Blue Gold
The Art and Science of Indigo
Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo presents indigo through stunning objects of creative expression and the astonishing study of a chemical reaction.
Blue Gold is among more than 70 exhibitions and programs presented as part of Getty’s 2024 PST ART initiative, Art & Science Collide. Discover the roles of botany, chemistry, ecology, and economics in indigo cultivation and dive into a deeper appreciation for blue hues. Through workshops and talks led by local artists, including a Master Craftsman Lecture with Porfirio Gutiérrez and Dyeing Classes with Sarah Winston, be immersed in the world of indigo. There is magic in the transformation from plant to pigment.
Blue Gold is on view until March 2025.
Indigo, a varied plant family that grows worldwide and the deep, blue dye it produces, has a long and multifaceted history of cultivation, production, and distribution. Indigo is everywhere – in Japanese kimonos, West African traditional garments, saris from India, and painted onto architectural structures in the southern United States. Blue Gold combines craft, science, and history to explore this color’s complex past and present. Featuring stunning objects of creative expression coupled with the astonishing study of a chemical reaction, this exhibition presents indigo as a compelling manifestation of art and science. Indigo’s beauty and ubiquity have eclipsed the unpleasant realities of its growth and manufacture, including hard labor and pollution and its association with colonialism and slavery. This exhibition highlights the importance of nuanced conversations that celebrate beauty without skipping over a grim past.
Mingei International Museum
1439 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Date & Time
Sep 23, 2024 - ongoing
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Recurs every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Price
Included with Admission
