May's First Thursday (Full Listing)

Muncie Mystery! Various locations downtown Muncie Mystery! Various locations downtown Beyond I CAN, Madjax 1st floor Jim Faulkner show at Gordy Fine Art and Framing, Co. Abbey Jessup, Made in Muncie Conservation Tales, Made in Muncie First Thursday at Madjax Nancy Carlson, 2nd floor Madjax Win this prize pack!, "Bad" Music Night/Trivia, 2nd floor Madjax Mattie Ewing, 2nd floor Madjax Mattie Ewing, 2nd floor Madjax The Future of Work, Madjax The Future of Work, Madjax Debra Gindhart, 2nd floor Madjax Debra Gindhart, 2nd floor Madjax Kari Wissel, 2nd floor Madjax Kari Wissel, 2nd floor Madjax Kari Wissel, 2nd floor Madjax Alison Beam-Hindman, Muncie Artists Guild’s featured Artist of the Month for May Break-Room, Muncie Makes Lab The North Church Venue Tour the Commercial Kitchen at Pink Leaf

Muncie Mystery
Various locations

Do you have the brains, heart and courage to solve the Muncie Mystery?

A crime – pretend crime, of course – has been committed and we need YOUR help finding the culprit and the “weapon” used.

Join fellow citizen CSI: Emerald City investigators for the second Muncie Mystery during First Thursday on May 6 in downtown Muncie.

According to reports, a break-in has occurred at the Wizard of Oz’s secret Muncie laboratory in the “Emerald City” neighborhood. The suspect, despite several warnings to pay no attention to that man behind the curtain, entered the restricted area. The Wizard confronted the suspect and suffered a blow to his noggin but has not been able to identify the perpetrator.

Six primary suspects - Wicked Witch of West, Dorothy, Scarecrow, Lion, Glinda the Good Witch and The Mayor of Munchkinland - were spotted near the scene at the time of the crime. And, lucky for our eagle-eyed investigators, several pieces of evidence were left behind.

Between 5 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 6, investigators of all ages are invited to visit 10 participating downtown businesses. At each location, you will have the chance to question suspects about their whereabouts during the time of the break in and look at crime lab reports on several possible “weapons.”

Participating businesses are YWCA, Aspect 6, Kirk's Bike Shop, Inland Design, Vahalla (21+), IVY Tech (Fisher Building), Twin Archer, Mama Bonds and The Fickle Peach (21+).

You can download a Crime Tracker – with map - now at www.muncieneighborhoods.org/munciemystery. You may also pick one up during First Thursday at Canan Commons or Dave’s Alley.

Crime Trackers must be turned in at Canan Commons by 6:30 p.m. The guilty party and facts about the case will be revealed at Canan Commons at 7.

Investigators will also be able to enjoy tethered hot air balloon “rides” and meet a Horse of a Different Color and the Runway for Rescues animals at Canan Commons during the event. The hot air balloon will be set up for photo opportunities at 5 and begin tethered rides at 6:45 p.m.

Investigators who correctly identify the criminal and weapon will be entered into a drawing for great prizes, including 1 Overnight Stay at the Courtyard Marriott;

2 Family Pack Tickets to see Muncie Civic Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz at Canan Commons; 1 Annual Family Membership to the Muncie Children's Museum; 1 Muncie Graphic Pillow from Muncie Map Co.; 1 Bruce Pizza and $10 drink certificate from Vallhalla; 2 tickets to Sept. 2 BSU football season opener game with BSU vs. Western Illinois; 1 $25 Gift Certificate to Twin Archer; 1 $25 Gift Certificate to The Caffeinery, and 1 Tethered Hot Air Balloon Ride at the event.

You must be present to win.

Participants are asked to follow posted mask requirements inside some downtown businesses and it is suggested masks be worn outside when in large crowds. 

Muncie Mystery is presented by Downtown Muncie, Muncie Civic Theatre, Indiana Public Radio, Ball State PBS, Ball State Office of Community Engagement and Muncie Neighborhoods.

Beyond I CAN (Madjax, 1st floor)
515 E. Main St.
Beyond I CAN will be open in our studio at MadJax.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co. 
224 E. Main
Gordy Fine Art & Framing Company will hold a Public Celebration of Jim Faulkner on First Thursday May 6 , 5 – 8 pm with song, stories, and watercolors.

Barry Banks, Founder and Director Emeritus of Red-tail Land Conservancy, will be strumming his guitar from 5:00 and 5:45.  At 6:00 and 7:00, David Dale and Brian Gordy will be sharing memories of Jim. Following their comments, for those comfortable, masks will come down for a toast to our beloved Jim.

Jim’s works will be on view and for sale through May 28. Jim Faulkner's dedication, sensitivity, and skill as a painter for more than 50 years made him one of the most revered artists in our region and statewide.  During his career, Jim’s paintings defined East Central Indiana's open landscapes, weathered buildings, and tree lines. His images are witness to the constant winds, shifting bedrock, and changing rural environment of Indiana.

During the show we encourage guests to share their memories of Jim in a journal which can be passed on to family and friends. 

Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company promotes talented artists and offers expert design and craftsmanship for framing and displaying treasured family possessions and works of art. Business hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5:30 pm, Saturday, 10 am – 3 pm. Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company is located at 224 East Main Street, next door to Muncie Civic Theatre.  For more information, visit www.gordyframing.com or call 765-284-8422.

High Street United Methodist Church
219 S. High St. 
High Street United Methodist Church will have their organist/pianist in the High Street courtyard playing piano for passersby as well as information about different ministries of High Street.

Made in Muncie
313 S. Walnut
Abbey Jessup
Made in Muncie will feature the work of Conservation Tales photographer Abbey Jessup (Spring 2020 and 2021). 5-8pm

Conservation Tales
You can also see the work of the Conservation Tales team (ART 370 Immersive Learning Course at Ball State) featuring Sunnie Berning, Ashley Bowling, Jayda Cleaveland, Abbey Jessup, Sara Misak, Ashley Owens, Alyssa Shoults, Allison Smiley, Jillian Spangler, and Katie Wiley. Faculty mentors: Tom McConnell, Biology and Barbara Giorgio-Booher, School of Art. 5-8pm.

Madjax Muncie
515 E. Main St.
May’s First Thursday: Please support local artists and makers in the first and second floor galleries. Social distancing measures will be in place. Meet the makers and artists and see their many talents! 5-8pm

Artists include:
Nancy Carlson
Michelle Duran @ellybelljar
Mattie Ewing @matildesmagicpotions
Anna Grace Longfellow @boxcar_adv
Charlie Kehoe @Silver Linings
Missy Adams @sketchpaintcoffee
Ronald Heath @munciebeardedbaker
Alyssa Carey @alyssumfairy
Caitlin Torres
Ron and Debbie Richcreek
Amelia Jo Rule @_coinstar.gasmoney_
IJ Lane @theirisjeanie
Johnny Woods
Morgan Boone
Lindsay Jones
Sara Collas
Wendy Carpenter
Rachel Replogle
Kari Wissel @wissel_atkari
Lanie Manning
Eliza Sandlin
Victoria Ruth
Mary Hammond
Georedt Michael Huggins @fototherapyphotography

Music: Natalie Phillips and Barry Banks 

We are thrilled to have these talents! 

Additional Info about Madjax events is listed below:

“Bad” Music Night/Trivia!
Join Madjax for First Thursday to listen to some GOOD music with BAD artists/titles! 
Each song played will include the word “BAD” as either part of the artist’s name, band name, or title of the song. While you shop for art at Madjax, listen to the music, then fill out a trivia sheet naming the songs you heard. Whoever gets the most songs right wins a Muncie prize pack filled with goodies from The Orchard Shop at Minnetrista and Muncie Map Co.! And don’t worry, the music won’t actually be bad! 
Pick up and return your trivia sheets to Natalie at the DJ table on the 2nd floor. 

Nancy Carlson
“Homegrown Hats” by Nancy Carlson will be upstairs at MadJax. Handmade berets and newsboy caps of upcycled wool and other textiles sell for $20. All sales go to Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary.

Michelle Duran
Michelle Duran is a maker who specializes in a variety of eclectic items such as miniature tarot card decks, crystal balls, authentic hoodoo oils, tarot card jewelry, embroidered dish towels with vintage designs, and aromatic crystal sachets and bath salts.

Mattie Ewing
Mattie Ewing is an art enthusiast who enjoys making a variety of many different items that are expressive to her personality and spirituality. These items include Beginner to Advanced Spiritual Kits, Manifestation boxes, Neon Trippy art, Spirit Boards, mini voodoo dolls, elegant profanity, and her own version of The Major Arcana. She uses upcycled items such as empty jars and even cereal boxes in her work. Mattie’s children, Arabella and Oliver, are artists in training and will be selling their their eclectic and unique drawings, alongside their mom’s work. Their new business name is EmoGypsy Pride N' More.

The Future of Work
The Future of Work will be set up at Madjax to distribute free STEM kits with materials for participation in a Virtual Workshop led by Ivy Tech instructors. We will also have registration for summer programming for youth and adults. 1st floor, Madjax. 

Debra Gindhart
COLLAGE and ASSEMBLAGE
Debra Gindhart, local artist-maker and visual arts educator will feature collage and assemblage on gallery canvases using vintage illustrations and found art. Celebrating World Collage Day, May 8, 2021. Humorous and social commentary themed wall art. First Thursday’s at Madjax. Meet the artist. 

Kari Wissel
Kari Wissel will feature handpoured soy candles + essential oil blends + pressed and dried florals. Plus polymer clay earrings and stained glass suncatchers.

Muncie Artist’s Guild
Various locations
Alison Beam-Hindman is the Muncie Artists Guild’s featured Artist of the Month for May. 

Growing up on a small farm in Northern Indiana, Beam-Hindman learned an appreciation for the natural world from her father who also sparked her early interest in astronomy by pointing out stars by name in the clear night skies of Starke County Indiana.

Beam-Hindman earned a Bachelor of Science in technology from Purdue University North Central, and 22 years later, earned a Master of Arts in adult education from Ball State University. After retiring from Ivy Tech Community College, Beam-Hindman took time to pursue an early interest in art. She is a self-taught artist who paints in acrylics, and as a member of the Muncie Artists Guild since 2015, she credits the other Guild members with providing the mentoring and friendship she needed to hone her artistic skills.

Years ago, Beam-Hindman entered the open division competition at the Delaware County Fair with a painting on cardboard in poster paints and was encouraged when the space-themed painting won first place! In 2010, Beam-Hindman’s painting of Voyager II won 2nd place for Imaging, plus the Judges’ Choice Award, at the Great Lakes Astronomical League’s competition for photographers and imagers.  Her triptych paintings of Comet McNaught won first place for Imaging at the Annual Indiana Family Star Party in 2012. Several of her space-themed paintings have also won awards at the Muncie Artists Guild’s Annual Shows. 

Beam-Hindman’s lifelong interest in astronomy and space exploration inspires much of her artwork, as do works by space artists Chesley Bonestell, David Hardy and astronaut/artist Alan Bean. Beam-Hindman is also a charter member of the Muncie Astronomy Club since 2000 and is active in the Club’s community outreach program on science education, where she uses art to promote and enhance the program.

Alison Beam-Hindman’s original artwork will be displayed during the month of May at the following Muncie businesses:   
Northwest Bank, 110 E Charles St
Old National Bank, 2401 S Madison St
Parlour at Hazelwood Hair Salon, 1300 W University Ave
Rosebud Coffee House, 1805 S Hoyt Ave
Vera Mae's Bistro, 209 S Walnut St.

Muncie Artists Guild members’ work can be viewed at: https://www.muncieartistsguild.com/

Muncie Makes Lab
628 S. Walnut
BREAK-ROOM is a collection of queer works exploring relationships. Five graduating seniors from Ball State’s School of Art collaborated to curate a selection of recent work that takes up space and breaks up rooms. The work investigates a wide range of topics surrounding relationships: friendship, family, trauma, queerness, space and time. 

Show opens First Thursday but will continue through May 9 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm each day.

Artists: Astrid Carter, Marie Dickison, Emmanuel Guerra, Nick May, and Avery Pollard

The North Church Venue
400 E. North St.
We will be participating in the First Thursday art walk this May and having live music and crafters setting up tables. Additionally, Elm Street Brewery will be serving drinks at our bar area. 

Pink Leaf
108 S. Walnut St.
The Commercial Kitchen by Pink Leaf invites you to tour our kitchen while viewing our beautiful collection of Hudson Valley Seed Co. Art Packs from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. The seeds are for sale as a fundraiser to offer free classes in our kitchen this summer! Light refreshments will be provided.

Tribune Showprint (at Madjax)
515 E. Main
Come visit us and the shop for the first time in over a year. We will have the shop open for tours and a press inked up for you to pull a print.