Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau

Stories in Blue: A Community Indigo Project
2026-05-03 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | The Arts Center, 964 East Street, Suite 105, Pittsboro, NC, 27312, United States
Join the Chatham Arts Council for Stories in Blue: A Community Indigo Project on Sun, May 3, 10am-3pm at the Chatham County Arts Center. Stories in Blue: A Community Indigo Project with Deena Class brings community members together through the shared wonder of indigo—how this one plant pigment has been worked with by cultures all over the world for thousands of years.
The project will culminate in free public workshops, and participants will pre-register so that Deena can ensure adequate space, supplies, and materials. These workshops will take place in April 2026 and lead to the unveiling of the community indigo quilt in May 2026. During the workshops, each participant will dye two fabric squares—one to take home and one to contribute to the community quilt—and each person will also receive an indigo seedling (Persicaria tinctoria) to nurture at home. In addition, community members can attend free drop-in quilt-making sessions at the Chatham Parks and Rec Arts Center in downtown Pittsboro on May 3, where they will piece and quilt the indigo creation together (no sewing experience necessary). Through the quilt, the seedlings, and the stories participants share, the project will carry forward the idea that indigo belongs to everyone. It will honor indigo not only as a color or craft, but also as a living thread that runs through generations and across cultures, continents, and communities.
This free community event takes place indoors. Free parking is available on-site. See more Chatham Arts Council events.

Artful Life Camp at Clapping Hands Farm
2026-05-11 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-12 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-13 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-14 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-15 09:00 - 17:00 | Clapping Hands Farm, 3348 Alston Chapel Road, Pittsboro, NC, 27312, United States
The Artful Life Camp at Clapping Hands Farm, hosted Mon, May 11-Fri, May 15, 9am-5pm, brings together Clapping Hands Farm alums and brand new people who share the experience of being young adults who value living intentionally and creatively in a community. You do not have to identify as an artist to come to this camp, but you will explore the artistic process both for the joy of creating and seeing what these creative endeavors can show and teach you about how to live. Activities will include:

Getting messy with visual arts.
Moving and grooving with music and dance.
Diving deep into your journals, stories, and conversations.
Getting silly with random activities.
Protecting space for some “serious” relaxation.
Playing hard with some big all-camp games.

The day will include a variety of workshops in the morning and afternoon:

Drumming, songwriting, and music jams.
Book and printmaking.
Finger painting and body art.
Foraging and nature mandalas.
Archery and ultimate frisbee.
Nap time with Kora music.

The camp day will also include morning and closing circles, a small-group check-in, and an invitation to begin the day with meditation, movement, or art. Guest artists will share about their Artful Life, with a chance to reflect on your own journey after hearing their story. On Friday, the camp day is extended for a Burrito Bash potluck.
Louise Omoto Kessel will be your guide for this week, along with an excellent selection of guest artists. Louise is a storyteller and a printmaker, and she loves to felt, collage, and make all manner of things. She is also the founder and director of Clapping Hands Farm and the mother of two young adults.
The cost is $325 per person. Ages 19-30 are welcome. Scholarships are available, and no one is turned away. Chatham County residents receive a $25 discount. Register here. See more events at Clapping Hands Farm.
