[photo credit: Armory Center for the Arts]
That philosophy draws attention to Iris Yirei Hu’s approach to looking at art, and on Saturday, August 30, visitors to in Pasadena’s Armory Center for the Arts will experience it firsthand.
The artist-in-residence will lead “Looking with iris,” a session that transforms passive viewing into active dialogue using visual thinking strategies.
“I believe art becomes most powerful when it is a shared act of looking and listening, when every voice in the room helps build the meaning of a work,” said Hu.
The session, running from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will focus on three works from “my hands are monsters who believe in magic”—a group show of ten Asian-diasporic artists exploring identity through community and materiality.
Hu brings extensive credentials to the role.
She worked with teachers nationwide through MOCA’s Contemporary Art Start program for ten years and has given tours at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The J. Paul Getty Museum.
She’s taught at universities including CalArts and UC Riverside.
Previous participants found the experience transformative.
“iris’s prompts opened up new ways of seeing—what felt like the right answer was just the beginning of a richer dialogue,” said one attendee.
The free event is limited to adults 18 and older and requires RSVP.
Light refreshments from Bad Ash Bakes will be served.
“Looking with iris” will run on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Armory Center for the Arts, 145 North Raymond Avenue, in Pasadena. For more call (626) 792-5101 or visit https://armoryarts.org/calendar/2025/looking-with-iris. Tickets: free.
