The Danforth Gallery, with the help of Engine 8, will host a rare letterpress poster show July 25th – August 18th. The exhibit will showcase the best of Hatch Show Print — a world-renowned letterpress poster and design shop located in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1879, Hatch is still printing and designing over 600 jobs a year, using the original wood type found on countless posters advertising carnivals, circuses, and vaudeville and minstrel shows. The shop is historically best known for its country music posters, and, since 1992, has operated as a non-profit division of the Country Music Hall of Fame(R) and Museum. Iconic poster images from Hatch include early show posters for Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe and Dolly Parton, to name a few. The Danforth Gallery will have many re-strikes of these original woodblock prints available for sale along with recent original monoprints that include images from their vast collection.
Hatch’s chief archivist and long time manager, Jim Sherraden, will be on hand at the opening reception to answer questions and greet the crowd. He will also be giving a lively preview presentation at the Danforth Gallery on Wednesday, July 25th at 6:00 pm. Jim’s presentation begins with the very first poster printed at Hatch before speeding through over one hundred years of hand-set graphic design. Not resting on its heritage, Hatch operates under the mantra of “preservation through production.” Tickets will be available for $8 at the door and $5 for Danforth Gallery members. Wine and catered appetizers will be offered after the presentation. The exhibit will run July 27th (Art Walk) – August 18th, 2012. The Danforth Gallery is located in Livingston, Montana at 106 N. Main Street. For more info call the Danforth at 406-222-6510.