First Thursday

The Artist Within: Drawing by Jerry Hannah The Artist Within: Painting by Jerry Hannah Gordy's: Time to Think (Jessica Summers) Gordy's: Bracelet (Jan McCune) Gordy's: What Once Was (Autumn Bussen) Rose Court: Painting by Melissa Cummings Rose Court: Painting by Melissa Cummings

The Artist Within
313 S Walnut

Local resident and recent Ball State graduate Jerry Hannah will exhibit paintings and drawings in a one man show. Hannah had his Senior Thesis Show "Search for Life" at the gallery in July of 2012. An opening reception will be held during First Thursday from 5-8pm. The opening is free and open to the public and will provide those attending the opportunity to meet and visit with the artist.

When asked about his upcoming exhibit, Mr. Hannah explained, "When putting together a show many considerations come to mind and this show takes a step back from what is considered traditional and focus on the art itself instead of how the entire body of work fits together. The art shown varies with aspects of landscape, portraiture and abstract expressionism.  Some of this work has been exhibited here before and other pieces have never been publicly displayed. Some of this work is older and one painting has just been recently completed.  Some of this work is based on my love of astronomy and others are reflections of social issues.  Instead of being about tradition, this show is all about the art."

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E Main

Jessica Summers remembers her mother painting domestic scenes of their rural Muncie home, often depicted at night, which had “an unusual sense of tension created by dramatic lighting.” Fast-forward to 2013, and the daughter has become the painter of dramatic domestic scenes while the mother has moved from the living room into her personal jewelry studio. Similarities abound: Jan McCune was a high school art teacher. Jessica was a high school art teacher before returning to get her MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in painting. McCune holds a BFA/MA in painting. Mother and daughter feel they have a lot in common as artists, despite the differences in media and approach. “I have inherited her love for the mark of the artist, surface and texture…I seem to keep unconsciously using similar lighting and subject matter,” Summers notes. “Her paintings were also very colorful and painted quite thick – similar to mine.” 

McCune has been named an “Indiana Artisan,” for her personal designs in pendants. This year she ventured into creating bracelets after receiving an Indiana Arts Commission grant. The grant allowed McCune to purchase needed tools and supplies, and she set out to fabricate 15 cuff or link bracelets. First, working primarily in copper, and then switching to silver, McCune had to learn blacksmithing skills that weren’t required of flat pendants. Heated to make it more malleable, the metal is then quenched in water and hammered into shape over a mandrel. Consumed with a new art form, McCune kept working. The goal of fifteen became sixty, many of which will be on display in the downtown gallery.

The two artists will exhibit together, for the first time, at Gordy Fine Art and Framing for the month of June.  An opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 6, 2013, from 5 to 8 PM. Each will each speak about their art; McCune at 6 PM and Summers at 6:15.

Referring to their many similarities as artists, Summers concludes, “Just like my mom talks about her love for design, I am finding that it is the construction of the image that interests me more than anything. None of this is necessarily intentional. It just keeps happening.” She concludes, “It’s in my blood.”

The Nook Gallery at Gordy’s will feature painter Autumn Bussen for June. She is a recent graduate of Ball State University with a degree in Painting and Drawing and the recipient of the annual Small Exhibit award given by Gordy Fine Art & Framing each year at the BSU Student Show.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co. is located at 224 E. Main Street, next door to Muncie Civic Theatre.  For more information, call 765-284-8422 or visit www.gordyframing.com. 

Rose Court
125 E Charles

Rose Court is pleased to present the work of Melissa Cummings for the Month of June.

Melissa Cummings began as a self-taught artist.  At the age of 16, she was painting commissioned murals and many local signs in her home town of Farmland, Indiana.  She has been the recipient of several honors including winning two scholastic art awards from the State of Indiana. 

These earlier experiences using oil based mediums led her into art studies at Ball State University.  “People have been my most inspiring subject matter.  The eyes are my greatest emphasis when I am working on a portrait painting.”  Melissa enjoys art as a personal therapy.  She was busy with other life demands for more than a decade and is re-emerging with a new love for surrealistic abstracts in oil.  “This change in genre is allowing me to make creations based from my own emotions.  It is raw energy.”  Melissa Cummings is eclectic in her work.  She enjoys using a variety of mediums and styles.  Her portrait work still captures the most accolades from viewers.  Please enjoy her artwork created with charcoal, lithograph, oil, colored pencil, ink and graphite starting June 6th First Thursday at Rose Court.