September 10 – “Exploring the Magic of Red in World Textiles” Gallery Talk by Joan Hart, Ph.D.

“Seeing Red: World Textiles,” Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center (122 S. Walnut) | FREE

5:30-6:30pm talk in Rose Firebay, reception to follow till 7:30pm

Red is a color that challenges us: bright and glorious, and both celebrated and reviled. In every culture, red has a meaning: in China it is happiness and weddings, in Europe it was the color of status and distinction, in some countries “evil.” Red is a dominant color: Our eyes are capable of seeing more hues for red than any other color. The range of red is vast and embodied in every culture. Artists have explored the use of red in pigments and light, with repercussions in textile art. The psychology of “Seeing Red” will be the focus of this talk. Hart will explore the visual perception of red in textile art from the earliest use of ochre in cave paintings and textiles to the synthetic dyes of today.

Joan Hart has a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of California, Berkeley, and has taught at several colleges, including Indiana University, Purdue University, Bowdoin College, Wabash College.  She has been advising museums and collectors in the US and abroad about their textile collections, as well as lecturing at the Louvre, Russian Academy of Art, among others. She continues to write on art historiography and textile history. Textiles from all over the world can be found in Joan Hart’s collection, and she has specialized in Kashmir and paisley shawls.

In partnership with the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center and the Center for Lifelong Learning, and Bloomington Lifelong Learning Coalition. 

“Seeing Red: World Textiles” |  Aug. 28 – Sept. 26
Gallery Hours:
Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Extended hours till midnight on Festival showcase nights Sept. 25-26