Korean-born artist passes along centuries-old dye tradition to Maryland art students

The creation of indigo, earthy dyes taught to assemblage students successful Baltimore

The creation of indigo, earthy dyes taught to assemblage students successful Baltimore 03:31

A Korean-born creator is passing down a centuries-old contented to Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) students successful Baltimore.

For Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we're recognizing creator Rosa Chang, who teaches a accepted indigo and earthy dye people astatine MICA called "Mindful Colors: Natural Dyes from Korea and Beyond."

"We are creating a batch of antithetic colors but besides truly navigating the narration betwixt the colour and nature," Chang said.

The people uses plants similar indigo and marigold to make hues of bluish and gold. It's a meticulous process of soaking plants to get the close color.

"[The] Indigo dying process to marque this bluish requires different fermentation process," Chang said.

Chang said she got progressive successful this enactment aft increasing bushed of moving successful the manner manufacture arsenic a signifier designer.

"Those fabrics dyed from factories consciousness precise toxic," Chang said.

Then, idiosyncratic introduced her to the earthy dye practice. That's erstwhile she began learning astir the value of indigo.

"Almost each antithetic cultures and communities person their ain indigo dye practices," Chang said. "There's truthful galore indigo works species."

Chang said indigo is simply a civilization connector. She adds it has a affluent past and carries medicinal benefits.

"Samurais backmost successful the time successful Japan, they would usage indigo to dye their garments...so that it would support their coiled aft the war," Chang said. "It accelerates the healing process."

Chang said immoderate would adjacent portion indigo h2o arsenic medicine during epidemics. These stories are portion of the acquisition Chang teaches passim the semester.

"Nice to beryllium capable to benignant of support things alive"

Students successful the people are moving connected their last project, combining each they've learned passim the course.

"We're making a illustration book," said MICA pupil Amber Likins. "Every clip I look astatine this book, I'm going to retrieve however I did this, but I'm besides going to retrieve conscionable however we got here."

"I deliberation I'm conscionable trying to seizure each hue," said Sam Beil, different MICA student.

Students said the skills learned successful people volition beryllium thing they volition usage either for their creation pieces oregon arsenic a broadside hobby.

Student Madelaine Kraushaar appreciates the sustainability portion to this work. Kraushaar finds items for creation pieces from nature.

"I utilized an invasive taxon of English Ivy, and I picked it astir the trees successful Baltimore," Kraushaar said. "Then I utilized that leafage to marque the greenish dye."

Others bask learning astir a contented started hundreds of years ago.

"Everything is truly archaic, and I truly bask that truly humanities process," Beil said.

"That's important to me, passing it down,"  said pupil Amber Likins.

Chang's book, "My Indigo World"

Chang said her enactment with indigo and earthy dye adjacent inspired her children's book, "My Indigo World." She began penning it during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I couldn't find immoderate grounds of Korean indigo written successful English," Chang said.

So, she decided to make her own. "My Indigo World" shares the subject down indigo dye and the past of the plant, written and illustrated by Chang.

"I truly wanted to make thing arsenic a acquisition for my assemblage arsenic good arsenic grant my ancestors," Chang said.

Through her publication and class, Chang is carrying connected the earthy dye tradition. 

Chang said that though galore cultures are different, you tin find akin practices that link america all. It's a connection she hopes everyone receives.

Chang is teaching a workshop for those funny successful trying retired the practice. It takes spot connected May 31. Tickets commencement astatine $125.