The School of Art is proud to present Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play , an exhibition by John C. Gonzalez.

The Ned and Gloria Griner Art Gallery
____________________________
January 7 to 29, 2026
Exhibition Reception, Gallery Talk and Art Performance: January 7, 4 to 6 p.m.

About the Artist

John C. Gonzalez is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans installation, sculpture, painting, performance, writing, music, game design, and socially engaged projects. Deeply collaborative in nature, his work often blurs the lines between artist, viewer, and participant, challenging conventional notions of authorship and production. Gonzalez frequently partners with individuals or institutions not traditionally associated with artmaking to create pieces that reflect shared labor, conversation, and experience. These conversations result in works that are as much about the process and relationships as they are about the final product. Through his ongoing exploration of labor, cooperation, and institutional critique, Gonzalez's practice offers a reflective and often playful lens on the social systems that shape artistic and everyday life. Whether building systems that critique their own fabrication, facilitating game-based art experiences, or searching for meaning in collective action, he consistently seeks to expand the role of the artist beyond the studio and into the shared spaces of work, play, and community. Gonzalez lives in Rhode Island and teaches drawing and game design at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI.

The exhibition Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play will include several interactive and game-adjacent artworks in the galleries. These works will include images, performance, and site-specific works that will solicit viewer engagement and provide space for unexpected connections and exchanges.

Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. Closed weekends and all Ball State breaks and holidays.

Whether you first fell in love with the most elegant sword through the adventures of The Three Musketeers and Zorro, or in a roleplaying adventure of your own as a swashbuckler, we welcome you on a journey to 16th century Spain to learn “the true art”, La Verdadera Destreza! This exploration of historical fencing with the rapier and dagger is for all who want to learn an exciting new skill, get a great workout, and feel the thrill of clashing blades, all in one! No prior fencing experience is required. All equipment provided. Athletic shoes, sweatpants, and groin protection are recommended. 

If you like cheap drinks and live music, or would like to come and show off some of your musical talent, we will be hosting open mic/jam every Tuesday at Room 5 Piano Bar. We've got food, drinks, a backline provided, and a sign up sheet with time slots starting at 8. Doors open at 7, hope to see you there!

Bob Ross Painting Workshop

Learn Bob’s signature “wet-on-wet” technique from an experienced Certified Ross Instructor® and paint in the building where The Joy of Painting was filmed! Just bring yourself, and we will provide everything you need to have a wonderful time. Just like Bob said, “Let’s get crazy!”

This workshop is held in the Bob Ross Experience studio, which is only accessible by stairs. Painting workshops are open to participants ages 14 and up. Preregistration is strongly preferred; limited walk-in tickets may be available—please call ahead.

Please note: 765.282.4848 for more information.

The School of Art is proud to present Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play , an exhibition by John C. Gonzalez.

The Ned and Gloria Griner Art Gallery
____________________________
January 7 to 29, 2026
Exhibition Reception, Gallery Talk and Art Performance: January 7, 4 to 6 p.m.

About the Artist

John C. Gonzalez is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans installation, sculpture, painting, performance, writing, music, game design, and socially engaged projects. Deeply collaborative in nature, his work often blurs the lines between artist, viewer, and participant, challenging conventional notions of authorship and production. Gonzalez frequently partners with individuals or institutions not traditionally associated with artmaking to create pieces that reflect shared labor, conversation, and experience. These conversations result in works that are as much about the process and relationships as they are about the final product. Through his ongoing exploration of labor, cooperation, and institutional critique, Gonzalez's practice offers a reflective and often playful lens on the social systems that shape artistic and everyday life. Whether building systems that critique their own fabrication, facilitating game-based art experiences, or searching for meaning in collective action, he consistently seeks to expand the role of the artist beyond the studio and into the shared spaces of work, play, and community. Gonzalez lives in Rhode Island and teaches drawing and game design at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI.

The exhibition Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play will include several interactive and game-adjacent artworks in the galleries. These works will include images, performance, and site-specific works that will solicit viewer engagement and provide space for unexpected connections and exchanges.

Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. Closed weekends and all Ball State breaks and holidays.

Discover the art of traditional bookbinding in this hands-on workshop! Students will learn how to create a classic stab-bound book from start to finish, gaining foundational skills and an appreciation for this timeless binding technique. Each participant will complete and take home their own handcrafted book—perfect for journaling, sketching, or gifting. All tools and supplies will be provided.

Preregistration is strongly preferred; limited walk-in tickets may be available—please call ahead.

Happens on the following Dates:

• Jan 28, 2026, 2:00pm to 4:30pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada)
• Jan 29, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:30pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Join us Wednesdays for a 6 week program to explore drawing materials & mediums. Be challenged through using familiar materials in new ways and new mediums you haven't had the chance to play with yet. 

Ages 9-13 will focus on quick sketches of common items in our space, fun prompts, and tips to learn the new materials. Every other week is a new drawing medium.

Ages 14-24 will focus on quick sketches of live figures and a deep dive on a still life with challenges and tips to get more out of the mediums. Each week is a new drawing medium and still life.

We look forward to drawing with you!

The School of Art is proud to present Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play , an exhibition by John C. Gonzalez.

The Ned and Gloria Griner Art Gallery
____________________________
January 7 to 29, 2026
Exhibition Reception, Gallery Talk and Art Performance: January 7, 4 to 6 p.m.

About the Artist

John C. Gonzalez is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans installation, sculpture, painting, performance, writing, music, game design, and socially engaged projects. Deeply collaborative in nature, his work often blurs the lines between artist, viewer, and participant, challenging conventional notions of authorship and production. Gonzalez frequently partners with individuals or institutions not traditionally associated with artmaking to create pieces that reflect shared labor, conversation, and experience. These conversations result in works that are as much about the process and relationships as they are about the final product. Through his ongoing exploration of labor, cooperation, and institutional critique, Gonzalez's practice offers a reflective and often playful lens on the social systems that shape artistic and everyday life. Whether building systems that critique their own fabrication, facilitating game-based art experiences, or searching for meaning in collective action, he consistently seeks to expand the role of the artist beyond the studio and into the shared spaces of work, play, and community. Gonzalez lives in Rhode Island and teaches drawing and game design at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI.

The exhibition Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play will include several interactive and game-adjacent artworks in the galleries. These works will include images, performance, and site-specific works that will solicit viewer engagement and provide space for unexpected connections and exchanges.

Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. Closed weekends and all Ball State breaks and holidays.

Reptiles Around the World

Join us on Saturday, January 31, from 10 am to 12 pm for an exciting, educational program by Scalez & Tailz at the Muncie Children’s Museum! Guests will meet two reptiles from each continent (excluding Antarctica), learn fun facts about each animal, and participate in an interactive guessing game with prizes. There will also be opportunities for hands-on interactions with reptiles.

This program is FREE with museum admission and FREE for MCM Members

Paulus Hector Mair, c. 16th century

Join us as we travel to 15th century Germany to learn the art of longsword fencing! The richly illustrated manuscripts documenting this tradition have inspired countless movies, shows, and games - this class will inspire you! Building your reputation as a sword fighter is a great way to build strength, balance, and coordination too. No prior fencing experience is required. All equipment provided. Athletic shoes, sweatpants, and groin protection are recommended

Muncie Stitch n' Bitch meets every Sunday! 🧶 We meet weekly at The Cup and we come and go from 3-6p. Everyone is welcome, with any kind of making! The Cup is in The Village, near the campus of Ball State University, at 1606 West University Avenue. Free parking is behind the café, enter the parking lot off of Dill Street by Be Here Now. Support our host venue with purchases from The Cup’s menu! ☕️🥯 Creativity and caffeine, that's our thing! 
 

Join us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472977992921700

Whether you first fell in love with the most elegant sword through the adventures of The Three Musketeers and Zorro, or in a roleplaying adventure of your own as a swashbuckler, we welcome you on a journey to 16th century Spain to learn “the true art”, La Verdadera Destreza! This exploration of historical fencing with the rapier and dagger is for all who want to learn an exciting new skill, get a great workout, and feel the thrill of clashing blades, all in one! No prior fencing experience is required. All equipment provided. Athletic shoes, sweatpants, and groin protection are recommended. 

About

Enjoy a concert of standard jazz favorites and original compositions with the Ball State University Jazz Ensembles in honor of alum and trumpet player Tom Shah. The ensembles are under the direction of Mark Buselli.

Learn more about the Ball State University Jazz Ensembles.

Program

To be announced.

Tickets

Tickets available through the College of Fine Arts Box Office located at Sursa Hall. 

Prices

• General Public: $8 in advance / $10 at the door
• Seniors: $5 in advance / $7 at the door
• BSU Faculty/Staff: $5 in advance / $7 at the door
• Students: free* in advance / $5 at the door
  *One (1) free student ticket per ID is available in advance (before 5 p.m. on the day of the concert) at the College of Fine Arts Box Office

Purchase Options

• ONLINE
• Phone: 765-285-8749
• In person: Monday through Friday from Noon to 5 p.m., or starting 1 hour before the performance

**Please note: As part of our commitment to sustainability, all College of Fine Arts tickets are paperless and are accessible via email confirmation. Your confirmation email contains your digital tickets which can be scanned at the door from your mobile device, or you can print your digital tickets at home to be scanned. There is no need to visit Will Call prior to the performance.

Parking

Parking is available in the McKinley Parking Garage (entrance on Ashland Avenue) located immediately south of Sursa Hall. Metered parking is available on the first floor of the garage until 7 p.m. at which time parking is free.

Painting Classes

Learn Bob’s signature “wet-on-wet” technique from an experienced Certified Ross Instructor® and paint in the building where The Joy of Painting was filmed! Just bring yourself, and we will provide everything you need to have a wonderful time. Just like Bob said, “Let’s get crazy!”

This workshop is held in the Bob Ross Experience studio, which is only accessible by stairs. Painting workshops are open to participants ages 14 and up. Preregistration is strongly preferred; limited walk-in tickets may be available—please call ahead.

Please note: 765.282.4848 for more information.

Discover the art of using fine glass frit to paint a winter scene or unleash your creativity with an abstract design. Perfect for beginners and intermediates, this class requires no glass cutting. Participants may bring their own printed images, patterns, or drawings for inspiration, or work from the provided winter scene. With two distinct sessions available, there’s flexibility to fit your schedule.

All tools, supplies, and safety gear will be provided. Preregistration is required. Limited walk-in seating may be available, so please call ahead.

Happens on the following Dates:

• Feb 4, 2026, 2:00pm to 4:30pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada)
• Feb 5, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:30pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Jeffrey Gibson Lecture & Reception

Join us for a special lecture by Jeffrey Gibson (b. 1972, Colorado Springs, Colorado; lives and works in New York), a mid-career multidisciplinary artist whose work spans sculpture, painting, printmaking, video, and performance. A citizen of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and half Cherokee, Gibson has exhibited internationally and represented the United States at the 60th Venice Biennale in 2024 as the first Indigenous artist to present a solo exhibition in the U.S. Pavilion. His work is included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, and more.

Date & Time: February 4, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
Location: Pruis Hall

A reception will follow the lecture. All are welcome.

Join us Wednesdays for a 6 week program to explore drawing materials & mediums. Be challenged through using familiar materials in new ways and new mediums you haven't had the chance to play with yet. 

Ages 9-13 will focus on quick sketches of common items in our space, fun prompts, and tips to learn the new materials. Every other week is a new drawing medium.

Ages 14-24 will focus on quick sketches of live figures and a deep dive on a still life with challenges and tips to get more out of the mediums. Each week is a new drawing medium and still life.

We look forward to drawing with you!

Discover the art of using fine glass frit to paint a winter scene or unleash your creativity with an abstract design. Perfect for beginners and intermediates, this class requires no glass cutting. Participants may bring their own printed images, patterns, or drawings for inspiration, or work from the provided winter scene. With two distinct sessions available, there’s flexibility to fit your schedule.

All tools, supplies, and safety gear will be provided. Preregistration is required. Limited walk-in seating may be available, so please call ahead.

Happens on the following Dates:

• Feb 4, 2026, 2:00pm to 4:30pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada)
• Feb 5, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:30pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Fridays: Feb. 6, 13 at 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays: Feb. 7, 14 at 3:30 p.m.

Follow the adventures of Sy, Annie, and their dog Armstrong as they embark on an unexpected journey into space!
Perfect for families and groups with K through 3rd grade learners; all ages are welcome.

Plan Your Visit to the Planetarium

Please Note: Programs start promptly at the advertised time. Doors close 15 minutes after showtime and no late entry is permitted after that time.

Fridays: Feb. 6, 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturdays: Feb. 7, 14 at 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy a guided tour of the celestial wonderland of the night sky using free star charts provided during this live program, and explore stunning new images from the Rubin Observatory.
Perfect for adults and ages 8+, all ages are welcome.

Plan Your Visit to the Planetarium

Please Note: Programs start promptly at the advertised time. Doors close 15 minutes after showtime and no late entry is permitted after that time.

Muncie Civic Theatre presents GROUNDHOG DAY the Musical on the Mainstage February 6-22. Visit the charming town of Punxsutawney, as Phil Connors, a cynical weatherman tries to escape a never-ending time loop. This musical based, on the hit film starring Bill Murray, promises a night of laughs and a journey of self-discovery.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows are at 7:30pm and the Sunday Matinees are at 2:30pm. Rated PG-13. Reserved Seating.

Directed by Veronica Santoyo

Original Dramaturgy by Diana Grisanti

February 6-8, 13-14 at 7:30 p.m. | February 14 at 2:30 p.m. | Oakwood 154

It's the day of The Big Game, and the citizenry is aflutter. The football bros are hungry for blood, the ESL kids are hungry for knowledge, and the hunger strikers are just hungry. Meanwhile, Nubu, a newcomer to our world, considers the meaning of life. When the The Big Game gets cancelled, a group of intrepid weirdos decides to throw an epic DIY costume party—a ball! Balls Balls Balls is a strange and exuberant new work that asks, “Can you imagine a world where we all make bread and break bread together?”

Written by award-winning playwright Alice Tuan, Balls Balls Balls was commissioned by the Ball State Department of Theatre and Dance. We’ll present the script as an on-book reading with choreography. No play is complete without an audience, so we invite you—yes, you!—to participate in the developmental process. Each performance will be followed by a talkback with the playwright and production team. Come take part in the future of American theatre!

Commissioned by the Department of Theatre and Dance of Ball State University

Tickets

Tickets are available through the College of Fine Arts Box Office located at Sursa Hall in person, by phone at 765-285-8749, or online.

General Public: $15 in advance, $17 at the door

Faculty/Staff/Students/Seniors: $12 in advance, $14 at the door

Free Community Event

Celebrate the start of Black History Month with Minnetrista and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Team. This year’s theme, Celebrating Black Youth in the Fight for Civil Rights, honors the young leaders whose courage and advocacy continue to shape our communities. Enjoy activities, storytelling, community connections, and a Silent Auction in the lobby.

Paulus Hector Mair, c. 16th century

Join us as we travel to 15th century Germany to learn the art of longsword fencing! The richly illustrated manuscripts documenting this tradition have inspired countless movies, shows, and games - this class will inspire you! Building your reputation as a sword fighter is a great way to build strength, balance, and coordination too. No prior fencing experience is required. All equipment provided. Athletic shoes, sweatpants, and groin protection are recommended

Fridays: Feb. 6, 13 at 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays: Feb. 7, 14 at 3:30 p.m.

Follow the adventures of Sy, Annie, and their dog Armstrong as they embark on an unexpected journey into space!
Perfect for families and groups with K through 3rd grade learners; all ages are welcome.

Plan Your Visit to the Planetarium

Please Note: Programs start promptly at the advertised time. Doors close 15 minutes after showtime and no late entry is permitted after that time.

Saturdays: Feb. 7, 14 at 5:00 p.m.

Journey to world-class observatories in Chile’s rugged Andes Mountains and arid Atacama Desert. Discover how people keep these mega-machines running and see their remarkable research results.
Suitable for adults and ages 10+; all ages are welcome.

Plan Your Visit to the Planetarium

Please Note: Programs start promptly at the advertised time. Doors close 15 minutes after showtime and no late entry is permitted after that time.

Fridays: Feb. 6, 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturdays: Feb. 7, 14 at 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy a guided tour of the celestial wonderland of the night sky using free star charts provided during this live program, and explore stunning new images from the Rubin Observatory.
Perfect for adults and ages 8+, all ages are welcome.

Plan Your Visit to the Planetarium

Please Note: Programs start promptly at the advertised time. Doors close 15 minutes after showtime and no late entry is permitted after that time.

Muncie Civic Theatre presents GROUNDHOG DAY the Musical on the Mainstage February 6-22. Visit the charming town of Punxsutawney, as Phil Connors, a cynical weatherman tries to escape a never-ending time loop. This musical based, on the hit film starring Bill Murray, promises a night of laughs and a journey of self-discovery.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows are at 7:30pm and the Sunday Matinees are at 2:30pm. Rated PG-13. Reserved Seating.

Directed by Veronica Santoyo

Original Dramaturgy by Diana Grisanti

February 6-8, 13-14 at 7:30 p.m. | February 14 at 2:30 p.m. | Oakwood 154

It's the day of The Big Game, and the citizenry is aflutter. The football bros are hungry for blood, the ESL kids are hungry for knowledge, and the hunger strikers are just hungry. Meanwhile, Nubu, a newcomer to our world, considers the meaning of life. When the The Big Game gets cancelled, a group of intrepid weirdos decides to throw an epic DIY costume party—a ball! Balls Balls Balls is a strange and exuberant new work that asks, “Can you imagine a world where we all make bread and break bread together?”

Written by award-winning playwright Alice Tuan, Balls Balls Balls was commissioned by the Ball State Department of Theatre and Dance. We’ll present the script as an on-book reading with choreography. No play is complete without an audience, so we invite you—yes, you!—to participate in the developmental process. Each performance will be followed by a talkback with the playwright and production team. Come take part in the future of American theatre!

Commissioned by the Department of Theatre and Dance of Ball State University

Tickets

Tickets are available through the College of Fine Arts Box Office located at Sursa Hall in person, by phone at 765-285-8749, or online.

General Public: $15 in advance, $17 at the door

Faculty/Staff/Students/Seniors: $12 in advance, $14 at the door