New Exhibit at MTSU Todd Art Gallery in Murfreesboro

Feb 09, 2016 at 08:41 am by bryan


The MTSU Todd Art Gallery announces an exhibit of work from Nashville icon, Hatch Show Print. Scheduled February 18-March 10, 2016, an artists' reception opens the exhibit at 5 p.m., Wednesday, February 17, Todd Hall, room 224A. Also, a panel discussion about Hatch Show Print, the Southern print aesthetic, and the MTSU/Hatch connection is planned. The panel is scheduled 2:45 p.m., Thursday, February 18, Todd Hall, room 204 and features Hatch Master Printer, Jim Sherraden; Celene Aubry, Hatch manager; Heather Moulder, Hatch artist, and Christie Nuell, MTSU print professor emeritus.

Hatch was founded in 1879 by brothers CR and HH Hatch. Their first handbill was produced for Tom Ryman of Ryman Auditorium fame who had them create a poster announcing the appearance of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. Circuit riding from revival to revival Beecher was best known as the brother of famed abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

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From that humble beginning the business took off as Hatch work became more widely recognized across Nashville and the South. Their posters advertised everything from sporting events to circuses and operas leading potential Hatch patrons towards a greater understanding of posters as promotional tool. In fact, the Hatch's to attract further business often claimed, "Advertising without posters is like fishing without worms."

A relationship with the up and coming radio program the "Grand Ole Opry," followed creating what has become a deep and long-running history. Over the years numerous limited edition posters have been created for events held at the Ryman and elsewhere. Today's work is produced by the same letterpress techniques of the Hatch brothers with hand-carved blocks laid out in reverse on plates, inked, and run through antique letterpress machines by hand.

Over the years Hatch Show Print has expanded its reach across the collective music industry. Not only has it done work for a number of past and contemporary country performers, but also a wide-range of work for rock, alternative, and other non-country performers and groups. Additionally, Hatch Show Print's Haley Gallery showcases Master Printer Jim Sherraden's monoprints--contemporary interpretations and celebrations of the classic wood blocks of Hatch Show Print.

The MTSU exhibit will host a retrospective of Hatch work while also presenting the individual work of Sherraden, Heather Moulder, and Christie Nuell. Any Hatch retrospective would be incomplete without acknowledging and celebrating the work and contributions of these Hatch artists and their print instructor, Christie Nuell. Respectively, Sherraden and Moulder were students during her first and final year as professor.

All Todd Art Gallery exhibits, receptions, and other related events are open to the public.

Images Key:

  • Hatch Show Print - Logo
  • Triple Elvis - Jim Sherraden
  • Triple Johnny - Jim Sherraden
  • The Last Musician - Jim Sherraden
  • Darlin - Heather Moulder
  • Aspiration - Christie Nuell
  • Leon's Kitchen - Christie Nuell
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