Indiana Celebrates Diversity (1956)
As a result of increased Klan activity, Indiana officials issued this poster as a response to the negative image of the state. At the time, opponents argued that the design was communist. A different poster, “Bloomington United In Diversity”, was passed out to residents in conjunction. These can still be seen around town today. Bloomington shares sister city status with Posoltega, Nicaragua, Santa Clara Cuba, and Luchou Township, Taiwan.
Collected Posters of Bloomington’s Past
“Walking Cities”, such as Bloomington, have traditionally been more in tune with people’s movements. City planning focused around a gathering center or main street, which is heavily pedestrian, provides ample space for interaction. This communication is not limited only to personal interactions. Walking around town, visual indications such as posters, flyers, and graffiti also provide a dialogue.
In the Paris riots of 1968, posters were mainly responsible for providing context to the events and keeping participants updated to current developments. In Communist countries and also in the work of the WPA in the United States, posters provided information and even moral instruction to large masses. While these concepts have become culturally outdated or technologically ineffective, one must admire the attempts as a noble endeavor.
This collection, pulled from various times in Bloomington’s history, is intended to mirror social and cultural changes still relevant today: just as the posters that hang on the walls in present day are still relevant to our personal histories.
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Bloomington Archive and Museum show
These posters were made for a group art show that was a collaboration between Sweet Hickory and Art Hospital. I created a set of fake posters that tied into some specific facet of life in Bloomington.
