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USI NHGCA Society for Photographic Education Midwest Chapter Members’ Exhibition

September 18, 2024

Events

The University of Southern Indiana’s BG Projects at New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art (NHGCA) is proud to present Society for Photographic Education Midwest Chapter Members’ Exhibition: Visions of Utopia. This show features new photography from members of the Society for Photographic Education based in the Midwest that explore themes evoking utopia. This show, juried by Paul Paletti, Louisville, Kentucky, native, centers artist-educators’ research as expressed through photo-based art. 

Exhibiting artists include: 

This is a dual opening exhibition along with the SPE Midwest Volunteers Exhibition now through October 26.  

The exhibition represents work submitted in response to a call for art in dialogue with the theme, “Visions of Utopia.” Photographic educators were encouraged to present work representing their current body of research. This entwining of artistic and academic impulses is echoed in the Society for Photographic Education Midwest Chapter’s Visions of Utopia conference taking place in and around New Harmony, Indiana, October 18-20.  

“The conference promises to be an extraordinary experience, unlike any other. The meeting is set against the backdrop of New Harmony, a picturesque riverside town known for its vibrant and artistic community and two-time utopian society,” says Rob Dickes, Associate Professor of Photography and Digital Imaging and Conference Organizer. “This event will feature a unique hands-on learning format along with traditional artists’ talks. Attendees will engage in experiential learning activities exploring the town with their cameras, along with other talks and events.” 

Visitors are invited to explore more about the conference and exhibiting artists at the Society for Photographic Education Midwest Chapter’s conference website. 

About the Juror 

Paul Paletti, a Lousville, Kentucky, native, is founder/owner of Paul Paletti Gallery. The gallery opened in Louisville in July 2001. It was a pivotal partner in the second Photo Biennial, exhibiting the photographs of Rolfe Horn. The gallery became one of the original participants in the First Friday Gallery Hop in Louisville. Paletti attended Middlebury College, later graduating from University of New Mexico where he studied with Beaumont Newhall, Van Deren Coke and Ray Metzker. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in photography, Paletti went on to earn his master’s degree in photography at Central Washington University. He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville. He has been a partner in the law firm of Sturm, Paletti and Wilson since 1994. Paletti has served on the Board of Directors for Louisville Visual Arts Association, Louisville Fund for the Visual Art, Kentucky Cancer Research Foundation and LOOK at Louisville Visual Arts. 

Paletti is scheduled to speak at the “Visions of Utopia” conference at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 19 in Murphy Auditorium in New Harmony, Indiana. More information is available above at the Visions of Utopia conference website. 

The NHGCA is dedicated to enhancing the experiences of students through an artist-run exhibition space in the Back Gallery. BG Projects at NHGCA allows students to exhibit, experiment and/or curate within a working contemporary art gallery setting. Through exhibition and curatorial strategies, students can envision new possibilities for collaborations and their art practice. NHGCA promotes discourse about and access to contemporary art in the southern Indiana region and is a proud outreach partner of USI. The gallery is located at 506 Main Street in New Harmony, Indiana. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit the NHGCA website or call 812-682-3156.     

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