October 2026

 Master Soon-Nam Kwon

Master Kwon lives and cultivates natural dye plants on her farm in Uiseong Province, S. Korea.  She is an artist and lecturer at Uiseong Honghwa Traditional Natural Dyeing Research Institute at Kyungwoon University and an expert in bridging Korean traditional dyeing and contemporary practice. She has exhibited widely both domestically and internationally and received awards and recognition including in 2018 when she received commendation from the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Education. She was recently recognized as an ‘Eco-Artisan’ for elevating Korea’s transition to a carbon-neutral society through art. In 2025 and again in 2026, September 22-25, she will participate in two local events celebrating Korean Craftsmanship, a special exhibition at The George Washington University Textile Museum (free), and September 25-27, at the Smithsonian’s annual Craft2Wear show (tix required).

Guild Meeting/Program: Threads of Tradition: Korean Fiber Arts & the Art of Natural Dye

The Guild is deeply honored to present an inspiring cultural exchange opportunity with visiting eco-artisan Master Soon Nam Kwon of South Korea—a master craftswoman whose life’s work bridges centuries-old tradition with a commitment to sustainability.

Master Kwon will share the traditions of Korean fiber arts, from garments of previous dynasties to striking wall and window pieces to the delicate artistry of eco-printing, needlework, and pattern making. Each craft she discusses carries generations of history, technique, and meaning. An expert in traditional natural dyeing, Master Kwon cultivates her own dye plants on her farm in Uiseong Province, South Korea, and will bring samples of her dyed fabrics. Learn how her deep respect for nature and tradition sustains Korean craft culture—preserving stories, values, and techniques passed down through generations.

Date/Time: October 10, 2026 10:30 AM 

Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854

Mini Workshop: Traditional Safflower Dyeing Workshop

Learn traditional Korean natural dyeing at our Guild studio, where we’ll experience safflower’s precious pink/red hue—a color once reserved for royalty and special occasions. This hands-on workshop begins with creating your own safflower dye cakes using dried petals grown on Master Kwon’s farm. We’ll prepare a communal dye vat together, first washing away the safflower’s yellow pigment, then revealing its vivid color through a careful acid-base extraction process. Choose your Korean fabric: ramie, hemp, or a silk scarf, each fabric taking on the safflower’s hue in its own beautiful way. Nothing goes to waste—the remaining dye is used to color a cotton towel, creating a traditional “dye-infused cloth” (gaeogi) to take home. To keep the learning experience going, each student receives a safflower cake dye kit, so you can recreate this dyeing process at home.

Date/Time: October 10, 2026 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Location: Guild Studio, 11810 Parklawn Dr. #204, Rockville, MD 20852

Mini Workshop Fee: Members: $85 Non-Members: $120

Student’s Materials Fee: $90
Includes all Uiseong dyes, mordants, additives, gloves as well as 1 yard ramie or hemp fabric; or silk scarf; and take-home Safflower Dyeing Kit.

Student Supply List:
Mortar and Pestle – Suggested 4-6” diameter
Mortar and Pestle sets will be available for purchase for under $5 at the workshop. Tools used in Natural Dyeing can NOT be used with food.

Extended Workshop:

Traditional Korean Crinkle Dyeing With Uiseong Safflower and Indigo

The Potomac Fiber Arts Guild is excited to host two individual full day workshops at Maryland’s spacious natural dye studio and dye plant farm, Blue Light Junction (BLJ) located in Greenmount/Station North, Baltimore City. Our weekend cultural exchange continues as we meet and learn from BLJ co-founders Kenya Miles, and Rosa Chang who brings traditional Korean natural dye experience to assist Master Kwon as well as translate.

Master Kwon will lead us through two dyeing stages: first, working with soybean-milk-treated Korean cotton, we’ll learn traditional crinkle-binding techniques creating three-dimensional patterning effects. Then an indigo vat immersion builds a rich blue foundation through repeated dipping and oxidation. After a restorative lunch break, we re-crinkle the fabric in a new direction and shift to safflower dyeing—extracting red pigment through alkaline treatment, then “activating” it to create brilliant reddish-purple tones. The crinkle-binding removal brings the joy of the ‘big reveal’, a dyeing experience not to be missed! 

Date/Time: Sunday, October 11
or Monday, October 12, (National Holiday) 10:00-4:00 pm
Same curriculum both days—choose the date that works for you

Location:
Blue Light Junction, 209 McAllister St Baltimore, MD 21202. 
Don’t have transportation? Carpool arrangements will be coordinated so no one is left behind. A form to signup for carpool will be available after you register.

Extended Workshop Fee: Members: $150 Non-Members: $185

Student’s Materials Fee: $100
Includes all Uiseong dyes, mordants, bindings, additives as well as 2 yards Uiseong cotton fabric.

Student Supply List:
Note taking material.