The Baltimore Natural Dye Initiative aims to engage people in learning about the rich and complex histories of natural dyes, to develop and deepen local knowledge around the use of natural dyes, and to explore the artistic, cultural and economic potential of working with these materials. Hosting exhibitions and public events, including workshops and talks by scholars and practitioners, are central to this work. On these pages, you will find information about past as well as upcoming events and discover ways to connect to this project.
The Baltimore Natural Dye Symposium & Gathering will bring together natural dye practitioners, scholars, artists and designers, enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, cultural workers and farmers to exchange knowledge and ideas, build local capacity and community around the growing and use of natural dyes, and engage with the complex histories that accompany these traditional practices.
Catharine Ellis has been a weaver and a dyer for over 40 years. After three decades of teaching the Fiber Program at Haywood Community College in NC she is now dedicated to studio work, focusing on natural dye processes. She also does specialized, selected…
Living Color: Touching the Past, Present and Future through the Art of Natural Dyes Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Museum1417 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD until May 25, 2019Thursday, May 2 - Saturday, May 25, 2019 Opening Reception: Thursday…
In considering the way the enslaved understood themselves and their place in the world, historians often encounter a dearth of source material. Yet, the experience of enslaved Africans and their descendants is not wholly absent from the historical record…