On this enchanting spring afternoon bathed in golden sunlight, the community activity room of Building 2, Nanhu Campus, Central China Normal University, buzzed with creative energy as nearly 30 students gathered for the "Morning Weave, Evening Dye: Crafting Blue from Plain Cloth" DIY tie-dye event on March 30th. Hosted by the e-Qi Mental Health Education Station and thoughtfully co-organized by the Keming Ideological and Political Education Studio, this initiative not only celebrated traditional craftsmanship but also fostered a sense of belonging within the campus community. The event served as a bridge between cultural heritage and modern student life, weaving threads of artistic expression into the fabric of daily campus routines.
01 Activity in Progress
The venue transformed into a haven of springtime joy, with delicate decorations evoking the renewal of nature. Under the watchful guidance of experienced hosts, participants meticulously chose their materials - soft cotton fabrics, vibrant hair ties, and an array of dyes promising infinite creative possibilities. Staff members, radiating warmth, distributed protective gloves, enabling every student to embark on their personalized artistic voyage. The air hummed with a symphony of gasps and giggles as blank canvases gradually metamorphosed into kaleidoscopic tapestries. Through heartfelt painting sessions and intimate sharing circles, attendees channeled their emotions into every fold and dye application, turning simple cloth into profound narratives of personal growth.
02 Birthday Celebration Segment
Students celebrating birthdays in March were invited onto the stage, each receiving their own personalized gift and a festive birthday hat. Amidst a heartfelt chorus of birthday wishes, their radiant smiles and this precious moment of joy were subtly frozen in time.
Meanwhile, students expressed that they felt both physically and mentally relaxed, while also gaining a deeper understanding of tie-dyeing as an intangible cultural heritage craft. The DIY tie-dye activity is part of the "Warmth Delighted the Four Seasons" series of courses, designed to utilize the creation of intangible cultural heritage crafts to guide participants in perceiving, capturing, and creating beauty, thereby achieving psychological healing.
03 Artwork Display
Hair ties, headbands, and swathes of cotton cloth were transformed by the students' vivid imaginations and dexterous hands into creations adorned with an array of patterns, showcasing their pursuit of beauty and anticipation for life.
Source: School of Information Management
Translator: Ding Songbin
Date: April 12, 2025
