniques, students will investigate the felted surface as both ground and form, creating both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works. This workshop will focus on line, color, and texture by embedding fabrics and found materials into the wool, cutting away areas to reveal hidden layers, and shaping the surface through pleating and folding. Students will consider how wool behaves like earth—shifting, binding, and holding memory—allowing each piece to develop as a tactile landscape shaped by pressure and touch. By the end of the workshop, students will have created a collection of technical samples and several small finished pieces. All skill levels welcome.

Course Fee : $760.00

Scholarships & Material Fees

Need help covering workshop costs? Arrowmont offers financial aid opportunities to broaden access to our arts and craft programs. We believe a diverse community enriches the learning experience for all.

Material fees are not included in our national workshop costs, but are included with the cost of our winter short workshops. A material list with estimated costs will be emailed about 30 days before the national workshop begins.

TUITION & FEES

SCHOLARSHIPS

Cost Breakdown

Registration Fee

$50.00

One Week Workshop Tuition

$760.00

Estimated Cost*
*Fees exclude housing and meal plans

$810.00

VIEW HOUSING & MEAL PLAN COSTS

Artist Bio

Ruth Jeyaveeran

Ruth Jeyaveeran is a Brooklyn-based artist and Associate Professor of Textile Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology whose work utilizes textiles to navigate the South Asian diaspora and themes of alienation, displacement, and dissociation. Her artistic practice has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at venues including Field Projects, FJORD, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, and Fridman Gallery, and has been supported by an extensive list of residencies such as the Ucross Foundation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and Lighthouse Works. A specialist in felting, Jeyaveeran frequently leads workshops exploring the therapeutic benefits of craft, integrating her research on shared histories and cultural identity into both her academic teaching and her multidisciplinary textile installations.

Artist Website

Explore the Textiles Studio

Located on the second floor of the Turner Building, the Textile Studio looks out over a sunny hill towards the Wood Building and downtown Gatlinburg. A bright and spacious space equipped for all things fabric and textiles, the workshop rotation in this space is as diverse and wide-reaching as the students and artists that populate our campus. A peaceful atmosphere with intimate corners for quiet sewing and contemplation give way to joy and laughter when the room is filled with the repetitive whir of the sewing machine or the plop of a freshly dipped garment in a vat of dye.

Explore the Textiles Studio