Physical Exhibition Dates: July 21, 2023 - September 1, 2023

Welcome to Beyond Blue, where the rich heritage of indigo comes to life through art. This extraordinary exhibition, which ran from July 21, 2023, to September 1, 2023, unveils the hidden narratives woven within this timeless pigment, offering insight into its profound historical significance and the intricate complexities concealed within its deep, evocative hues.

Indigo's Untold Stories

With its roots tracing back to West Africa, Indigo possesses a lineage as deep and mysterious as the ocean. Yet, its history, particularly its connection to the American slave trade and its lasting impact on generations, has often been veiled in silence. BEYOND BLUE is an exploration of this story, shedding light on this unspoken history, challenging conventions, and introducing a narrative that honors resilience, acknowledges pain, and celebrates triumph.

The Power of Indigo

Through the captivating works of Alexandria Eregbu and Amanda Christine Harth, both distinguished Chicago-based artists, Beyond Blue unravels the profound influence of indigo as a medium for understanding and remembrance. Eregbu and Harth, known for their distinctive voices, embrace indigo as a means to confront the shadows of the past, honor the present, and amplify the voices of the marginalized.

Art Honoring History

Within the intimate spaces of Beyond Blue, visitors encountered a profound fusion of art and historical consciousness. Eregbu's vibrant and emotive artworks poetically explored the complex intersections of identity, memory, and cultural heritage while honoring ancestral connections and narratives intricately woven into indigo's fabric through the unique lens of a woman of West African heritage. Harth's meticulous craftsmanship and intricate textile installations paid homage to the family, history, and hard work through the American history of the fabric and its relationship to Blackness in America.

meet the artists

Alexandria Eregbu

Alexandria Eregbu is an artist and scholar whose hybrid practice spans across art, education, curatorial practice, justice, and the humanities to consider objects, stories, and experiences that dignify Black life.

Her artwork employs a combination of symbols, storytelling, and ritual performance to make real the continuum of everyday practice in African-American existence. Often Alexandria utilizes materials like chalk, indigo, cowrie shells, wood, and feathers amongst processes like natural dye, drawing and quilting to make meaning with the unseen. She creates textiles, paintings, sculpture, installation, performance, sound, and other time-based media as a bridge to nature, design, healing, and ecology.

Amanda Christine Harth

Amanda explores the origin stories of fashion’s subcultures and my findings are presented through exhibitions, discussions, and interactive workshops. Harth was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago in the West Pullman neighborhood. She studied fashion at the Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago and owned a clothing company that evolved into a resource for independent designers.

Connecting with people over the language of style and how others connect through garments has been a driving force behind my practice. Amanda’s work is a constant study on the history of textiles and garments in underserved communities impacting change on a global economy. As my craft evolved I became more focused on the individuals in the garments and their stories. I want to create opportunities for people to connect and share their experiences with clothing.