Drawing from the ‘Social Alchemy Project’ — a multi-year project linking New Harmony, Indiana, with Big Car Collaborative, Indianapolis’ premiere contemporary art space— Marsh will describe her approach as a curator and arts organizer to utopian art practice and describe the genesis of this partnership, as well as the ways it has evolved. The project has spanned a series of conversations in New Harmony and has produced exhibitions of local artists in Indianapolis, including Docey Lewis, Laura Foster Nicholson, and more, with Ben Nicholson’s exhibit forthcoming at the Indianapolis art gallery in the exhibition year 2026/27.

Shauta Marsh is the Co-Founder and Director of Programs & Exhibitions at Big Car Collaborative, where she co-leads initiatives focused on restorative spaces and urban-rural relationships. As a social practice artist, curator, and writer, she produces the Social Alchemy radio programs on 99.1 WQRT LP in Indianapolis and develops public art projects through Big Car’s Spark program.

Specializing in community memory and mythology, Shauta has curated over 50 exhibitions featuring artists like Carlos Rolón and LaToya Ruby Frazier. Her presentations last about 40 minutes, followed by a Q&A session.