The Open Gallery welcomes photographer Ron Wise to cap off another great year of art.

Wise is Professor of Graphic design at Vincennes University.  He shot the photos in this series he calls, Abandoned Spaces, while visiting the historical Knox County Asylum for Orphans, just south of Vincennes, IN.  

Wise says what intrigued him about this space, like others he’s photographed, is that "the effects of time on abandoned spaces seem to create a different reality as echoes of the past continue to reverberate through the emptiness."  In approaching the images, most of which are black and white, viewers sense the stark grandeur of this 140-year old structure, built by Knox County in 1882 for the "outcasts" and marginalized of the area: the disabled, the impoverished, displaced veterans, orphaned children and the homeless. The joy and the grief, the hopelessness and the dreams, the camaraderie and the loneliness resonate in these photos.

To that end, The Open Gallery is asking patrons to not only purchase the prints, but will also encourage visitors to donate to the restoration of this beautiful building, considered among the top 10 endangered landmarks in the state,  Come out this Friday, November 3 from 5-8 pm and greet the artist, take home one of these exquisite prints and help to preserve our local heritage and an important state historical landmark.  As always, hors d'oeuvres and live music will be served up to the public.  

The exhibition will be open to the public Tuesday-Saturday through the end of the year at 329 Main Stree in downtown Vincennes.