For ten days in December, the entire United States will be united through art. The concept is called The Nomadic Project, and it is connecting all fifty states with the help of one gallery, museum, or art center in each state. Hardcastle Gallery has been chosen to represent Delaware by exhibiting a New Jersey-inspired painting until the end of 2006.

Visual artist, Kristin Abraham and musician, Alfonso Llamas saw the United States divided through war, politics and religion, and realized that the only way to find unity would be to return to the source. That meant the land; one nation divided into fifty uniquely different states. So Abraham and Llamas set out to visit the big cities, small towns, and National Historic sites that make up this broken nation, and pull it together with art.

Living out of their orange Honda Element, Abraham and Llamas spend about a week in each state. Abraham responds to her experiences by painting a 24 x 30” canvas. That painting is carried to the next state, where it is displayed in a participating gallery until the end of 2006. This process physically unites the country through art, by blurring state borders.

Llamas is recording the experience through original music and video. He is working on an album and documentary based on this physical and emotional journey. He also uploads his journal entries online to promote discussion about each area. As the artists travel, they encourage communities to participate at www.TheNomadicProject.com, where the artwork, music, video trailer and photographs can be viewed as the project unfolds.

When The Nomadic Project made it to Delaware, they met with Allison Weer, who is Director at the Hardcastle Gallery in Centreville. Just north of Wilmington, Abraham and Llamas were introduced to the vast history in the area, and felt it would become a perfect match for The Nomadic Project. The Hardcastle Gallery will be displaying the painting titled A New Jersey Notion until December 31st, 2006. The gallery joins The Whistler Museum of Art (Lowell, MA), Carla Schmidt Gallery (San Francisco, CA), Aesthetic Eye (Chicago, IL), the Mansfield Art Center (Mansfield, OH) and many more, as the project reaches its final stretch. A complete list of the galleries in can be viewed at www.TheNomadicProject.com.

All of the work created on this journey leads up to December 21st-31st, when one gallery in each state displays a single painting. “Without the participation of local communities, this type of project could never be possible. Their support encourages us that art can bridge the gap between lands, languages, politics and religion.” Abraham shares.

December is not the end of The Nomadic Project. The second phase combines all elements of this journey into a physical exhibit. The work will finally be displayed together, and visit each region of the country. Even the emails in which we have received throughout the journey become part of the exhibit. This interaction illustrates how the community is serving a significant role in making The Nomadic Project possible.

To learn more about The Nomadic Project, e-mail TheNomadicProject@gmail.com. For more information on Hardcastle Gallery and their participation, visit www.hardcastlegallery.com, or call Allison Weer at 302.655.5230.