Bling opening reception

Saturday January 15 was the opening for the New Harmony Gallery's exhibition, "Bling: Handmade Jewelry from Doris Murdoch's Collection." Now you may be wondering, 'who is Doris Murdoch?' Doris was an avid handmade jewelry collector and patron of the New Harmony Gallery for many years. Doris collected several significant pieces of jewelry made from a variety of materials, from friendly plastic to drusy quartz's and uvarovite. When Doris traveled, she would purchase pieces from artists at fairs and in shops all over the nation. We had to research many of the artists (some of them we already knew well) and making new connections with the artists who Doris supported over the years has been an exciting part of working with this collection.

We had hoped Doris would be able to make it to the opening reception of the exhibition of her jewelry collection. Sadly, Doris passed away the week of the opening. Saturday night was a gathering of Doris's friends and neighbors, who celebrated Doris's life by sharing stories about her. The evening was a beautiful memorial to her. To all art collectors, including Doris, we thank you for what you do!

Good friends of Doris, Connie Weinzapfel and Marylin Schultheis hug each other at the opening of Doris's jewelry collection.

Shrinky Dinks are back! Artist and former Assistant Director of the New Harmony Gallery, Curt Uebelhor stands next to the pin he custom designed for Doris (many years ago I'm told.)

Friends and neighbors of Doris stand together to show off the cat pins that Doris also collected over the years. Each friend chose a cat pin to wear at the reception.

Laura George Pottery Galor and Liberties of Construction Reception

Hello folks.

First off, we have a new shipment of Laura George Lynch's fabulous pottery. Her work sells out every time we have a new shipment. This time, our Louisville potter has sent a variety of tumblers, mugs, tea bowls, bud vases, and medium size bowls. Come to the gallery before it disappears!




Also, we had a bright and sunny reception for our latest exhibition, "Liberties of Construction: Form, Content, and Color". Louisville artist Billy Hertz contributed his wonderful non-representational paintings along with Katherine Taylor's bronze sculptures. Hertz's colorful and geometric paintings are inspired by the farmland in Italy while Taylor's playful, non functional sculptures are individual 'creatures' with bird-like and insect bodies. Both artists, while inspired by natural elements of this earth, represent other worlds (animals and lands) where their creativity thrives.

LFN Sale

We're having a SALE on Laura Foster Nicholson's artwork today!

At the New Harmony Gallery on April 10, there will also be an artist reception for textile artist, Laura Foster Nicholson in the consignment shop from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. New pieces from Nicholson’s Rural Tapestries series will be featured and all purchases of Laura Foster Nicholson’s artwork and gift items will be a special 15% off the retail price during the reception hours only. Laura Foster Nicholson items in the gallery include her hand woven textiles, ribbons, sachets, and garland. Nicholson’s designs have been licensed to Crate and Barrel, Land of Nod, Kids Grow, Renaissance Ribbons, and Larson Inc. Her textile wall hangings are in several fine art collections throughout the world, including The Art Institute of Chicago, The Archive of the Venice Biennale, and the private collection of J.B. Owen. Her hand woven textiles are what she calls her ‘serious art’ and reflect the rural landscape in Southern Indiana. Barns, vast fields, and a metallic, muted color palette capture her impressions of the land surrounding her studio and home in New Harmony Indiana. A world renowned artist inspired by the landscape in the region, Laura’s work is a wonderful addition to any art collection.

See our glass pumpkin patch during Kunstfest

Come see what’s cookin in New Harmony this weekend during our Kunstfest celebration, September 19th and 20th. Kunstfest is a German word for Art Festival. It’s a great way to start the Fall season. Kunstfest will have historical crafts and demonstrations, as well as food, shopping and many other activities for the young and the young at heart.

The New Harmony Gallery contributes to the fun Fall festivities with our pumpkins. These are not the kind that grow in the garden, but beautiful glass pumpkins by artists Cameron Smith, Jan Thomas, and Lisa Pelo-McNiece. The Gallery will have our normal hours of operation Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday, noon to 5:00 PM.
Cameron Smith received his M.F.A. degree from Cal State University at Fullerton in 1988 after starting his glassblowing career in the spring of 1975.
Jan Thomas received her M.F.A. degree in 1992 from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1987.
Lisa Pelo-McNiece received her B.F.A. degree from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, specializing in Glass. She is currently Glass Department Head at the Indianapolis Art Center.

To find out more about Kunstfest, visit

http://www.newharmony.biz/pages/annual_events.htm

indigo in the gallery

Tonight we have the opening for Roland Rickett's 'immanent blue'. The gallery never looked or smelled better. The beautiful crescendo and decrescendo of blues, made from indigo the artist cultivated himself, brings life to the gallery walls. Tapestries he dyed with the indigo dangle from the ceiling, wavering in the soft breeze that runs through the gallery every time the door opens.

The Autumn tourist season already started in New Harmony. We hope that each tourist has an experience in the gallery that he or she will remember for years to come, and will want to return to the town because of it. Having memorable installations in the gallery are important in this respect. And often what we find is that artwork that does not cotton to the 'scenic' or the traditionally beautiful will stand out more in one's mind. Good art is a conversation. You go back to it, by remembering it, or by going back to the physical site of the art to see it again. We hope that you will be able to attend the opening tonight, August 22, 2009, at the New Harmony Gallery from 4-7 p.m.

Art cars in New Harmony

On Wednesday August 12th, people witnessed some visually stimulating and wacky cars in New Harmony Indiana. The art cars, ‘California Fantasy Van’ and ‘Pico de Gallo’, driven by a man named Hunter, parked across the street of the gallery. Hunter is on a road trip headed to St. Louis. The trip originally started in Arizona, where the owner of ‘California Fantasy Van’, Hunter, currently calls home.
Art Cars are an emerging genre of folk art that takes a standard street-legal car and transforms the vehicle into the owner’s individual vision. Or sometimes the car simply displays a mind-blowing collection that grasps the attention of more folks because it is parked curbside and is not in a basement. There’s currently over 900 Art Cars in the U.S. The owners of these vehicles enjoy mobile art festivals as they cruise the road.
Hunter is part of an organization called Art Car World in Douglas, Arizona. This up and coming museum already hosts its share of art cars, with an expected total of 42 cars in the next couple years.
As to the origins of the ‘California Fantasy Van’, it was created by Hunter’s godfather, Ernie Steingold. Steingold did not make his car for self expression necessarily, but merely a way to display his massive collection. Over the course of 22 years, he riveted each piece of brass on the van until they engulfed it entirely. With no artistic training, but one hell of a vision, ‘California Fantasy Fan’ was transformed into a mobile display of over 5000 pieces of brass and $1500 worth of coins. When the van’s cruising along, Hunter said that the birds and dogs absolutely love the 200+bells.
‘Pico de Gallo’ (a.k.a. Music Car) was created by photographer and filmmaker Harrod Blank. The ‘62 VW has been adorned with recycled instruments that music stores disregarded as useless junk, as well as cd’s, and other musical paraphernalia. ‘Pico de Gallo’ has been featured on music tours with Willy Nelson and Jimmy Buffett to name a few. It will also be featured in the film The Lost Gringos, which will be shot in Mexico.

New work by Ashley Gierke

Hey lovers of contemporary art in Southern Indiana.

We have more new pieces by the emerging artist, Ashley Gierke, in our consignment gallery. Her paper work is incredibly popular, selling out in practically every place where the work is exhibited. It is no surprise when you see the playful, colorful, and mythological creations she makes from pieces of paper. Posted is a group of her latest pieces. Her oeuvre consists of Fur Balls, Swans, Deer, and Dissections. Please contact the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art for prices or visit our website. 812-682-3156. Or come by the consignment gallery and see the wonderful work in person.