Mapico Red 

Curator: Here, we see "Mapico Red," synthetic iron oxide pigment from Binney & Smith. Editor: It looks like a tiny universe of rust, bottled up and labelled. There’s something so elemental about that shade of red. Curator: Indeed, iron oxides have a long history in art. Their stability and lightfastness makes them reliable and essential. Editor: It also feels like the beginning of things, you know? That raw potential before it's transformed into something else. Curator: Its texture, those minuscule particles, reflect a deep engagement with materiality. The color chart, a helpful artifact. Editor: I find myself considering, where might this potent color end up? Whose canvas will it set ablaze, what story will it help tell? Curator: Quite right. This little jar contains a whole world of creative possibility. Editor: A lovely thought to leave us with. Thanks!