Discovering Tie-dye

I asked the children if they knew what we would be doing as they observed the colors in the jars with the droppers. The children in chorus replies,

“Making a rainbow!!”

The children are excited to see all the color ink in jars on the table. I explained to the children that we would be doing tie-dye. I explained that we would be using paper, so we do not tie, but fold the paper. There are many different ways to fold paper, and today we are going to fold paper in a triangle. One of the children asked, “why triangle, why do we fold paper first?”

I showed how to fold paper in a triangle. And how to use droppers to put colors to it. Then, I showed that we need to unfold the paper after you finish putting color. Everyone's eyes were on the paper.

K- “Wow! Beautiful! I want to make it too!”

The children were enthusiastic about applying colors. The table became quiet for a moment. The only conversation I heard were:

Where is blue?

Can you pass me a red jar?

We need more yellow!

As they put colors, I heard: Red and blue makes purple. Red and yellow makes orange.

Dots, dots..

Dots, dots, I like dots. Do I need to cover the paper with colors? Maybe I can blow it.

When they unfold the paper, one child noticed, “It’s wet!” And another one saw the challenges, “It is not easy to unfold the wet paper.”

They were all very careful of unfolding the paper, not to rip it. I asked the children their thoughts about the product they were seeing,

E- It is like the sun.

M- It is like a butterfly.

K- It is like a dinosaur.

For some children, the reactions were subtle with many “Hmmm”

But those children immediately said to me, “Can I do it again?!”

“One more time!”

R- “Can I try without folding the paper? I want to put on lots of colors!”

Bold and yet delicate, the simple expressions of children are often tinged with genius. In the process of making tie-dye, the physical act of creation and the infinite realm of imagination are integrated. Even when we aim for something, the result is often different from what we expect. Along with the fun and joy , it often brings new discoveries. Tiedye activates the imagination. Even we, as the viewers, start to wonder, ”what were they thinking and feeling when they made this?” The inspiration seems to radiate outwards from there.

Marimo Yagi

Chapter 6: Strings

“You cannot go through life without connecting with other people. It is not possible; we need connection. But I believe art helps you return to yourself”

Chiharu Shiota [Contemporary String Artist]