Merton Among Us

The Living Legacy of Thomas Merton

On view at the 849 Gallery: October 5, 2018 – January 18, 2019

This exhibition features the work of seven writers and seven visual artists, all with ties to Louisville, is a celebration of the life and resonance of Thomas Merton on the creative and spiritual communities in Louisville and beyond. These 14 artists and writers give a record of Merton’s connection to the city and introduce new generations to Merton’s teachings and sustained impact on a global scale.

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) advocated for social equity and justice in the mid-twentieth century through poetry, art, and spiritual practice centered on global comparative perspectives, pluralism, and interfaith dialogues. Having lived in various countries in Europe during his youth, he was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1949 in the United States and resided at the Abbey of Gethsemani, a Trappist monastery near Bardstown, Kentucky, for 27 years.

Artists and Writers:
Dianne Aprile, Steve Armstrong, Owsley Brown III, Laura Lee Brown, Nana Lampton, Vallorie Henderson, Maureen Morehead, Carlos Gamez de Francisco, Paul M. Pearson, Diane Karlo, Rev. Al Shands, Joe McGee, Frederick Smock, and Thomas Pfannerstill.

In collaboration with the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University and the Center for Interfaith Relations.