This meeting we will discuss the symposium which is scheduled for April 10-13, 2022.

Why is this called Social Alchemy? In our research about New Harmony, we discovered that Father George Rapp — founder of the Harmonists, the first utopian experiment in New Harmony — studied alchemy and was trying to make gold and other precious commodities to fund his vision of utopia. Today, with New Harmony already a successful town with much to offer (including events and public programs), this project and symposium combines all the assets of New Harmony: the people who live there, the architecture, art, and food to celebrate and expand the town’s magic to Indianapolis and hopefully even further. We’re calling this mixture of everything Social Alchemy.

New Harmony, Indiana brims with art, history, architecture, and a strong sense of place. The impact of past and current efforts within this community have created a town that continues to represent the universal human condition.

What can we in urban Indianapolis learn from rural New Harmony’s social alchemy? Tons. With support of Indiana Humanities and the Efroymson Family fund and our partners — University of Southern Indiana, Indiana State Museum, Historic New Harmony, New Harmony Workingmen’s Institute Central Library, and lots of individuals –– we will explore, learn and share how the pursuit of utopia forms places and pursuits.

WHY IS BIG CAR INVOLVED?
We’re fascinated by people who strive for utopia and by intentional communities: Past, present, and future. Our overarching goal for the Cruft Street Commons project in Garfield Park is to develop an arts-focused, socially cohesive block. And a key inspiration is the southwestern Indiana town, New Harmony — location of multiple and varied utopian experiments.

THE PROGRAM
This idea started with visits by Big Car Collaborative/Tube Factory artspace curator, Shauta Marsh, and artist and writer Jim Walker, to New Harmony over the past several years and conversations with artist, writer, and philanthropist Jeremy Efroymson — who lives, part-time, in New Harmony — and former New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art director Garry Holstein. It is made possible by Indiana Humanities and The Efroymson Family Fund.

WHAT WE’RE DOING:
• An interdisciplinary exhibition at the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art focused on New Harmony’s visionary civic leader and preservationist Jane Owen (1915–2010).
• An exhibition at the Tube Factory about the history and art of New Harmony (designed to travel), with emphasis on Angel in the Forest and visual interpretations of this lyrical text.
• A series of radio shows.
• A symposium in April 2022 in New Harmony to include philosophers, writers, historians, designers, architects, placemakers, urban and rural city planners, politicians, and community organizers.
• Two Tube Factory exhibitions by Native American artists Elisa Harkins and Wendy Red Star: both creative responses to their peoples’ forced dystopias, with ideas for cultural renewal.

THE IMPACT
This project explores historical and contemporary examples of utopian experiments, fictional utopias and dystopias, and social design projects. It offers a deeper understanding of the relationship between the built environment and social good.

PROJECT PARTNERS
University of Southern Indiana: As the administrator of both Historic New Harmony and the New Harmony Gallery, USI is encouraging staff, professors, and students to participate in the project.

Historic New Harmony: HNH will host programs, help to develop the exhibitions, and help travel the New Harmony exhibition about after its Indianapolis debut.
New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art: The gallery will host the Jane Owen exhibition.
Indiana State Museum: The museum will be assisting with research, and help with didactics.
Pattern will be a promotional partner alongside Big Car’s low-power radio station 99.1 WQRT FM.