New Harmony Gallery to host Print Invitational inspired by 1800's publication

The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art is hosting the exhibition, The Disseminator of Useful Knowledge Print Invitational and Exchange now through April 8. Works in the exhibition were inspired from the 1800's New Harmony publication, The Disseminator of Useful Knowledge.

Curated by the University of Southern Indiana professor of printmaking, Brett Anderson, the exhibition will feature artists from across the nation, providing an excellent sample of contemporary printmaking in the United States. All contributing artists, including USI students, alumni and faculty, will have an opportunity to sell 12 copies of their prints at $30 each. Proceeds will benefit the Gallery.

The complete invitational includes works by Becky Alley, Brett Anderson (USI faculty), Marty Azevedo, John Begley, Stephen Black, Jim Bryant, Anne Burton, Justin Cecil (current USI student), Susanna Crum, Benjy Davies, Kenny DeMoss (USI alum), Laura Drapac, Jon Goebel (USI alum), Nicole Hand, Garry Holstein (Gallery director), Wesley Kramer, Beauvais Lyons, Michael McGovern, Andrew Mullally, Ashley Nason, Erika Navarrete (USI faculty), Chad Nelson, Howard Paine, Joel Peck, Nathan Pietrykowski (USI alum), Endi Poskovic, Rudy Salgado, Blake Sanders, Hannah Sanders, Tessa Shackleford, Christopher Wallace, Valerie Wallace and Dillon Wire (current USI student).

More on the inspiration behind the exhibit

The Disseminator of Useful Knowledge was a printed journal produced every two weeks in New Harmony in the 1800s. Published by William Maclure, the founder of the Working Men's Institute, the periodical focused on natural sciences and the social and political affairs of a young America. Its mission was to spread useful knowledge to young people both in New Harmony and abroad. The Disseminator of Useful Knowledge was used as inspiration for the artists in the current Gallery exhibition.

"This journal was a nonstandard or new form of communication," said Garry Holstein, director of the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art. "Using it as inspiration, the artists went in different directions. Some took it as a break from the standard experience. Others developed art pieces that can be taken as 'faux history' or a way to reevaluate how you view the world. They used the idea of, 'where do we get our information from?'"

Social media involvement for visitors

Gallery visitors have an opportunity to be "curator for the day" as they visit the current print exhibition. A dedicated space in the Gallery is available for visitors to create a mini-exhibition of prints from current and previous print collections. Visitors can select up to nine prints, hang their collection in the dedicated space and share their exhibition on social media using the hashtag #NHGCA.

A closing reception for the exhibition will be held at the gallery from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 8. The Disseminator of Useful Knowledge Print Invitational and Exchange is free and open to the public.

The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art is a program within the University of Southern Indiana's Outreach and Engagement and is located at 506 Main Street in New Harmony, Indiana. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, contact Garry Holstein, at 812-682-3156 or visit USI.edu/nhgallery.