Arkansas artist Neal Harrington will present his graphic novel and art exhibit, “Welcome to North Rapid,” in University of the Ozarks’ Stephens Gallery through Nov. 11, 2026, as part of the University’s Artist of the Month series.
There will be a reception to meet the artist from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the gallery, which is located in the Walton Fine Arts Center on campus. Harrington, a professor of art at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, is married to Tammy Harrington, the Windgate professor of art at U of O.
“Welcome to North Rapid” marks a major milestone in Harrington’s career as his debut graphic novel. He blends the style of his traditional woodcuts with graphic ink techniques to create full sequential narrative storytelling compositions. The book showcases his signature black-and-white relief print/ink wash aesthetic.
Set in his hometown of Rapid City, South Dakota, the stories draw on Harrington’s Northern Plains roots while infusing the dark, surreal folk mythology he has honed over decades while living in Arkansas. Through vibrant textures and high-contrast imagery, “Welcome to North Rapid” brings regional myth and moral intrigue to life, like a long-form visual ballad.
These comics are incredibly time consuming to complete. Writing, research, editing, gathering of reference materials, penciling pages, layout, scripting, and inking are often completed by separate artists. Harrington does all of these jobs himself. Each story occurs in his childhood neighborhood of North Rapid, South Dakota, and ranges from 8-15 pages (typical single comic book length). This compilation encompasses 12 comic book length stories. All work is created by hand using ink pen and ink wash techniques and is thematically linked to the increasingly popular genre of auto/biographical graphic novels.
Harrington has had much success in his field of printmaking with multiple Delta Awards from the AMFA (formerly Arkansas Arts Center) in Little Rock and the recent permanent installation of his woodcuts in the Bill and Hilary Clinton National Airport.
This graphic novel project has been his lifelong goal. He fondly looks back at the unique and off-kilter neighborhood that he grew up in surrounded by the shadows of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and the goldmining town of Deadwood.
Many stories are funny, some are sad, and some are downright weird. South Dakota is like another planet with a rotating cast of characters from his youth. The stories are highly personal, weird, and quirky yet relatable to all as a part of the experience of the human condition.
Topics: Art