Grow Up! exhibition on display at USI New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art

Image copyright: Ashley Banks and Jade Young

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The University of Southern Indiana New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art (NHGCA) is proud to present Grow Up!, a ceramics-focused exhibition by Ashley Banks and Jade Young. The exhibit opens at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 16, with a public opening reception from 3 to 5 p.m. The exhibit will run through December 7.

Partnering with New Harmony Clay Project, more than 80 submissions were received, 57 of which were accepted by the juror. The cup, one of ceramics more iconic images, has been used as a metaphor, a sculptural element, a sculptural foundation and a functional daily piece of dinnerware. Whether you choose to fill your cups with beverages, food, pencils or ideology, this exhibition will feature a multitude of handmade creations from artists across the country.

“The term ‘grow up’ is a derogatory remark used to insult a person for being silly. In Grow Up!, we explore embracing your inner child and rejecting the notion of leaving behind the magical and wonderful parts of yourself for the sake of maturing,” says Banks and Young. “We evoke thematics of clowns, childhood nostalgia and growing up. We do this by including imagery of the circus, buttons and textiles and toys as physical representations of play. The works in Grow Up! do this through a format of kitsch, hyper-color and super-silly charm.”

Ashley Banks is a multimedia artist and art educator from Washington, Indiana. She is attending the University of Southern Indiana and will complete her bachelor’s degree in studio art and Pre-K through grade 12 art education in Spring 2025. She has exhibited her artwork around Southern Indiana for the past three years. Ashley serves as an Education Guide at the Children’s Museum of Evansville and as the Summer Studio Monitor at the New Harmony Clay Project. She lives and works in Evansville, Indiana, alongside her husband Benjamin Grubbs, and their two fat rabbits.

Jade Young is a ceramicist from Evansville, Indiana. She graduated from the University of Southern Indiana in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in studio art and graphic design. She has previously worked as a Studio Technician at the USI Dowhie Ceramics Center. Young currently works at Sam’s Club as a baker. She has exhibited her artwork locally for many years. She currently resides in Evansville.

The NHGCA promotes discourse about and access to contemporary art in the southern Indiana region and is an outreach partner of the University of Southern Indiana. 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.

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.

New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art promotes discourse about and access to contemporary art in the Southern Indiana region.