First Thursday

Artwork by Sarah Shaffer on display at Cornerstone Center for the Arts Pottery and cards on display at Dandelions Boutique Artwork from the fourth annual Summer Invitational on display at Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.

Canan Commons
600 S Walnut
Muncie Civic Weekly Acting Group

We are a group of inexperienced, middle age and older actors who meet weekly to learn and hone our skills.  Three of the best actors/directors in the city teach and critique us each week at our usual home at Muncie Civic Theater.  In turn, this helps the theater by developing a strong pool of trained actors, so our shows will continue to be the toast of Indiana. Today, we will be at Canan Commons, and you will see us in one of our scene work sessions.  We will be going through scenes in which we have been working (some for a long time, some just recently started), and our experts will be giving us loving, positive criticism to help us improve.  If you feel motivated, we have brought some extra scenes tonight, so you might try your hand in a cold read with us.

Cornerstone Center for The Arts
520 E Main
We Are What We Think

Join Cornerstone Center for Arts for First Thursday on June 1, 2017 for an opening reception and art show featuring the art of Sarah Shaffer. The show titled “We Are What We Think” is a series of drawings and paintings that utilize the visual representation of neurons to portray the human body.

Inspiration for the collection came from the affects neurons have on who we are as people. As we grow our minds and personalities are shaped by experience; we literally are what we think. Each piece is an illustration of neurons forming various parts of the body as well as the entire human figure.

The opening reception of “We Are What We Think” will take place on Thursday, June 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Cornerstone Art Gallery on the second floor of Cornerstone Center for the Arts. The show will be on display and open to the public throughout the month of June.

Sarah Shaffer is a native of Indiana, growing up in Fort Wayne with a love of art from an early age. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University's Art Department, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Metalsmithing earned in 2007. Sarah lives with her husband and daughter in Muncie, Indiana, and works as an art instructor for Cornerstone Center for the Art as well as a commissioned artist.

For more information about the show call Cornerstone’s Department of Education & Communication at 765-281-9503, ext. 23 or visit cornerstonearts.org.

Dandelions Boutique
120 S Walnut

On display and for sale will be handmade items such as pottery and cards that were created by C.A.R.S. / Beyond I Can, a day service for special need adults.

Grace Episcopal Church
300 S Madison

Have you ever wanted to play the drums? If so, you need to come to Grace Episcopal Church (corner of Madison and Adams) for a drumming circle at 6pm. If you have a drum bring it with you, but if not there will be lots of drums for everyone to use. But wait there is more!! We will feature at 7:30pm a concert with Joan Hamilton. Joan is singer/songwriter who plays the guitar and keyboards. She has recorded several CD”s. Joan has performed many times in Muncie. After the concert we will have a reception. All donations received this evening will benefit the Urban Day Camp.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E Main
Summer Invitational

Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company will celebrate First Thursday, June 1st from 5 – 8 pm with an opening reception for the gallery’s fourth annual Summer Invitational. The exhibit will feature work by several area artists who will be on hand to engage with viewers. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend.

The Summer Invitational is designed to introduce some of the most interesting new work our region offers by exclusively exhibiting artists not currently represented by GFAF. This refreshing shift in the gallery’s regular programming brings together artists from Central Indiana and beyond whose artwork spans several disciplines including oil painting, sculpture, and found object art. The exhibit will be on view for two months through the end of July, offering visitors an extended opportunity to experience fresh, new art from beyond the Muncie scene.

Light refreshments will be served, and the public is invited to attend. A brief talk at 6:15 will introduce the exhibit and artists in attendance.

Harmony Dance Studio
112 W Jackson

We will be offering snacks, catered by David Fennig, and teaching free 15-20 minute Latin dance lessons (salsa, bachata, etc.) on the hour. The rest of the time will be open social dance time where people can drop in, have some snacks, make some friends, and learn how to dance in a relaxed, welcoming environment. No partner or experience required to enjoy this fun event!

Heorot
219 S Walnut
Blues Jam

Open event- come show us your talent.
Sign up starts at 7.  Music from 8-11.

MadJax
514 E Jackson

Ball State's Department of Architecture offers multiple design/build studios that develop skills and allow students to test their ideas on a range of scales and project types. Students engage with communities while learning through making.

The Maring-Hunt Community Garden Project will be showcased during First Thursday as students exhibit their drawings, ideas, prototypes and photographs of the Gateway to Growing Pavilion with its Potters Bench and Corner Sitting Area all made out of western red cedar. Additional design work to be displayed is the first “Nature Play Pocket” to be developed to the south of the pavilion. This area includes a storytelling and story acting circle for Maring-Hunt’s children's programming and a sand and water play area with a rain water sluice using the harvested water from the pavilion’s butterfly roof gutter. This pavilion and nature play pocket will be incorporated into curricula to introduce hands-on lessons about how food grows and garden-based nutrition education in an outdoor learning lab, affording opportunities to learn about horticulture and sustainable environmental practices, such as composting and recycling, as well as being an important source of low-cost fresh produce for a healthy diet. Come see CAP's design-build project for Maring-Hunt Community Garden. The project is funded by an Academic Excellence Grant, an Immersive Learning Provost's Grant, and a Building Better Neighborhoods Grant.