The Open Indigo Dye Kitchen Session

Service Description

Offered seasonally as part of the Indigo Dye Village Workshop Series. The Open Indigo Dye Kitchen Session at Ajanku Art Studio is a signature community studio experience where participants gather around a living indigo vat to learn, experiment, and create together or individually. Rooted in West African indigo traditions and diasporic textile practices, Open Dye Day transforms the studio into a contemporary dye village—an active space of making, exchange, and cultural continuity. Open Dye Day welcomes artists, beginners, families, educators, and returning Indigo Dye Village participants into an environment where indigo is experienced through practice rather than demonstration. During the Open Indigo Dye Kitchen Session, participants enter a working indigo studio organized around the 1-2-3 fructose indigo vat, a reliable and accessible system that supports successful dyeing while introducing the living nature of the vat. Open Dye Day operates as a flow-based studio experience rather than a seated class. Participants move through the rhythm of the dye process: Orientation to indigo history and cultural context Introduction to the active indigo vat Cloth preparation and simple resist techniques Guided dipping and oxidation cycles Multiple immersions to build layered blues Observation of color transformation from green to blue Studio conversation and shared learning Participants may: Arrive within scheduled time blocks Dye at their own pace Return to the vat multiple times Experiment freely with provided materials Observe and learn from others working in the space What Participants Receive Access to a prepared Indigo Dye Village vat Cotton practice cloth for experimentation Guided instruction and studio support Cultural and historical context for indigo traditions Access to Ajanku Art Studio indigo resources What Participants bring: · pre-approved natural fiber items for dyeing (up to 3 pounds) · apron · rubber gloves Typical Format Duration: 3–hour open studio session Capacity: 10 participants Skill Level: Beginner to advanced Location: Ajanku Art Studio June 20, 27 July 18, 25 Aug 1, 8, 15, 22