“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
Located in Greenmount/Station North in Baltimore City, and founded in January of 2020 by Kenya Miles with key support from Rosa Chang, 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.
Blue Light Junction
Funding Support
Over the past years, we have been supported by a grant that has allowed us to nurture the studio and garden, build a strong team, and create engaging programs.
With the support of this three-year grant now behind us, we are looking forward to 2026 and reflecting on these years of creation and growth, made possible also by the many hands who have helped us build and foster a space of deep connection, craft, and community.
At this new phase of BLJ, we are turning to our community to help shape the next chapter of our studio and carry forward our mission.
While we are hard at work writing grants and looking for additional capital support, with your support, we will continue to forge ahead with focus and commitment towards building the first natural dye studio and lab in Baltimore City.
SUPPORT THE STUDIO
Your support—whether through a donation, your participation, spreading the word, or simply sending a few words about your experience with our work—will help us to continue to create, nurture, and grow.
+CONTRIBUTE to Our GoFunfMe Campaign
Your donation will help us continue our general operating efforts, support our team, continue developing our educational and research programming, and support our community-based events. Support this initiative through our GoFundMe campaign.
+SHARE your experience at Blue Light Junction with us and the world.
Your experiences are a living part of our organization, and your words and stories carry on our work. We want to know about your experience, which will be part of BLJ’s archive and testimonials that will reflect our impact in the community and inspire the next cycle of growth. Share your story with us.
+PARTICIPATE in our Coming Programming
Our programming is a space for people to share and learn the histories and traditions of natural dye and craft to connect with culture, tradition, and contemporary artistic practices. Join us for our upcoming workshops and offerings.
WINTER WORKSHOPS | 2026
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THURSDAY, FEB 12th | 5-8pm
Light Up the Lunar New Year: Paper Flower Lantern Workshop
Welcome in the Lunar New Year through creativity, light, and tradition. Paper flower lantern making is a meaningful cultural practice, rich with symbolism—honoring renewal, intention, and new beginnings for the year ahead.
Join local artist and community member Rosa Sung Ji Chang for a hands-on workshop where participants will design and assemble their own paper flower lanterns.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 14th | 12-2pm
Indigo & Cotton Growing w/Blue Light Junction
Grow with us! We are excited to begin our 7th season at Hidden Harvest's “annex” dye garden.
This workshop is for the home/urban gardener, community/school gardener, farmer looking to grow in abundance and anyone interested in deepening their relationship to the earth. Please join us as we share all we have learned about growing Indigo & Cotton in Baltimore over the past 7 years!
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MARCH SAT & SUN | 10am-3pm
Intro to Indigo and Quilting with Rosina Saqib . A 5 class workshop (3 consecutive weekends)
In this 5-part series, students will learn to dye cotton fabric with indigo. Natural dyer and quilter Rosina Saqib will guide the group to build a tonal palette of blues through multiple dips in the indigo vat. She’ll discuss the different types of vats and how to care for and maintain a successful indigo vat at home.
FEBRUARY ART WALK
FRIDAY, Feb 13th | 5-9 pm
Donate & Dye Fundraiser
Kick off 2026 with the first Station North Art Walk of the year at Blue Light Junction as we celebrate Blue Valentine.
Enjoy a visit to our space and participate in our Donate & Dye Indigo Session.
We are inviting everyone to participate in the launch of the BLJ fundraising campaign for 2026 with a $25 Donate & Dye Indigo Community Vat.
This hands-on gathering invites participants to refresh a beloved old item and transform it into something new, working directly with natural indigo and exploring basic dyeing and resist techniques.
Your participation will directly support our educational and community-based programming as well as general studio/garden operating efforts.
The rest of the studio will be open throughout the evening from 5 to 9 pm. Visitors are welcome to visit Studio Blue on the 2nd floor, where you will find a collection of crafted objects, our library space, and artist studios.
STUDIO BLUE
CONCEPT STORE & ALTERNATIVE LIBRARY
OPEN HOURS: Every Saturday, from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, Blue Light Junction opens STUDIO BLUE, a shared space for exchange, reflection, and curiosity.
Located on the 2nd floor within the Blue Light Junction facility, STUDIO BLUE space houses the BLJ’s Concept Store, The Alternative Library, Gallery Space, and artist studios. Come and browse the library and shop our newly curated collection of storied objects honoring the connection between plants, people, & places.
Open Every Saturday from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm
209 McAllister St, Baltimore
You can also book an appointment. Contact us via email at bluelightjunction@gmail.com for more information. Or leave a message through our contact form.
ABOUT US
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 operates as an alternative color lab, educational facility, and gathering space. The studio also stewards 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.
FEBRUARY VOLUNTEER DAYS
WINTER SEASON VOLUNTEER DAYS:
Throughout the winter, we are hosting volunteer days focused on indigo seed processing, and supporting studio spaces maintenance and material organization.
Stop by the studio and join BLJ’s Garden Coordinator, Vetiver Napper, on any of the days marked in the calendar anytime during volunteer hours..
open to anyone interested in learning through participation.
No sign-in or prior experience required,
Send us a message to volunteers@bluelightjunction.com
with any questions you may have.