“Art and nature are natural companions—we love talking about nature as both material for artists and aesthetic inspiration, and we thought that color would be a fun way to explore the relationship between those two ideas.” says Jen Tobias, Associate Director of Exhibitions & Art Collections; Curator of Art, Denver Botanic Gardens. “Showcasing the different ways that plants, natural dyes, and colors are interconnected is also such an interesting way to think about all of the different ways the natural world influences our daily life.”

 

Along with the artwork, guests can investigate different pigments in display cases around the exhibit. These cases contain plant material from turmeric, saffron, Dyer’s rocket, safflower, plains coreopsis and marigold, also revealing the pigments’ uses in textiles. Visitors can also watch a short video explaining how certain insects see yellow and how flower color helps aid in the pollination of plants.

 

Additionally, visitors will be able to learn about the daffodil, which has an estimated 18,000 different variations; play a game with flip panels to match dye colors to the plant or animal it comes from, like avocado skin or black beans; and view bowls of dye powder that have surprising appearances and origins, such as powder made from cochineal bugs or henna powder.