baltimore Archives - Botanical Colors

FEEDBACK FRIDAY: In Baltimore’s Blue Light Junction Studio With Kenya Miles

Our last FEEDBACK FRIDAY was with Kenya Miles. Kenya is the artist and alchemist behind Traveling Miles Studio and founder of Blue Light Junction, a natural dye studio, alternative color lab, retail space, dye garden and educational facility in central Baltimore. In January 2022 Blue Light Junction opened its inaugural Ibura Art & Research Residency to support 6 individuals investigation and praxis in botanical color and medicine. Founded by textile artist, farmer, and natural dye practitioner Kenya Miles, Blue Light Junction focuses on growing, processing, and preserving the history of natural dyes and their artistic, practical, and commercial applications. Watch the … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Kenya Miles + Blue Light Junction

This week, we’ve got video from our live FEEDBACK FRIDAY featuring Kenya Miles and her Blue Light Junction Studio. Blue Light Junction is a natural dye studio, alternative color lab, retail space, dye garden and educational facility in central Baltimore. Kenya is also artist in residence for the Baltimore Natural Dye Initiative at MICA and Parks & People, an initiative to grow and process natural dyes in Baltimore city. This was part 3 in a 3-part series featuring the Natural Dye Initiative at MICA. Watch the recording here: PLEASE support Kenya’s Blue Light Junction Buildout on GoFundMe here. Catch part … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Kibibi Ajanku

This week, we’ve got video from our live FEEDBACK FRIDAY featuring Baltimore-based Afrofuturist Kibibi Ajanku. Kibibi talked about being Baltimore born and raised, her art and dance work as well as how the silence around slavery and African people as related to indigo and other dyes needs to be better understood. She also talked about how some of her work with the Maryland Institute College of Art’s (MICA) natural dye projects delve into this and offer education, community and power. This is part 2 of a 3-part series with the Baltimore Natural Dye Initiative. Watch the recording here: As we … Read more

Video from LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Kathy Hattori Natural Dye Q&A

Check out our most recent live Zoom FEEDBACK FRIDAY with Botanical Colors’ Founder Kathy Hattori. Kathy answered about 25-30 questions on all subjects. You’re going to learn a lot. Watch the recording here: Kathy’s books she mentioned on the video: Lichens For Vegetable Dyeing, Eileen M. Bolton Lichen Dyes: The New Source Book, Karen Casselman Miriam Rice Mushroom Dye Books & Videos Alissa Allen, Founder of Mycopigments And that bucket heater for indigo! NEXT WEEK for Juneteenth on June 19th at noon… The Baltimore Natural Dye Initiative returns for part 2 of a 3-part series with Kibibi Ajanku. Kibibi Ajanku … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Indigo with Maryland Institute College of Art

This week, we’ve got video from our live FEEDBACK FRIDAY featuring the Indigo Shade Map with the Maryland Institute College of Art and the Baltimore Natural Dye Initiative. Watch the video here: The Baltimore Natural Dye Initiative brings together multiple agencies, including the Maryland Institute College of Art, as well as artists and designers to explore the cultural and economic impacts of growing, processing and using natural dyes in the greater Baltimore region. As part one in a 3-part series, we took a look at a newly created Indigo Shade Map, an evolving online, interactive site that maps the locations, … Read more