Second Thursday

Art by Paul Grant at The Artist Within Art by Paul Grant at The Artist Within Art by Andrew McCauley at Gallery 308 “Topknots and Polka Dots,” woodcut by David Johnson at Gordy's “Frog and Lily,” intaglio print by Sarojini Johnson at Gordy's

Because of the weather, three downtown galleries have postponed their First Thursday exhibitions until February 13th.

The Artist Within
313 S Walnut
Some Otherness and a Dog

Paul Grant will be the featured artist for the month of February at the Artist Within. His exhibit, "Some Otherness and a Dog”, will feature his collage work . This long time Muncie resident began making collages a decade ago as a way to sketch images that were beyond his ability to draw.  Paul explains that over the years, his use of collage has developed into a language all its own.  He feels that it allows him a full range of creative freedom, whether he is working with images or text.

February 13th, from 5-8pm will be the “meet the artist opening reception”. There will be light refreshments and live music featuring Gregg Pyle. The opening is free and open to the public.

Gallery 308
308 E Main
Attraction & Doubt

Gallery 308 announces its February show, “Attraction and Doubt”, an invitational, themed exhibition organized by Associate Professor Scott Anderson. The opening reception for the new exhibit will be held February 6th at Gallery 308 from 5-8pm.   The public is welcome. The exhibit features Anderson, plus Ball State Alumni from the Ball State School of Art and other professional artists/educators that have been featured at Ball State in the past as visiting artists.

Twenty-seven artists sent work from all over the country, including Indiana, Georgia, New York, Missouri, Washington, Oregon, Texas, California, Washington D.C., Minnesota, and Germany. Anderson said, “All the participants were invited to submit up to four works that they felt addressed the theme, 'Attraction and Doubt'”. 

Anderson added, “All the former students are still active in their art careers, some are currently pursuing graduate degrees, others have completed their graduate studies, and some are employed as educators, gallery directors, designers and as artists.  Also featured are other professional artists and educators that have had an impact on Professor Anderson's career as either colleagues or as instructors.”   

Gallery visitors will see a wide variety of mediums including drawing, collage, printmaking, watercolor, acrylic, photography, wood sculpture, found object, and sculptures made from human hair.  Participating artists include: Jared Applegate, Molly Bauman, Katie Burk, Lisa Choinacky, David Cuatlacuatl, Duncan Ford, Jessica Ford, Chet Geiselman, Marc Giouard, Art Hazelwood, Chris Hocking, Terra Keck, Brie Thompson, Iain Machell, Andy Mauery, Mike May, Andrew J. McCauley, Joshua McGarvey, Bill McQuail, Nicole Pancini, Max Papas, Lee Pechocki, Kathleen Ryan, Austin Sayre, Geoff Smith, Ross Wagner, Seneca Weintraut, and Scott Anderson.

Anderson is an Associate Professor teaching undergraduate and graduate levels of painting, and drawing at Ball State University. He has been exhibiting his paintings professionally for the past thirty years in galleries, museums, national and regional juried offerings. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas Tech University and completed his Masters in Fine Arts from West Virginia University with an emphasis in painting.   In 2010 Anderson was awarded the 2010-2011 College of Fine Arts Dean’s Creative Arts Award. . He served as the Director for Ball State’s London Center for fall 2013. Anderson earned the gallery exhibit when he captured Best of Show from Gallery’s 308’s PaperChaser 2013 juried exhibition.

The gallery is open Fridays from 3-7pm and Saturdays from 12:30 – 5:00pm.  Admission is free. The show continues through February 28.

Gallery 308, located at 308 East Main in downtown Muncie,  is a 501(c)(3) community art gallery which exists to provide exhibition space for artists, encourage innovative work and serve the community as a cultural and educational resource. The Gallery opens a new exhibit every First Thursday (usually). Contributions to Gallery 308 are tax-deductible. For more information about upcoming exhibits, volunteer and donor opportunities, please call 765-289-8575 or visit www.gallery308.org.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E Main
Annual BSU Print Show, “New Edition”

Prints are hot, and the wintertime Annual Print Exhibit at Gordy Fine Art & Framing will feature woodcut prints and etchings by two Ball State University printmaking professors. David and Sarojini Johnson are known both for their own signature styles and for the number of students following their example as professionals in the field. With more than fifty years of combined teaching, the duo continues to hone their artistic skills. “The woodcuts, etchings and artist’s books in this show represent some of their best work,” notes Brian Gordy, gallery owner.

David’s woodcuts often depict humans or animals – cows, pigs, crows – in large color block

scenes, fair barns, streetscapes or fast food establishments.  Sarojini’s pieces are known for an exotic flavor, where plants and insects, frogs and lilies are poised in colorful, dark, dreamlike garden scenes, decorative ribbons running around edges. In “Frog and Lily,” a blue-green spotted frog competes with orange and red flowers for center stage. David’s “Topknots and Polka Dots” depicts a seated woman who appears to be relaxing in a corner of the printmaking room at Ball State University – home office for the Johnson duo.

The two artists engage different methods to arrive at their compositions. Sarojini employs intaglio, mastering the process in tight, rich details that are etched out of a metal plate. The plate is then inked and run through a press to create a single print at a time. David’s relief prints, cut by hand, often include color blocks of street scenes or observed moments of contemporary life. His artistic method of choice is relief printing, where wood or linoleum is carved away, leaving desired areas that then receive ink and are printed onto special papers. Each color requires either a different carved block or the same block, cut out a bit more after each color application.

In addition to the framed prints for this annual exhibit, hand-printed books will also be shown. Folding outward, the print books resemble a sculptural work of art that might be displayed open, on table top or mantle.

The opening reception for “New Edition” will be held Thursday, February 6, 2014 from 5 to 8 PM at the downtown gallery. Light refreshments will be served and the artists will be introduced at 6:15 PM for a short talk, and to answer questions about the work. The exhibit

will continue through February 28, 2014, and may also be viewed during normal business hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 5:30 PM, Saturday, 9 to 3, or by appointment. 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 http://www.gordyframing.com.