“There was a peace in that blue light, more peace than sleep itself, and more than that there was a freedom, and I knew that the elders had not lied, that there really was a home place of our own.”
THE WATER DANCER, TA-NEHISI COATES
WELCOME TO BLUE LIGHT JUNCTION
A natural dye studio in Central Baltimore
Alternative Color Lab • Dye Garden • Retail Space • Educational Facility
Founded by textile artist, farmer, and natural dyer Kenya Miles, Blue Light Junction is an independently run studio, committed to uplifting the techniques and work of cultural practitioners of natural dyes as well as collectively growing and grounding our work in Baltimore City.
NATURAL DYE STUDIO & ANNEX GARDEN
Blue Light Junction is a heritage project focused on growing, processing and preserving natural dyes through their histories, traditions, enhancements and use in everyday objects.
Located in Central Baltimore’s Station North/Greenmount neighborhood, Blue Light Junction operate as an alternative color lab, educational facility and gathering space. The studio also steward the annex of Hidden Harvests “Natural Dye Garden” , located next to the studio where we cultivate and host a variety of dye and medicinal plants.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd | 4:40-7:30 pm
We are honored to celebrate Dia de los Muertos in partnership with Latino Outdoors for our 3rd year at BLJ.
As we take the time to reflect on the lives of those we love who have passed on, we come together in community to observe this sacred cultural heritage practice rooted in pre-Hispanic indigenous rituals and relationships with the dead.
This event is free and open to the public.
Learn More & Register for the Event
NOVEMBER WORKSHOPS
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Chocolate Craft with Jinji Fraser
Sunday, November 2, 2025
4:00 PM 5:15 PMJoin us at Blue Light Junction for a special opportunity to connect to cacao through story and senses.
We will honor Dia de los Muertos by playing with the duality of cacao bitterness and crafted chocolate sweetness, in the context of the cycle of life and death: bitterness as loss and mourning, sweetness as memory and celebration.
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Performing Craft with Jordan Brown
6-Week Session Workshop
Thursdays - | 6 -7:30 pm (starting Nov 6th)Jordan Brown is hosting a dynamic series, Performing Craft: a 6-week exploration of the relationship between craft techniques and performance. Participants will experiment with puppetry, collage, ritualized action, and material transformations to develop performing objects using diverse techniques.
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Crystalline Afterlives: Salt as Material, Salt as Method with Diego Borgsdorf Fuenzalida
Saturday & Sunday, Nov 8-9th
11:00 am - 2 pm
In this two-day hands-on workshop, salt becomes more than just a seasoning—it transforms into a critical artistic material with infinite possibilities. Participants will explore how crystallization can shape texture, form, and meaning in both art and craft, while also engaging with big questions about material (after)life, transformation, and time.
Indigo Harvest Celebration: Obangsaek
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025 | 2-4:30 pm
Join us for a community harvest celebration honoring the turn of the indigo season through craft, sound, and tradition. Rooted in Obangsaek, the traditional Korean color theory represents five colors (white, yellow, blue, red, and black), each honoring a natural element.
Together, we'll paint with natural indigo on Hanji (mulberry paper), one of the Obangsaek colors, and inscribe messages of gratitude and reflection to the earth using stamps, stencils, brushes, and patterned tools. This act of making becomes both a gesture of thanks and a ritual of connection as we mark the end of our season and prepare the land for rest.
The afternoon will culminate in a performance by URIOL (우리얼), a Philadelphia-based Korean percussion ensemble founded in 2018. Led by artistic director Hyunjin Cha, URIOL blends traditional rhythms and movement from Pungmul, Minyo, and Chukjae—performance forms rooted in Korean harvest and celebration traditions. Their performance invites joy, reflection, and unity, merging sound and spirit in a vibrant expression of community.
Come celebrate, make, and move with us as we honor the land, the indigo, and one another—ushering in the next cycle of renewal through rhythm and gratitude.
An extraordinary feast for the eyes, the ears, and the hands.
Material, Memory & Contemporary Hands
Studio Blue at Blue Light Junction is proud to present a group exhibition showcasing the work of 11 artists from The Ibura Art & Research Residency.
The exhibition will run from September 26 through December 30, 2025, featuring a range of media, including textiles, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.
Gallery Hours
Saturdays 10:30-2:30pm
BLUE LIGHT JUNCTION | STUDIO BLUE
CONCEPT STORE &
ALTERNATIVE LIBRARY
A curated collection of storied objects and books showcasing both the devotion and the divine that is exalted and exists within myriad expressions of blue.
Visit the store or contact us at info@bluelightjunction.com for more info.
Open Every Saturday from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm
209 McAllister St, Baltimore
VOLUNTEER DAYS AT THE GARDEN
VOLUNTEER DAYS CALENDAR:
Join us during volunteer days to connect and learn more about natural dyes and the plants we grow at Blue Light Junction. This is an open space for the community, and all ages and experience levels are welcome.
Swing by at 209 McAllister St, Baltimore, on any of the days marked in the calendar anytime during volunteer hours, and find us at the garden right next to the studio
Send us a message to volunteers@bluelightjunction.com for any questions you may have.
SUPPORT THE STUDIO
The natural dye studio and garden is supported by a number of committed volunteers including artist, students, teachers, and community members invested in the cultivation, exploration and preservation of natural dyes.
With your support we will continue to forge ahead with focus and commitment towards building the first natural dye studio in Baltimore City.
Support this initiative trough our GoFundMe campaign.
