For families looking to beat the Southeast Texas summer heat without spending a dime, the Stark Museum of Art in downtown Orange has a full season of free programming lined up, all built around one bold, energizing theme: color.
The museum’s summer offerings center on a vibrant new special exhibition, “The Color Orange,” which traces the history and emotional power of a single hue across five centuries of art. Works spanning the 1500s through the 2000s, drawn from European, American and American Indian artists, make up the show, which explores how one color can capture nature, stir feeling and shape the way we see the world.
What sets this exhibition apart is how visitors experience it. Rather than simply viewing paintings from a distance, guests can open Pantone-inspired doors, watch orange paint glow under blacklight, uncover hidden images using colored filters and even see artworks through a color vision-deficient lens. It is a hands-on, full-sensory experience designed to make art feel approachable for all ages.
“This exhibition invites visitors to engage with the color orange through a series of immersive, hands-on experiences that go beyond traditional viewing,” said Ashley Thornton, exhibitions manager. “By blending art, science and sensory exploration, this exhibition creates a participatory environment where guests don’t just observe, but actively explore.”
For families wanting to go even further, the museum has launched a new drop-in program called Open Studio, held on the second Saturday of each month through September, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each session invites guests to try a different hands-on art project inspired by the exhibition. On June 13, visitors can create oversized bugs using liquid watercolor. July 11 brings a Model Magic relief sculpture session, followed by layered paper portraits on August 8 and watercolor landscapes on September 12. Projects are best suited for children ages 7 and up, though all ages are welcome.
“Come beat the heat this summer and enjoy cool, creative fun at Open Studio,” said Kyra Hall, studio and public programs coordinator. “We hope that visitors of all ages will be inspired by ‘The Color Orange’ and utilize Open Studio as an outlet for creativity.”
Beyond “The Color Orange,” the museum is hosting a full slate of special exhibitions this summer, including “A Touch of Orange: Selections from The W.H. Stark House Collection,” “Invitation to Imitation” and “America 250: Three Presidents, Lincoln, Grant, and Garfield.”
Additional evening events round out the calendar. A lecture, “America 250: Log Cabin to White House,” takes place June 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. The popular Art After 5 series returns on June 25, July 30 and August 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. A slide talk on “Blackwell’s Orange: Art from A Curious Herbal” is scheduled for August 27 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Admission to all museum exhibitions and Open Studio is free. The Stark Museum of Art is located at 712 Green Avenue in downtown Orange and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information is available at starkmuseum.org.
