Indigo is unique among the historic dyes and has a global footprint reaching back thousands of years. The captivating and magical hue is currently experiencing a passionate resurgence, which is inspiring artists the world over. Indigo Matrix at Astoria Visual Arts is part exhibit, part installation, and part interactive experience. Twenty artists from three countries are featured who have all made work using this historic and alluring natural dye. An onsite installation includes artwork created by many local youth, ages 7 to 13, who participated in a workshop in August. Large ceramic vats built by Astorian ceramist Colin Meston will be onsite with living natural indigo for those interesting in learning about the process.   

The brainchild of Indigo Matrix is local fiber and installation artist Iris Sullivan Daire, a natural teacher and passionate advocate for natural dyes. Sullivan Daire’s craft and enthusiasm is well known by many in the area. Founder of Dream Bird Studio and co-founder of the Indigo Fest, she often participates in local fiber art exhibits, and mentors regional and national students in workshops focused on the alchemy of natural dyeing. 

Artist Talk & Discussion: Saturday, September 17 at 4:00 p.m. at AVA

The Devil’s Dye - Stories of the obsessive and complicated love of humanity for plant-based blues. An obsession that has spurred kidnapping, murder, and revolts, while simultaneously fueling economies, and playing pivotal roles in ceremonies for birth, death, and marriage.

About Indigo

Ancient civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Mesoamerica, and Peru have been extracting precious color from the indigo plant for many millennia. The oldest known indigo-dyed fabric dates back to 6,000 years ago, found in Peru. Populations in China, Japan, and India have been cultivating the indigo plant for centuries. During the Renaissance, Europeans first imported the tropical plant from India, which was made widely accessible with the surge in textile production during the Industrial Revolution. For hundreds of years, indigo dyed all blue fabric from silks to uniforms to the iconic color of the first blue jeans. In the late nineteen century, the first synthetic indigo dye was created in a laboratory, which currently dominates the blue hues found adorning the vast majority of our wardrobes. That is, unless you’ve recently become enchanted and captivated by the allure of the natural indigo dye. 

Featured Artists  

Doug Baulos - Irondale, AL; Brittany Boles - Gearhart, OR; Rosa Sung Ji Chang - Baltimore, MD; Catharine Ellis - Waynesville, NC; Kristin Field - Chicago, IL; Berkley Heath - Claremont, NH; Debra Ketchum Jircik - Eagle River, WI; Scott C Johnson - Cannon Beach, OR; Sophena Kwon - Vancouver, BC; Marian Martínez - Basque Country, Spain; Madeline McGarrity - Andover, NJ; Colin Meston - Astoria, OR; Teresa Misagal - Brooklyn, NY; Bernadette Puleo - Dix Hills, NY; Hannah Regier - Athens, VT; Kyla Sjogren - Wheeler, OR; Natalie Stopka - Yonkers, NY; Iris Sullivan Daire - Astoria, OR; Scott Sutton - Taos, NM; Constance Waisanen - Knappa, OR