17 past events with the after hours art reels tag

Sarah Schaffer, "Life in Plastic," Cornerstone Center for the Arts View of Cornerstone Park The Fickle Peach and After Hours Art Reels present Fellini's "8 1/2" Suzanne Dittenber, "Midden Pile III," Gordy's Fine Art and Framing Billy Riggs at The Living Room Dave Franklin, "Orana," Muncie Makes Lab Kayla Goodpaster, "Tryion Lannister," Savage's Ale House

Cornerstone Center for The Arts

520 E. Main

“Sarah Shaffer: Life in Plastic”

Join Cornerstone Center for Arts for First Thursday on June 2, 2016 for an opening reception and art show featuring the art of Sarah Shaffer. The show titled “Life in Plastic” explores society’s monumental impact through the form of our tiniest role models.Beyond objectification and the weight of the world's expectations, creating this body of work was a very personal journey for Sarah. She created these paintings using one of her daughter's dolls as a model with the color palette of her childhood memory. These pieces embody her own path to define her self-image and the desire to not pass along physical insecurities to future generations.

Each piece is a depiction of a doll, focusing on a portion of the body and recreated on a large scale. This collection of acrylic paintings portrays the objectification and unrealistic expectations placed upon women. We perpetuate these damaging standards in our interactions with others and within ourselves. The titles are inspired by comments made to or about women in judgement of their appearance, their choices, and their actions.

The opening reception will take place from 5 to 7 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, a visual arts instructor at Cornerstone as well as a commissioned artist, is a native of Indiana, grew up in Fort Wayne with A love of art from an early age. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University’s School of Art, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in metalsmithing earned in 2007. Her senior show titled "Playtime's Over," explored women's issues by combining Barbie dolls with precious metal to create conceptual jewelry.

Nearly 10 years after Sarah's senior project, she has revisited Barbie and some of the corresponding themes of objectification and unrealistic expectations through the form of painting rather than jewelry. In the near decade that has passed, Sarah has become a mother and wishes to confront these themes for the betterment of the next generation.

For more information about the show, call Cornerstone’s Department of Education & Communication at 766-281-9503, ext. 23.

Cornerstone Park

101 S. Madison

“Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Cornerstone Park”

Cornerstone Center for the Arts and the City of Muncie are excited to announce a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Cornerstone Park on Thursday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m. The ceremony will feature live demonstrations from students and instructors of Cornerstone Center for the Arts and remarks from Mayor Dennis Tyler, Jeff Robinson of Cornerstone, and Ron Spangler of Community Enhancement Projects. At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests are invited to Cornerstone for light refreshments and the opening of the art show “Life in Plastic” in Cornerstone's Art Gallery on the second floor until 7:30pm.

Cornerstone Park sits at 101 S. Madison St. at the former site of Holiday Cleaners. The development of the park was made possible through partnerships with the Ball Brothers Foundation, the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, the George and Frances Ball Foundation, Community Enhancement Projects, the Zeigler Foundation, the Muncie Sanitary District, the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler. The park was created as a gateway to Downtown Muncie and will offer new outdoor opportunities for the surrounding businesses and organizations.

Cornerstone Park features lush landscaping and ornamental foliage from Jay-Crew Landscape and is home to the new public art piece titled EXTESS by PROJECTiONE. Cornerstone plans to utilize the new park for upcoming summer classes, workshops, and events.

For more information about the ribbon cutting ceremony or “Life in Plastic” visit cornerstonearts.org or call Cornerstone at 765-281-9503.

The Fickle Peach (21+)

117 E Charles

“Fellini’s 8 ½”

Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, in collaboration with The Fickle Peach, presents After Hours Art Reels following the First Thursday Gallery Walks in June. Come enjoy the gallery exhibits from 5-8pm, and join us afterwards at dusk for great cult and art film classics!

Films will be projected onto the Mutual Bank wall on Charles Street at dusk. Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio area located at 117 E. Charles St. for guests who are 21 and up. Viewers who are not yet 21 can watch the films from the sidewalk surrounding the patio area. 

Grace Episcopal Church
300 S. Madison

“Joan Hamilton”

We will feature great music by local artist, Joan Hamilton. She is well-known in the Muncie area as a singer-songwriter. Come to Grace Episcopal Church at the corner of Madison St. and Adams St. for a great night of music. Also appearing is Yorktown High School student Iris Chalk. Art will be on display beginning at 5pm, and all other events will begin at 7pm. There will be an old-fashioned bake sale throughout the evening.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E. Main

“Summer Invitational”

Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company will celebrate First Thursday, June 2nd from 5 – 8 pm with an opening reception for the gallery’s third annual Summer Invitational. The exhibit will feature both 2D and 3D 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.

What started as a rare event in the exhibition schedule at Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co. is back for its third year. The Summer Invitational is designed to introduce our patrons to some of the best new work our region has to offer by exclusively exhibiting artists who are not currently represented by GFAF. This refreshing shift in the gallery’s routine programming brings together artists from throughout Central Indiana and features oil painting, sculpture, furniture, photography, watercolor, and jewelry. 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.

Exhibitors include Hannah Barnes, Jasmine D’Angelo, Suzanne Dittenber, Holly Lay, Tim Miller, and Noelle Weigand.

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.

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. Summer Invitational may also be viewed through the end of July during regular business hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5:30 pm, Saturday, 9 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.

The Living Room

130 W. Jackson

“Billy Riggs”

The Living Room will be featuring the work of artist Billy Riggs for June’s First Thursday celebration. Riggs is known for his artworks that are mostly created with spray paint. The show will feature nature scenes, futuristic pieces, comic book characters, and other mixed media works.

Muncie Makes Lab

628 S. Walnut

“CritChat: Unknown Territory”
For the past year, Muncie Makes Lab has been home to CritChat, a free, community meet-up developed and facilitated by artists Holly Lay and Braydee Euliss. This monthly gathering invites local artists of all kinds to participate in conversation about their own work and the work of others. Painters, photographers, sculptors, and makers alike are encouraged to bring completed work, work-in-progress, and even unrealized ideas with the sole intention of sharing. By enabling dialogue, promoting collaboration, and providing critical feedback, the group hopes to build community and support for emerging area artists.

The month of June marks CritChat’s one-year-anniversary. The group will celebrate with an opening reception for CritChat: Unknown Territory at Muncie Makes Lab on First Thursday, June 2nd, 5 – 9 PM. This exhibit explores a variety of media including photography, assemblage, installation, as well as video and sound manipulation performance with a focus on new techniques and subject matter. Featured in the exhibit are artists Spencer Davis, Kara Clark DuQuette, Michael DuQuette, Dave Franklin, Holly Lay, Rochelle Martin, and Jannell Summers.

Artists will be present and guests are encouraged to ask questions throughout the evening. Beginning at 8 PM, the exhibiting artists will introduce themselves and engage attendees in a sample CritChat experience, leading artists and viewers alike through the process of providing informed, critical feedback on select pieces featured in the exhibit. DJ JANNELL will provide music, and light refreshments will be served.

Find out more about CritChat & join the conversation every 3rd Thursday of the month from 7 – 9 PM at Muncie Makes Lab, 628 S. Walnut St. Muncie, IN 47605. No RSVP necessary. Muncie Makes Lab is a design/build, make, discuss, display, and workshop lab for students, faculty, staff from Ball State University as well as the Muncie community.

Savage's Ale House (21+)

127 N. High

“Kayla Goodpaster”

Savage’s Ale House will be featuring the work of Kayla Goodpaster, who has created a series of works inspired largely by the popular book and television series “Game of Thrones.”

Studio Exhale

103 N. High St.

“Public Art Master Plan”
Students from the Urban Planning Department, led by Prof. Lisa Dunaway, will be holding an open house to present their Public Art Master Plan, and will invite feedback from the public. The project is the result of an immersive learning course at Ball State University. Light refreshments will be served.

Alexander Landerman, "Rabbit in Flax" Alexander Landerman, "Expulsion" The "Bison-Tennial" Project, Muncie Arts and Culture Council "Little Shop of Horrors" playing at The Fickle Peach Sarah Shaffer, "Life in Plastic"

Savage's Ale House (21+)

127 N. High

“The Art of Alexander Landerman”

The work of Alexander Landerman will be on view at Savage’s Alehouse for July’s First Thursday. Landerman notes that: “As our society evolves, so does our relationship with animals. Due to industrialization, factory farming, and massive monocultures, our connection with food sources has been diminished. My interest lies within the roles played by animals, insects and plants, which are increasingly becoming overlooked and mistreated. My hope is to encourage a reconnection between consumers and their food sources and foster a sense of social responsibility.” While there is no formal opening reception, the artist will be on hand throughout the evening to talk about the work with anyone who is interested.

Muncie Arts and Culture Council

227 S Walnut Street; Muncie, IN

“Open House: Bison-tennial Project”

As part of July’s First Thursday activities, the Muncie Arts and Culture Council and the United Way of Delaware County are pleased to announce an open house showcasing Delaware County's Bison-Tennial project - our own Indiana Bicenntenial arts project. Please plan to stop by 227 S. Walnut (former Royal Crown Poker Club) between the hours of 5:00 and 9:00pm to see the Bison project "in progress" and hear from artist Denise King about the inspiration for her design, the Lenape Indian tribe, and their history.  Light refreshments provided.

This project is part of a 2016 state-wide endeavor to celebrate Indiana's 200th Statehood Day. The arts project will feature a 5-foot-tall fiberglass bison that will be decorated and displayed with an end goal of at least one bison on display in each of Indiana's 92 counties. The bison are expected to make appearances in the local community and along the Bicentennial Torch Relay route leading up to Indiana's Bicentennial Statehood Day on December 11th, 2016. The Delaware County Bison will then find its home in Tuhey Park in downtown Muncie.   

The selection committee in Delaware County, composed of United Way representatives and MACC committee members, used an RFP process to solicit proposals and ultimately select Denise King as the artist to complete our Bison project. Denise has a fine arts education with an emphasis in painting and drawing, and is a self-proclaimed Muncie and Delaware County enthusiast and promoter. As a mural artist and community activist with a love of history, she was drawn to this particular project. In Denise's words, "My intention is to create a piece that is not only beautiful, engaging, and interesting, but respectful, informed, educational and a vehicle to spark public interest in the subject matter." Denise has been working on the Bison for the past month and hopes to be finished by August. Until then, the public is invited to "watch the progress" through the window panes of 227 S. Walnut, and venture inside to talk with Denise on the days she is "in studio." 

The Fickle Peach (21+)

117 E. Charles

“Little Shop of Horrors”

Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, in collaboration with The Fickle Peach, presents After Hours Art Reels following the First Thursday Gallery Walks in May through September. Come enjoy the gallery exhibits from 5-8pm, and join us afterwards at dusk for these great cult and art film classics! July’s First Thursday screening will be Little Shop of Horrors.

Films will be projected onto the Mutual Bank wall on Charles Street at dusk. Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio area located at 117 E. Charles St. for guests who are 21 and up. Viewers who are not yet 21 can watch the films from the sidewalk surrounding the patio area. 

Cornerstone Center for The Arts

520 E. Main

“Sarah Shaffer: Life in Plastic”

Cornerstone Center for the Arts will be open until 5pm and is showing the art of Sarah Shaffer. Please note that this is an ongoing exhibition; there is no opening reception for this show on First Thursday.

The show titled “Life in Plastic” explores society’s monumental impact through the form of our tiniest role models.Beyond objectification and the weight of the world's expectations, creating this body of work was a very personal journey for Sarah. She created these paintings using one of her daughter's dolls as a model with the color palette of her childhood memory. These pieces embody her own path to define her self-image and the desire to not pass along physical insecurities to future generations.

Each piece is a depiction of a doll, focusing on a portion of the body and recreated on a large scale. This collection of acrylic paintings portrays the objectification and unrealistic expectations placed upon women. We perpetuate these damaging standards in our interactions with others and within ourselves. The titles are inspired by comments made to or about women in judgement of their appearance, their choices, and their actions.

Sarah, a visual arts instructor at Cornerstone as well as a commissioned artist, is a native of Indiana, grew up in Fort Wayne with A love of art from an early age. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University’s School of Art, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in metalsmithing earned in 2007. Her senior show titled "Playtime's Over," explored women's issues by combining Barbie dolls with precious metal to create conceptual jewelry.

Nearly 10 years after Sarah's senior project, she has revisited Barbie and some of the corresponding themes of objectification and unrealistic expectations through the form of painting rather than jewelry. In the near decade that has passed, Sarah has become a mother and wishes to confront these themes for the betterment of the next generation.

For more information about the show, call Cornerstone’s Department of Education & Communication at 766-281-9503, ext. 23.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E. Main

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co. will be closed July 4 - July 16. The shop will re-open and resume regular business hours Monday, July 18th. Their Summer Invitational exhibit continues through July 30th.

"Exhibiting Excellence," Cornerstone Center for the Arts "Labyrinth," AfterHours Art Reels at The Fickle Peach Gunther Cartwright, "Palm Springs," at Gordy Fine Art and Framing "Be Our Guest," open-door rehearsals at Muncie Civic Theater Spencer Davis, "Figure Study," at Muncie Makes Lab

Cornerstone Center for The Arts

520 E. Main

“Exhibiting Excellence”

In celebration of another successful class session at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, the organization will feature artwork from its youth and adult students in the Cornerstone Art Gallery throughout the month of August. This mixed media collection of art will showcase the best visual arts pieces of the session chosen by Cornerstone’s instructors. With selections from both youth and adults with various artistic backgrounds, this show will truly highlight all that Cornerstone’s arts program has to offer.

An opening reception will be held in conjunction with First Thursday on August 4th from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Cornerstone Art Gallery. The reception is free and open to the public and many of the student-artists will be onsite to speak about their artwork.

The show will continue to be on display throughout the month of August to help promote upcoming fall twelve-week classes beginning in September. Information and registration for upcoming classes, workshops, and camps will be available on the evening of the opening reception as well as throughout the month of August.

For more information about the show call Cornerstone’s Department of Education and Communication at 765-281-9503, ext. 23.

The Fickle Peach (21+)

117 E. Charles

“Afterhours Art Reels: Labyrinth”

Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, in collaboration with The Fickle Peach, presents After Hours Art Reels following the First Thursday Gallery Walks in May through September. Come enjoy the gallery exhibits from 5-8pm, and join us afterwards at dusk for Jim Henson’s 1986 film Labyrinth, featuring David Bowie.

Films will be projected onto the Mutual Bank wall on Charles Street at dusk. Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio area located at 117 E. Charles St. for guests who are 21 and up. Viewers who are not yet 21 can watch the films from the sidewalk surrounding the patio area. 

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E. Main

“Industrial Blues: An Exhibit of Photography by Gunther Cartwright”

Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company will celebrate First Thursday, August 4th from 5-8 pm with an opening reception for Industrial Blues, an exhibit of landscape photography by Gunther Cartwright. The artist will be on hand to engage with viewers throughout the evening and will speak briefly to the audience about his work at 6:15pm. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend.

Cartwright’s landscapes exquisitely capture the details of industry that form the backdrop of life in today’s modern world. About his interest in this subject matter, Cartwright explains, “The power lines, telephone poles, fences and industrial structures are a part of my daily visual experience. They are not in my way. I see them as elements of the landscape. They are there and they make their visual ‘sound.’ I am not interested in the picturesque but rather the formal arrangements of elements and color within the landscape.” His eye for vivid color and graphic compositions often draw unexpected connections among things seen in the everyday landscape, transforming banal and rarely celebrated visual moments into striking works of art.

Cartwright holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the renowned Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Applied Photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology, School of Photographic Arts and Sciences. An active lecturer and exhibitor, Cartwright has presented throughout Europe and the United States. He is a recipient of a Polaroid Corporation Photographer’s Grant and a New York State Council on the Arts Public Service Grant (CAPS). He has exhibited internationally in many one-man and group shows, including at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., the George Eastman Museum, Rochester, NY, the National Museum of Photography, Bradford, England, The Photographer’s Gallery, London, England, and at Photokina, Köln, Germany.

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. Industrial Blues may also be viewed through the end of August during regular business hours: Monday through Friday, 9am-5:30pm, Saturday, 9am-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.

Muncie Civic Theatre
216 E. Main

“Be Our Guest: Open-Door Rehearsals”

During August’s First Thursday events on August 4th, Muncie Civic Theatre will have wine in the lobby and open door rehearsals for Be Our Guest on stage (which opens August 6th). In a First Thursday “first,” they will also have a Pokemon Go Lure turned on throughout the evening.

Muncie Makes Lab

628 S. Walnut

“CritChat Exhibit: ART via CRAFT”

Muncie Makes Lab will host its third CritChat exhibit of the year for First Thursday, August 4 from 5-9 PM. “CritChat: ART via CRAFT” is a one night only pop-up exhibit that explores craft as an impetus for art making.

The line between art and craft is a blurry one that often looks to intention and function for clarification. Historically, practices such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking have been classified as “arts,” while ceramics, textiles, metalwork, and woodwork have been considered “crafts.” The primary distinction between the two has relied on whether the work was made with the intention of being expressive or solely utilitarian. “CritChat: ART via CRAFT” exhibits work that questions this distinction and further blurs the line between them.

Exhibiting artists will be present and guests are encouraged to ask questions throughout the evening. Beginning at 8 PM, the artists will introduce themselves and engage attendees in a sample CritChat experience, leading the audience through the process of providing informed, critical feedback on select pieces featured in the exhibit. DJ JANNELL will provide music, and light refreshments will be served.

CritChat is a free, community meet-up developed and facilitated by artists Holly Lay and Braydee Euliss. This monthly gathering invites local artists of all kinds to participate in conversation about their own work and the work of others. Painters, photographers, sculptors, and makers alike are encouraged to bring completed work, work-in-progress, and even unrealized ideas with the sole intention of sharing. By enabling dialogue, promoting collaboration, and providing critical feedback, the group hopes to build community and support for emerging area artists.

Find out more about CritChat & join the conversation every 3rd Thursday of the month from 7-9 PM at Muncie Makes Lab, 628 S. Walnut St. Muncie, IN 47605. No RSVP necessary. Muncie Makes Lab is a design/build, make, discuss, display, and workshop lab for students, faculty, and staff from Ball State University, as well as the Muncie community.

Harlan Mathieu, woodcut, The Atrium Gallery "The Bird Cage," After Hours Art Reels at The Fickle Peach Hillcroft Services on the Goldspace Stage "Facing Humanity: A Parade of Masks," at Gordy Fine Art "Beauty and the Beast," at Muncie Civic Theatre "DIDACTIC" at the Muncie Makes Lab Faith Kellermeyer, "Own It," at Savage's Alehouse The Book Arts Collaborative

The Atrium Gallery

Arts and Journalism Building, 1st floor, Ball State University campus

“Dellas Henke and Harlan Mathieu”

There will be an Opening Reception for First Thursday from 4-6pm for an exhibition of woodcuts and engravings by Dellas Henke and Harlan Mathieu at The Atrium Gallery on Ball State University’s campus. The opening reception is on Thursday, and the shows run until Sept. 21.

Dellas Henke has a BFA from SUNY Brockport where he worked with Robert Marx and an MFA from the University of Iowa where he worked with Mauricio Lasansky. While still a student, Henke started what would become three projects creating illustrations for literary works by Samuel Beckett. This included gaining permission from Beckett and meeting with him for discussion and signatures. Henke currently teaches at Grand Valley State University where he has been a faculty member since the early 1980s. He has continued to work and exhibit widely and mostly creates work in a series that has a particular theme. His series Chemo Waste deals with his illness from cancer.

Harlan Mathieu also has an MFA from the University of Iowa where he too worked with the renowned artist, Mauricio Lasansky. Although he has had work published by The Iowa Review, Mathieu 's fortunes did not include a career in university teaching. Instead, Mathieu worked for many years as a carpenter at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Only in the last ten years or so has he been involved in teaching, as an elementary art teacher in the New York City Public Schools. Yet, Mathieu has still continued to work and exhibit at many venues, including the prestigious Society of American Graphic Artists. He is featured in the book The Fine Artist’s Career Guide by Daniel Grant.

The Fickle Peach (21+)

117 E. Charles

“Afterhours Art Reels: The Bird Cage”

Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, in collaboration with The Fickle Peach, presents After Hours Art Reels following the First Thursday Gallery Walks in May through September. Come enjoy the gallery exhibits from 5-8pm, and join us afterwards at dusk for the 1996 comedy, The Birdcage, starring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, and Gene Hackman.

Films will be projected onto the Mutual Bank wall on Charles Street at dusk. Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio area located at 117 E. Charles St. for guests who are 21 and up. Viewers who are not yet 21 can watch the films from the sidewalk surrounding the patio area. 

Goldspace Theatre

At Canan Common (500 block of Walnut Street, near the Roundabout)

“Free Concert at Canan Commons, sponsored by Goldspace Theater”
Thursday, September 1st Artswalk at Canan Commons there will be very special free concert at 6pm on behalf of Goldspace Theater, where creativity uplifts the disadvantaged and marginalized, both children & adults.

Dale Basham will MC a concert celebrating Middletown and Indiana's Bicentennial by including works created for this celebration. "Doc" Peterson premieres his composition, Happy Birthday, Muncie, featuring long-time favorite Muncie singers, Beth Leavell-Davis and Phil Dunn. "Doc" accompanies rockin'-soul performances by Kyle Ivy, Barb Frost, Vanessa Ament, and Beth of three songs set in Heartland High School. These works are collaborations of born-again Hoosiers: Flo Lapin, Joe Spence, Dee Hartmann, and John Clark. The works include Bells N' Balls and I Want To Be A Teacher.

Muncie's own Mike Milligan of Steam Shovel fame will be performing his original works, as well as Steve Robert of The Jazzmanians, who will entertain with several of his compositions. Last, but certainly not least, Goldspace students from Hillcroft will cheer on the crowd into a celebratory mood. On hand for excellent eats will be Paraiso Restaurant and Rolling Hawaiian. 

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E. Main

“Facing Humanity: A Parade of Masks”
Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company will celebrate First Thursday, September 1st from 5 – 8 pm with an opening reception for Facing Humanity: A Parade of Masks, an exhibition of hand-made masks by artist and performer Jonathan Becker. The artist will be on hand to engage with viewers throughout the evening and will speak briefly to the audience about his work at 6:15pm. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend.

Jonathan Becker is a mask maker, teaching artist, and performer. His first experience with masks was in the summer of 1979. At 15 years old, he attended a summer conference on clowning at Oberlin College where he had the opportunity to hear Avner Eisenberg, hailed as one of the greatest clowns of all time, speak about the universal qualities of the “neutral” mask and what it revealed to the actor.

Reflecting on the indelible experience, Becker recalled, “He put it on, stood for moment in a stillness that created a deafening silence and then, slightly turned his head. In that moment, the world shifted. I saw the mask change, I saw Avner change, I saw the audience change, and I felt the air in the room change.”

He began sculpting masks in 1986 while attending The International School of Theatre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France. Upon his return to the United States, Becker founded Theater-Masks.com, a full service production shop which creates masks for the international theatre community. His masks are currently being use by educational institutions, professional theatres and individual artists. Over the past 16 years, Becker has seen more than 10,000 masks leave the studio for destinations in 45 countries with clients including Disney Theatrical in association with The Lion King, Focus Films, NBC, The Bravo Cable Network, and Theater of Enchantment in Philadelphia. You can visit the studio at www.theater-masks.com.

Since 1988, Becker has helped in the development of fifteen original plays. He co-founded and was Co-Artistic Director of two theatre companies: Les Senokrates in Luzern, Switzerland and The Brodeur Brothers in Paris, France. He is a regular guest artist at the International Acting with Masks Program at Olso University College in Oslo, Norway. Currently, Becker is the Artistic Director of the North American Laboratory for the Performing Arts. For the past ten years, he has lived and worked in Muncie, IN where he is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Ball State University.

Grace Episcopal Church
300 S. Madison

“Exhibition and Music at Grace Episcopal Church”

At Grace Episcopal Church, our doors open at 5pm for First Thursday Artswalk with an exhibition by several local artists. At 7:30pm we will host singer-guitar player Ric Dwenger, who is known for his folk songs and ballads. We will also have something new! At 6pm we will host an all-ages mini-camp/workshop program called “Anti-Bullying,” presented by A Better Way. All donations this evening will be given to A Better Way.

Muncie Civic Theatre
216 E. Main

“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”

Muncie Civic Theatre presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast on the main stage for First Thursday starting at 7:30pm (tickets required). This "tale as old as time" tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love another and earn their love in return then the spell would be broken. If not, he and his household would be doomed to remain cursed for all time.

The show runs from August 19-20, 25-28 to September 1-4. Thursday, Friday, & Saturday shows are at 7:30pm, and the Sunday Matinees on Aug 28th and Sept 4th are at 2:00pm. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for groups of 10+, and $13 for students & children.

Muncie Makes Lab

628 S. Walnut

The Muncie Makes Lab will be hosting three exhibitions for September’s First Thursday:

“Art Mart @Muncie Makes Lab, Karen Fisher, Brittaney Edwards & Tracy Jarrett”

 Several of the members of Art Mart’s staff have the same thing in common; they are all graduates of Ball State University’s School of Art. Since they work for the local art supply, they are all pretty knowledgeable on art supplies and how to use them, each using personal favorites to compose this show.

Karen Fisher, Art Mart’s owner, is a 1976 graduate, majoring in Art Education. Fisher completed her master’s degree in Education in 1991 and has owned Art Mart since 2003. She likes to draw natural things or any of her collections, which are extensive. She is a self-proclaimed “supply junkie” who likes to collect just about anything of interest. When asked, “What are your interests?,” she would answer, ”Everything”!

Brittaney Edwards graduated in the spring of 2015 from Ball State University. Since then she has been exploring different media that she did not have time for while in college. Edwards usually likes to draw things related to society and culture that normally come from personal experience or observations of the everyday. She also enjoys blending the dividing lines of painting and drawing in her work. She does so by working in watercolor, ink, and more recently, colored pencil, keeping a focus on mark-making and line work. 

Tracy Jarrett graduated from Ball State University in the spring of 2015 with a BFA in glass. Although she loves working with glass, she also enjoys drawing in many different media and painting with watercolor. A primary focus within her work is navigating life with an anxiety disorder. She expresses visually the reality of being incapable of decompressing or winding down at the end of the day and the exhaustion that comes with not being able to relax. Through the presentation of her work, she aims to normalize the discussion of mental illnesses.

“Flim Flam with instructor James Kerestes”

Flim Flam is an exhibition of artifacts produced by Architecture Design students from Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Planning. Characterized as architectural misfits and oddities, these objects aim to explore conditions of the unfamiliar and strange.

“Didactic Launch for Exhibit Columbus” 

Join us for the launch of the 3rd issue of DIDACTIC, which look at the architectural history of Columbus, Indiana. Featuring nine site histories by Enrique Ramirez, the issue also includes an examination of Eames Aluminum Group by Amy Auscherman, a B-sides tour of Columbus by Matt Shaw, and images by Hadley Fruits. Produced and published by PRINTtEXT, DIDACTIC 03 is a textual supplement to the inaugural symposium for Exhibit Columbus, "Foundations and Futures." For more information visit exhibitcolumbus.org. or https://www.facebook.com/PRINTtEXT.co/

Savage's Ale House (21+)

127 N. High

“Faith Kellermeyer”

A series of paintings by Faith Kellermeyer will be on display at Savages Alehouse for September's First Thursday. The artist will be on-site throughout the evening to talk about her work with anyone who is interested.

As a hand-letterer, Kellermeyer is often commissioned to design home decor displaying inspirational quotes. With this series of paintings, she turns the inspirational quote on its head by pairing traditional decorative and floral patterns with both empowering feminist messages and an irreverent sense of humor. She is also a member of We're Trying Collective, a group of Muncie-based artists who work collaboratively to promote community interests while building a culture of inclusion and creative expression.

For those interested in purchasing her work, Kellermeyer also sells prints of her paintings at a lower price point. Please contact her at faithkellermeyer@gmail.com for questions and inquiries.

JUST ADDED!

There will be an open house from 5-8pm at the Book Arts Collaborative  (in the Madjax building located at 514 E. Jackson) and also an open house at Tribune Showprint (501 E. Main St.)

John Scofield to perform at Cornerstone Center for the Arts Patricia Kriegh's "Splang" exhibition opening, Cornerstone Center for the Arts Monkey Thunder at Gordy Fine Art and Framing One year anniversary celebration at Heidi J. Hale Karl Erickson, "Video Thunder" at Black Box Theatre AIAS Art Sale at Muncie Makes Lab Jennifer Smith, "Badlands," at Rose Court Janice Carter at Twin Archer Brewpub The Yart Sale, Old National Trust Parking Lot

For full information on all of the events happening for October's First Thursday Arts Walk, please visit Muncie's Downtown Development website at the following link:

http://www.downtownmuncie.org/artswalk/

Wesley Nally, “Colors in the Life of an Artist,” Cornerstone Center for the Arts "Young Frankenstein," After Hours Art Reels at the Fickle Peach "Blues Jam" at Valhalla

Cornerstone Center for the Arts
520 E. Main

Join Cornerstone Center for Arts for an opening reception and art show featuring the art of Wesley Nally. The show, titled “Colors in the Life of an Artist,” captures everyday life through the eyes of the artist depicted in a range of expressive colors.

The collection explores a coming of age for Nally who has grown as an artist through his life experiences. Each piece in the show was created to provoke thought using colors chosen to symbolize various emotions. The connection between subject and color helps to express the feelings behind each piece.

Nally is an Indiana native from Blackford County who studied art as a student and previously served as the resident cartoonist for the Bruins School Newspaper while at Blackford High School. He says that this collection has been “a lifetime coming and serves as his reintroduction to the world of art.”

The opening reception of “Colors in the Life of an Artist” will take place 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 July.

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

The Fickle Peach (21+)
117 E. Charles

After Hours Art Reels: Young Frankenstein- Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, in collaboration with The Fickle Peach, presents After Hours Art Reels. July’s film is the 1974 Mel Brooks’ comedy “Young Frankenstein,” starring Gene Wilder and Madeleine Kahn. Come enjoy the gallery exhibits from 5-8pm, and join us afterwards at dusk for these great cult and art film classics!

Films will be projected onto the Mutual Bank wall on Charles Street at dusk. Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio area located at 117 E. Charles St. for guests who are 21 and up. Viewers who are not yet 21 can watch the films from the sidewalk surrounding the patio area.

Save the First Thursday dates for the films this summer. Go to http://www.downtownmuncie.org/after-hours-art-reels/ to see the trailers for all the films.

Savage's Ale House (21+)
127 N. High

Work by artist Chris Carroll with 3C Visual Studios Photo Gallery will be on view.

Valhalla  (21+)
215 S. Walnut

Valhalla and The Heorot present “Blues Jam” every Thursday. “Blues Jam” is an open event with sign-up starting at 7pm and music from 8-11pm. Come show us your talent!

Bill Lett at Elm Street Brewing Co. "The Fifth Element," After Hours Art Reels at the Fickle Peach Forever Young Children's Boutique, "Mom's Helping Mom's Benefit" Allison Smith, "Anaglygh 3D," Gordy Fine Art and Framing Co. Allison Smith, "510 W 27th Street & 555 W 22nd Street (Diptych)" National IPA Day, The Heorot GindhART @Madjax First Thursday with Debra Gindhart Dragoo #TellTodd Community Action Party: First Thursdays with the Planned Parenthood Summer of Defiance Tom Stader at Studio Exhale "Blues Jam" at Valhalla

Elm Street Brewing (21+)
519 N. Elm

Elm Street Brewing Company will launch its participation in the First Thursday Gallery Walk series this month. The brewery will feature artwork created by its co-owner, Bill Lett.

Bill is a native o​f​ Michigan but has lived large parts of his life in Colorado, California, and Muncie. He has completed over 1,000,000 square feet of historic preservation, hundreds of high end retail stores and restaurants, along with dozens of custom homes. With the help of his wife Robin Lett, Bill’s most recent and active project is the restoration of the Muncie Ice and Coal building.

His artistic work spans many mediums and has most recently centered upon the creation of “Steel Tattoos” which have become the hallmark of Elm Street Brewing Company’s interior design. Join us on Thursday to hear the story of Bill’s creative inspiration and to see other works of art not presently on display.

The Fickle Peach (21+)
117 E. Charles

After Hours Art Reels: The Fifth Element- Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, in collaboration with The Fickle Peach, presents After Hours Art Reels. August’s film is the 1997 hit “The Fifth Element” starring Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich. Come enjoy the gallery exhibits from 5-8pm, and join us afterwards at dusk for these great cult and art film classics!

Films will be projected onto the Mutual Bank wall on Charles Street at dusk. Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio area located at 117 E. Charles St. for guests who are 21 and up. Viewers who are not yet 21 can watch the films from the sidewalk surrounding the patio area.

Save the First Thursday dates for the films this summer. Go to http://www.downtownmuncie.org/after-hours-art-reels/ to see the trailers for all the films.

Forever Young Children’s Boutique
125 E. Charles

“Mom’s Helping Mom’s” Special Promotion: Forever Young Children’s Boutique is having a benefit for First Choice for Women. Bring a donation of baby wipes and/or diapers and receive special discounts! 5% off total purchase for one donated item, 10% for two items, and 15% for 3 items. They will also hold special extended hours from 5-7pm. 

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E. Main

Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company will celebrate First Thursday, August 3rd from 5 – 8 pm with an opening reception for the gallery’s first Fiber Arts Invitational. The exhibit will feature artwork by local and regional fiber artists. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend.

The Fiber Arts Invitational will introduce a variety of approaches to traditional and contemporary techniques being used in fiber arts today including hand weaving, industrial weaving, and felting. Exhibiting artists are Martina Celerin, Ann Land, and Allison Smith. Celerin is a fiber artist who creates dimensional weavings using reclaimed and recycled materials. Born in Prague, she now lives and works in Bloomington, Indiana. Land is an Insurance Agent by day and an artist by nature. Her most recent exploration with fiber arts are 2D and 3D felted works made in her Muncie studio. Smith received her BFA in Crafts, Textiles and Fine Arts minor from Kent State University in 2014. She is currently continuing her studies at Kent State University as she pursues her MFA in Crafts, Textiles. She combines various textile materials and techniques with a focus on dualities: hard and soft, rigid and fluid, geometric and organic.

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. The Fiber Arts Invitational will be on view through Saturday, September 2nd and close with an afternoon artist reception and demonstration. The downtown gallery will also partner with their neighbor Yarn Stories, a local yarn store that has been serving the fiber arts community since 2015, to present small educational opportunities throughout the exhibition.

Grace Episcopal Church
300 S. Madison

We have a great idea on how to stay cool on a hot day! Come listen to hot music indoors. At Grace Episcopal Church (corner of Madison and Adams), we will be hosting classical guitarist Paul Reilly. Reilly will be featuring two 20th century composers, Joaquin Turina and Federica Moreno-Tamoba. The concert starts at 7:30pm and a reception will follow.

Heorot Pub & Draught House (21+)
219 S. Walnut

First Thursday is national IPA Day and we're celebrating with 6 hoppy brews from Grand Rapids' Founders Brewing!

Centennial IPA (65 IBU, 7.2%)
Get ready to bask in the glory of the frothy head’s floral bouquet. Relish the citrus accents from the abundance of dry hopping. This one’s sweet, yet balanced. Malty undertones shake hands with the hop character for a finish that never turns too bitter.

All Day IPA (42 IBU, 4.7%)
The beer you’ve been waiting for. Keeps your taste satisfied while keeping your senses sharp. An all-day IPA naturally brewed with a complex array of malts, grains and hops. Balanced for optimal aromatics and a clean finish. The perfect reward for an honest day’s work and the ultimate companion to celebrate life’s simple pleasures.

Red's Rye IPA (70 IBU, 6.6%)
Serious hop bitterness, along with an unyielding grapefruit bouquet from the Amarillo dry hop, balances the malty richness of four varieties of imported Belgian caramel malts. Pours a spectacular crimson with a creamy tan head. A generous addition of rye malt accentuates a spicy, crisp finish.

reDANKulous (90 IBU, 9.5%)
This bold, 9.5% imperial red IPA pours a pleasing burnt amber color. Caramalt and roasted barley introduce a subtle sweetness, but the hops are the true headliner in this big IPA. The spicy, piney and tropical complexities of Chinook, Mosaic and Simcoe hops hit you right away with their dank aroma – and they stick around. It’s not just ridiculous. It’s reDANKulous.

Doom (86 IBU, 12.4%)
Doom may be impending but that doesn’t mean you have to fear it. A collision of worlds, the intense hop character of our imperial IPA mingles with the warm vanilla and oak notes imparted from time spent in our favorite bourbon barrels. Like all good things, Doom comes to those who wait.

10K IPA (75 IBU, 9.1%)
Like many good things, 10K IPA was the result of a bet. Our Co-Founder offered our Brewmaster $10,000 to brew an IPA that got higher ratings than one of the notoriously best IPAs in the world. Our Brewmaster claims he never got that $10,000, but the beer world got an incredibly big and bold IPA, exploding with Simcoe hop flavor and just the right amount of malt sweetness. Win-win.

Madjax Muncie
514 E. Jackson St.

GindhART @Madjax First Thursday with Debra Gindhart Dragoo

Longtime local artist and designer Debra Gindhart Dragoo is in her Madjax Studio with new paintings, small painted furniture, new text pieces, green glam on vintage displays, and new recycle-chic jewelry available for purchase. Her art processes include but are not limited to Aerosols, Acrylics and Assemblage with commissions welcomed. Meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments from 5-9pm during First Thursday’s Gallery Walk.

Studio Exhale
103 N. High St.

For the month of August, Studio Exhale will feature the artwork of Tom Stader. His colorful work showcases the beauty of nature through his eyes. Opening reception is on First Thursday from 5-8pm.

Valhalla  (21+)
215 S. Walnut

Valhalla and The Heorot present “Blues Jam” every Thursday. “Blues Jam” is an open event with sign-up starting at 7pm and music from 8-11pm. Come show us your talent!

Muncie YWCA
310 E. Charles (Community Room)

#TellTodd Community Action Party: First Thursdays with the Planned Parenthood Summer of Defiance

Join the Planned Parenthood Summer of Defiance team Thursday, August 3rd from 5:30-7pm at the YWCA to help hold Senator Todd Young accountable! #TellTodd why YOU stand with Planned Parenthood and the 22 million Americans at risk of losing their healthcare if this new senate ‘healthcare’ bill is passed once and for all. Win a t-shirt, make a poster, decorate some cookies, and make your voice heard!

Samantha Brummer, Cornerstone Center for the Arts "Moulin Rouge," After Hours Art Reels at the Fickle Peach David Dale, "Odyssey," Gordy Fine Arts and Framing Harmony Cafe and Studio Newton's Cenotaph, IDIA Lab "Conservation Tales: Bats," at Made in Muncie "GindhART @Madjax 65 Partay," Madjax Maring-Hunt Library Community Garden Gateway to Growing Pavilion and Nature Play Pockets, Faculty: Pam Harwood, Muncie Makes Lab Lions Club Park in Yorktown, IN, Faculty: Sean Burns, Muncie Makes Lab “49262” at Exhibit Columbus, Faculty: Josh Coggeshall, Muncie Makes Lab Digital design and fabrication, Faculty: Richard Tursky, Muncie Makes Lab "Blues Jam," Valhalla

The Atrium Gallery
Arts and Journalism Building, 1st floor, Ball State University campus

Stacey Lee Webber is a 2005 alumnus of the School of Art and went on to receive an MFA from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Since that time, she has created her own metalsmithing and jewelry business, focusing on unconventional materials and low-impact, environmentally conscious practices. She has been exhibiting her work internationally and traveling North America, giving lectures and demonstrations. Her work was featured in the 40 under 40: Craft Futures, an exhibition at the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, highlighting artists to watch in the field of contemporary crafts.

On September 7th, the Atrium Gallery will be open 9:00am - 8:00pm .
Objectified: A Solo Show by Stacey Lee Webber is on display August 21-September 20, 2017.
The Atrium Gallery is on the first floor of the Art & Journalism Building on Ball State campus. Hours are Monday-Friday 9am-4pm and Saturday 1pm-4pm.
The closing reception with Artist Talk will be held in the Atrium Gallery September 20, 2017 4-6pm.

Book Arts Collaborative (at Madjax)
600 E. Main

Tribune Showprint Posters and Book Arts Collaborative will be open this Thursday.  They will have a press inked up, and visitors can pull a print.

Cornerstone Center for the Arts
520 E. Main

Join Cornerstone Center for Arts for a First Thursday Celebration on September 7th. September’s First Thursday happenings at Cornerstone will feature both an opening reception at Cornerstone Art Gallery as well as interactive demonstrations by Cornerstone instructors at Cornerstone Park.

Samantha Brammer, owner of Samantha Rose Photography, has been a photographer for seven years. Her work focuses on creativity, documentary style, and capturing true emotion. As she continues to learn and grow as a photographer, she finds herself focusing on natural light, candid moments, and finding the beauty in any situation. Samantha, a Muncie-native, is in her fourth year at Ball State University and will be graduating in December with her degree in photojournalism and minors in sociology and graphic arts technology. The work featured in the collection is a variety of Samantha’s landscape, lifestyle, journalism, and studio work.

The opening reception for the photography of Samantha Brammer, will take place on Thursday, September 7 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 September.

Once you have enjoyed the photography in the Cornerstone Art Gallery, be sure to stop by Cornerstone Park at the corner of Madison and Main for visual and performing arts demonstrations. Belly Dance and Hip Hop/Contemporary dancers will utilize the stage, while visual artists demonstrate ceramic wheel throwing, painting, and graffiti/anime drawing. Cornerstone staff will be on hand to answer questions regarding upcoming fall classes, events, and workshops.

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

The Fickle Peach (21+)
117 E. Charles

After Hours Art Reels: Moulin Rouge: Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, in collaboration with The Fickle Peach, presents After Hours Art Reels following the First Thursday Gallery Walks. September’s film will be Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge, starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Come enjoy the gallery exhibits from 5-8pm, and join us afterwards at dusk for these great cult and art film classics! Plus, Fire and Brimstone Pizza Company will be serving food outside of the Fickle Peach from 5pm until dark.

Films will be projected onto the Mutual Bank wall on Charles Street at dusk. Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio area located at 117 E. Charles St. for guests who are 21 and up. Viewers who are not yet 21 can watch the films from the sidewalk surrounding the patio area.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E. Main

Muncie Artist David Dale and Nashville Poet Andrew Hubbard collaborate to make more than 20 works of art inspired by East Central Indiana’s Red-tail Land Conservancy.  Fall exhibition and sale of their works to benefit Red-tail’s mission.

Artist David Dale, well-known for his deep concern for the environment and natural resources, has partnered with Andrew Hubbard, who has published two books of poetry reflecting on the connectivity of humanity and nature. Their project is titled All About the Land:  Pastels of David Dale and Poetry of Andrew Hubbard.  An exhibition will open to the public at Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company on September 7, 2017. Proceeds from sale of the work will benefit Red-tail Land Conservancy.

“We at Gordy are so pleased to be a part if this project to highlight and support the important work of Red-tail,” said Gordy owners Barbara and Carl Schafer. “We are equally pleased to be the venue to welcome David Dale back to Muncie.”

Hubbard and Dale met in Nashville Indiana where he moved after his retirement from David Dale Designs several years ago. They were neighbors and active members of the creative community there. Dale has since moved back to Muncie and asked Hubbard to partner with him in the creative community here. 

Their art is inspired by visits to Red-tail lands, now totaling more than 2,600 acres at 36 sites in East-Central Indiana counties. “I work in the studio, but painting outdoors is my passion,” said Dale. “For each image, there is a poem by Andy sharing the same subject. Sometimes my painting responds to his poem, and other times his poem responds to my painting. They will be exhibited side by side.”

“The experience of working in these remarkable settings is intensely rewarding,” Hubbard adds. “We hope that the works will enable you to participate in the vibrancy of a special place and time."

Red-tail Land Conservancy’s mission is to preserve, protect, and restore natural areas and farm land in east central Indiana while increasing awareness of our natural heritage. “We hope Dale and Hubbard’s portrayals of these preserved sites will inspire Hoosiers to appreciate the splendor of nature and join Red-tail in its mission,” said Red-tail’s Education and Outreach Coordinator Julie Borgman.     

“I look forward to any opportunity to walk in our woods, and love to accompany David and Andy on their visits,” said Executive Director Barry Banks. “I can’t wait to see the Red-tail renderings that will emerge.”

Dale and Hubbard have also welcomed watercolorist, Jim Faulkner to collaborate on the exhibit. Dale and Faulkner have teamed-up over the years on many successful art projects, including the exhibit, “River Odyssey, Two Artists Follow the Wabash”, which toured several galleries and museums for over a year, starting with the Indiana State Museum and ending at Minnetrista Cultural Center before going to auction with a percent of proceeds going to support the Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission’s educational and conservation programs.

David Dale is well-known in East Central Indiana and beyond for his years as an interior designer, but now paints full time. He studied art the Fort Wayne School and Museum and has taught in the Ball State University School of Art.His major exhibits include, River Odyssey, Two Artists Follow the Wabash, and Oakhurst Gardnens through the Seasons. He has received numerous awards in competitions, including those hosted by The Hoosier Salon, Indiana Heritage Arts, Richmond Art Museum, and Minnetrista.

Andrew Hubbard holds degrees in Creative Writing from Dartmouth College and Columbia University. For most of his career, he worked as Director of Training for a number of major financial institutions. He is a well-known speaker on the topic of corporate training, and has authored three books and dozens of articles on the subject. He has published two books of poetry, Things That Get You, and The Divining Rod, both through Interactive Press. 

Odyssey

By Andrew Hubbard

Imagine effortless perfection.

Imagine this river

Not making a wrong turn

In a thousand years,

Reflecting every leaf and cloud

With passion and precision

Nourishing the deep roots

Of the silver maples

Who offer tribute in return:

Showers of golden leaves

Gifted to the river current

Wherever it may venture.

Grace Episcopal Church
300 S. Madison

Come down to the corner of Madison and Adams streets to Grace Episcopal Church for a concert of folk rock music. Steve Robert and the Jazz Manian Devils will be performing at 7:30pm. This is a local band that performs at community events, including Foodie Fridays during the summer and other local music revues in Muncie. The lead singer and guitar player, Steve Robert, is also known for leading drum circles here in Muncie.

Harmony Café and Studio
112 W. Jackson

Harmony Dance Studio will have an open house for all levels of dancers and novices, with short mini lessons in swing and salsa dancing on the hour, every hour, from 5-8pm. Each lesson will be about 20 minutes long. They are great for people with or without a partner, and they are all free.

Idia Lab
223 S. Walnut St.

Ball State University’s IDIA Lab will showcase recent virtual reality projects at 223 S. Walnut Street (the former Silo) during Muncie’s First Thursday. Stop by to explore selections from our immersive multiuser environments that use the HTC Vive VR headsets, including a simulation of the 1915 World’s Fair in San Francisco; a monumental, never-built design of a tomb for Sir Isaac Newton; and play basketball in a virtual gym. IDIA Lab staff and faculty will be on hand for questions about how these emerging technologies are being used in the arts, sciences and humanities. IDIA Lab is an interdisciplinary virtual reality and simulation lab at Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Planning.

Made in Muncie
313 S Walnut Street

“Conservation Tales: Bats”: Art exhibition and book sale. Learn more about the series about wildlife conservation for young readers (grades 3-5). Meet the Author, Tom J. McConnell, Ph.D., from the Department of Biology and Art Director, Barbara Giorgio from the School of Art at Ball State University. School of Art students will be available for book signing and to answer questions about the creative process, illustrators Sami Pfaff, Sierra Hensley, Janice Carter and Sarah DeMars; and graphic designer, Natalie Rokosz. 

The first two books in the series The Cerulean Warbler and Bats will be available for purchase and you will get a sneak peek at the next two books in the series, Conservation Tales: Bees and Salamanders available January 2018.

Learn more about the series at www.conservationtales.com

Madjax Muncie
514 E. Jackson St.

GindhART @Madjax 65 Partay: Debra Gindhart Dragoo turns 65 during the month of September. She has a long standing ART-BIRTHDAY ritual with Downtown Muncie's First Thursday event. There will be celebratory treats (CAKE) and light refreshments from 5-9pm. First Thursday at Madjax Muncie is an opportunity to meet the artist. See a new text collection and art featuring aerosols, acrylics, and assemblage wall art. There is also a new Green Glam Studio jewelry collection as well, Boho Funky, which includes earrings and tassel necklaces. Recycle chic is the Real Babes Recycle art anthem of long time artist/designer and educator Debra Gindhart Dragoo.

Muncie Makes Lab
628 S. Walnut

Maring-Hunt Library Community Garden Gateway to Growing Pavilion and Nature Play Pockets, Faculty: Pam Harwood

The Maring-Hunt Library Community Garden Master Plan, its improvement and expansion, and a series of three Garden Pavilions and Nature Play Pockets were developed as useful spaces to address food insecurity in a USDA-designated food desert, cultivate community interaction and social activity, and provide learning opportunities for the Southview Elementary School students, Maring-Hunt Library patrons, and neighborhood families.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBpFa4U7N6A

Lions Club Park in Yorktown, IN, Faculty: Sean Burns

The permanent installation structure within Lions Club Park is a response to a vision by the Yorktown’s Council for the Arts and the Parks Department to help encourage more interaction and engagement for children at the site as well as serve as a gateway piece for a newly proposed pedestrian trail system that will be developed throughout the park.

“49262” at Exhibit Columbus, Faculty: Josh Coggeshall

Located at Central Middle School in Columbus Indiana, 49262 is one of 6 university installations showcasing the cutting-edge work of Midwestern universities with masters programs in architecture.

Digital design and fabrication, Faculty: Richard Tursky

This seminar looked at automata and other mechanical devices as inspiration for the development of robotic architecture (transformable spaces) to develop critical and prototypical projects.

Digital and Design Toolmaking, Faculty: Dan Eisinger

The Digital and Design Toolmaking elective at CAP challenged architecture students to engage concepts including design theory, design representation and computation through the development of tools and machines that act as proxies of the designer in the production of physical design artifacts.

Experimental Structures in Cross-Laminated-Timber, Faculty: Philipp Heidemann

The workshop aimed at speculating on the structural and aesthetic potential of Cross-Laminated-Timber (CLT) as a versatile and relatively new construction material, using 3d-modeling and -fabrication and resulting in a proposal for a pavilion as a temporary focal point of student life on the Ball State University Campus on an open space between the Noyer Complex and Studebaker West.

United Way of Delaware County
Walnut St.

Happening in the midst of downtown Muncie's First Thursday event, United Way of Delaware County’s 2017 Campaign Kick-Off is a celebration open to all members of our community!

Join us on Walnut Street for live music from the Bahama Llama Band, Carl Storie, Cook and Belle, and Jennifer Stanley, and taste limited-edition flavors from local brewers such as The Heorot, Elm Street, New Corner, and Guardian. Party alongside Pacesetter companies and community leaders between Adams and Charles Street. Eat at local restaurants, such as Vera Mae's and Casa Del Sol, where 10% of the profits will be donated to the UWDC campaign. Ball State’s Charlie Cardinal, cheerleaders, and Code Red Dancers will be there engaging with fans of all ages. Stick around for comments from Campaign Chair Casey Stanley, United Way Worldwide CEO Brian Gallagher, and new Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns at 7 p.m.

You won’t want to miss this opportunity to celebrate community and impact with your neighbors right here in Delaware County!

Valhalla  (21+)
215 S. Walnut

Valhalla and The Heorot present “Blues Jam” every Thursday. “Blues Jam” is an open event with sign-up starting at 7pm and music from 8-11pm. Come show us your talent!

Will Britton, Jr. at Cornerstone Center for the Arts Dame Leo, "No Mas," Madjax, 2nd floor "Muncie Mystery" from the Delaware County Historical Society Sarah Shaffer, "What a Waist," at Elm Street Brewing Co. "Baby Driver" at Afterhours Art Reels, The Fickle Peach Forever Young's Sidewalk Sale and Lemonade Stand GindhART, "Tools 4 Schools," Madjax, 2nd floor GindhART, painted handbags, Madjax, 2nd floor Lisa Walsh, "Red and Black Pin," at Gordy Fine Art and Framing, Co. Carrie Wright, "Lunar Crane," at Gordy Fine Art and Framing, Co. Muncie Makers Market, corner of Walnut and Adams Fixer Upper at at Muncie Makes Lab Solar Decathlon Design Challenge at Muncie Makes Lab Reimagining Memorial and Hoyt at Muncie Makes Lab Silly Walk at various locations downtown Blues Jam at Valhalla

Cornerstone Center for the Arts

520 E. Main
Join Cornerstone Center for Arts on Thursday, June 6 for the opening reception of Sparking Nostalgia Through Pop Culture, an art exhibition by Will Britton Jr. The reception will take place in the Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery on the second floor of Cornerstone from 5 to 7 p.m. in conjunction with June’s First Thursday events.

Sparking Nostalgia Through Pop Culture is a collection of pop culture icons. From the obscure to the more commonly known, Britton’s work brings forth nostalgia from childhood favorites. The work invokes those things that would get you up early on Saturday with a big bowl of cereal eager to turn on cartoons. Those things that when you see them, you remember time, place, taste, and smell. Britton’s work seeks to transport viewers back to the joy of childhood.

Will Britton Jr. was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana. He graduated from Muncie Central High School in 1997 and then went on to Vincennes University where he studied Fine Arts until he transferred to The Art Academy of Cincinnati. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with his specialty being printmaking. He has worked steadily making the art he loves while also working in social services. He lives in Muncie with his wife, children, an old dog and a bossy cat.  His everyday life consists of wrangling chaos and disorder, making items for local markets and a little D & D as time permits.

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

Dame Leo (at Madjax)
514 E. Jackson St. (2nd floor)
“No Más!” featuring mixed media paintings, sculpture, and wearable art by Dame Leo. 2nd floor, Madjax.

Delaware County Historical Society
Various locations downtown
The Delaware County Historical Society presents “Muncie Mystery” from 5-7:30pm.

A serious (and pretend) crime has been committed in Downtown Muncie! We are calling on all citizen sleuths to participate in a real-life Clue game as part of the First Thursday festivities on June 6.

Between 5 and 6:30 pm, visit ten participating downtown businesses for clues about suspects and weapons. At each location, you will have the chance to answer a Muncie trivia question to learn more about our city, complements of the Delaware County Historical Society.

The guilty party and facts about the case will be revealed at Muncie Civic Theatre at 7:00 pm. Sleuths who correctly identify the perpetrator and weapon will be entered into a drawing for great prizes, including an overnight stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Muncie at Horizon Convention Center, Muncie Civic Theatre tickets, a silver crystal pendant from Pazols Jewelers, and more! (Must be present to win.)

Event partners: Downtown Muncie, Muncie Civic Theatre, Indiana Public Radio, WIPB-TV, Ball State Office of Community Engagement, Muncie Neighborhoods, and Delaware County Historical Society

Participating businesses: Debbie's Handmade Soap, The Hayloft Boutique, Twin Archer Brewpub, Mulberry Street Uniques, Aw Yeah Comics- Muncie, Vintage Shoppe Thrift & Gift, Intersection, Olive & Slate, Muncie Map Co.

Elm Street Brewing (21+)
519 N. Elm
The opening reception for Life in Plastic, featuring artwork by Sarah Shaffer will take place at Elm Street Brewing Co on Thursday, June 6 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The opening of Life in Plastic will take place in conjunction with First Thursday’s events.

The smallest things can have the biggest impact. Our childhoods shape us, create us, and define who we will become. In the collection titled, "Life in Plastic," Sarah Shaffer has explored society's monumental impact through the form of its tiniest role models. Each piece is a depiction of a doll, focusing only on a portion of the body and recreated in a large scale. This collection of acrylic paintings portrays the objectification of and unrealistic expectations placed upon women.

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 at Cornerstone Center for the Arts as the Education and Marketing Coordinator as well as a visual arts instructor.

The opening reception of Life in Plastic will include live music by local artist Caleb Ferguson. After attending the reception, Elm Street Brewing Co invites you to stick around, order dinner and a beer, and enjoy the relaxed family friendly atmosphere. The Peterson and Dunn Project will perform following the conclusion of the opening reception. Life in Plastic will be on display, with work for sale throughout the month of June.

The Fickle Peach (21+)
117 E. Charles
Muncie Downtown Development will host outdoor “Afterhours Art Reels” following the First Thursday Gallery Walks, June-September.  Films will be projected onto the Mutual Bank wall on Charles St. at dusk.  Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio located at 117 E. Charles St. for guests 21 and up. June’s movie is Baby Driver from director Edgar Wright.

Forever Young Children’s Boutique
125 E. Charles
Forever Young will be open from 5-7pm for Sidewalk Day Sale. There will be a lemonade stand and all proceeds will be donated to First Choice for Women.

Gindhart (at Madjax)
514 E. Jackson St. (2nd floor)
Local social commentary artist Debra Gindhart will feature two assemblage pieces titled TOOLS 4 SCHOOLS. Debra believes that guns have no place in our schools. We must reduce the possibility of any gunfire in schools, rather than concentrating on ways to keep all guns off school property. Ensuring the safety of children and school employees, school administrators should focus on measures that will create safe and supportive learning environments for students, faculty, and staff. 

Debra Gindhart will also feature wearable art, painted clothing, and painted handbags. There will be an opening reception where you can meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments from 5-8pm. Madjax, 2nd floor.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E. Main
Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company will open Natural Influences: Two Hoosiers, Nature, and Their Art. From topographically inspired jewelry by Lisa Walsh to floral designed silks by Carrie Wright, the influence of nature will be celebrated during June’s First Thursday on June 6, from 5:00 to 8:00. Carrie Wright, a Muncie silk painter, will give a short talk at 6:15. Light refreshments will be served, and the public is invited to attend. The exhibition will remain on view with works for sale throughout the summer.

Carrie Wright, a Muncie silk painter and newly minted Indiana Artisan, will be sharing her beautiful pieces of wearable art. Wright gives specific attention to several details, such as: where the design elements are likely to fall on the body when the scarf is worn; an appropriate color pallet within the design with careful consideration for the occasion or outfit for which the scarf might be worn; a balanced combination of floral and graphic elements maintaining visual tension and interest. Wright’s creativity is nurtured by combining the clean design disciplines of the Japanese kimono textile creators and the forward-thinking creativity of European designers.

“I was born and raised amid the fields in northern Delaware County,” says Wright. “I’ve always been inspired by the beauty of Indiana landscapes, fields that stretch to the horizons of both the rising and setting sun. Much of my work is influenced by the flora of the area combined in some way with a bold graphic design element to help balance the piece and prohibit it from becoming flowery or fussy.”

Lisa Walsh, a jewelry designer from Lafayette, will be showcasing pieces from her Topography Series. Walsh uses enamels and mixed metals to portray accurate contour lines from topographical maps. Conceptualized in 2015, this series has received four consecutive Arts in the Parks grants from the Indiana Arts Commission. The Topography Series includes work featuring Clifty Falls and Spring Mill State Park in southern Indiana, and recently expanded to include areas of Shenandoah National Park where Walsh was artist-in-residence in 2018.

Walsh’s influence is a “fascination with topographical maps which I have had since studying fire science many years ago, but hadn't incorporated them into my work until relatively recently.  Topography and jewelry are such an unusual pairing that it often opens discussions that lead into important land and conservation issues,” she says.  “Jewelry is the ultimate traveling art, and as such, a great medium for encouraging dialogue between people.”

Grace Episcopal Church
300 S. Madison
Come on down to Grace Episcopal Church (corner of Madison & Adams) for an awesome concert with singer song writer and recording artist Joan Hamilton. Tonight's concert begins at 7pm. Joan is a local favorite guitar and keyboard performer with deep roots in the Muncie and Indy music scene. There will be CD' for sale. This is a great way to start the summer music season.

Muncie Makers Market
Corner of Walnut and Adams
“First Thursday is SOON, on Thursday, June 6th! The Muncie Makers Market is happy to be a part of Muncie’s First Thursday community events, thanks to an invitation to take over the sidewalks in front of the Muncie Map Co., at 111 East Adams Street, in Downtown Muncie. We set up on the SE corner of Adams and Walnut Streets from 5-8p on the first Thursday of every month. Plenty of nearby free parking! I’m really excited for us to have this opportunity and I am really hoping we get a nice evening of weather for the 6th. I also invite everyone to see what we’ve got going on inside of the Muncie Map Co. as well. Lots of local themed shirts/magnets/stickers/books/music, excellent mappiness, and a Muncie Makers Market kiosk open there every day! 

First Thursday is a popular local tradition, going years back, with all sorts of vendors, artists, and entertainers set up throughout all of Downtown Muncie inside and outside of various shops, restaurants, bars, and other businesses. It’s fun!”

Muncie Makes Lab
628 S. Walnut
Join Muncie Makes Lab from 5-8pm for the following shows:

Fixer Upper
Erica Collins’ 6th grade Northside Middle School math class worked with Tom Collins from the BSU Department of Architecture on an documentation and redesign project for a single room in which the students took physical measurements, drew scale drawings, learned about architectural drawing conventions, proposed renovations to the room, and calculated the renovation costs for materials and labor. The results of the 6-week project were shown at the MCS Celebrate Excellence Show in May.

Solar Decathlon Design Challenge
A Spring 2019 architecture design studio taught by Tom Collins with the assistance of Walter Grondzik and Tarek Mahfouz that participated in the US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon Design Challenge. Two collaborative student-led teams developed net-zero energy ready housing proposals for sites in historic districts adjacent to downtown Muncie with community partners ecoREHAB and Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity.

Reimagining Memorial & Hoyt
A Summer 2019 architecture design studio/workshop co-taught by Pam Harwood and Tom Collins focused on reimagining, redeveloping, and reusing underutilized property in Muncie’s Southwestern neighborhoods to support neighborhood revitalization efforts to improve access to food, healthcare, housing, and transportation. The class is working with Building Better Neighborhoods and the 8 Twelve Coalition on this community design immersive learning project.

Silly Walk
Various locations downtown
Meeting Spot: In the back parking lot where The Muncie Escape Room is located. (Jefferson St and Adams St) Look for the Silly Walk Map in the comments!
Time: 5:15pm. Walk will begin around 5:30pm.
Attire: 1920s attire (this is optional but recommended to keep with the First Thursday of Muncie Theme)

First Thursday at Downtown is having a 1920s Mystery game at participating businesses (where our walk will happen). We may be having fun with our Silly Walk, but we are going to participate too! It's a real-life Clue game in Downtown Muncie! We'll take our Silly Walk to the Downtown Streets of Muncie and into these participating businesses (listed in the order our walk will happen: Olive & Slate, Twin Archer Brewpub, Intersection, Debbie's Handmade Soap, Aw Yeah Comics- Muncie, Vintage Shoppe Thrift & Gift, Mulberry Street Uniques, The Hayloft Boutique, Muncie Map Co.).

At 7pm, once was walk is over, head over to the Muncie Civic Theatre to see if you guessed the crime correctly to win great prizes!

Thr3e Wisemen Brewing Co.
625 S. High St.
Thr3e Wise Men will be doing $5 10" Cheese Pizzas and 1/2 off bottles of wine!

Valhalla  (21+)
215 S. Walnut
Valhalla presents “Blues Jam” every Thursday. “Blues Jam” is an open event with sign-up starting at 7pm and music from 8-11pm. Come show us your talent!

Wishbone Gifts, Inc.
201 S. Walnut St.
Wishbone Gifts, Inc. will feature works by Jeremy Babb and Erin Cox.

Dame Leo at Madjax, 2nd floor GindhART at Madjax, 2nd floor GindhART at Madjax, 2nd floor Justin Brown at Madjax Mainhall, 1st floor Justin Brown at Madjax Mainhall, 1st floor Muncie Makers Market "Muncie Memories" project, Madjax 1st floor "Blues Jam" at Valhalla

Since First Thursday fell on the Fourth of July this year, please join us for a Second Thursday event featuring the following:

Dame Leo (at Madjax)
514 E. Jackson St. (2nd floor)
Mixed media paintings, Assemblage art, handmade paper, jewelry, and hand painted wearables.

Gindhart (at Madjax)
514 E. Jackson St. (2nd floor)
Debra Gindhart local artist will exhibit her Second Thursday show, "Stencil Artist." Stencils are probably the most popular technique used in graffiti, street art, and wall art worldwide. Stenciled art has many different reasons behind it. The technique provides graffiti artists and contemporary artists with several important advantages, most significant being the possibilities to create more art and also be more visible and swift. 

Debra, started experimenting with multi-layered cut out stencils and pre-cut stencils to add more colors and illusion of depth to her pieces ten years ago. This artistic experimentation resulted in much more elaborate and highly sophisticated stenciled artworks. Debra believes stencil artists take art to a whole new level, both in terms of aesthetics and messages they are trying to convey. "Stencil Art" will include some text on art messages as well. 

Debra will also have a collection of Green Glam Studio jewelry, earrings and statement pendants. She will be donating 20% of all recycled jewelry sales to support Bailey for Mayor campaign. There is also a 20% off sale on wall art from previous exhibits. 

Meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments on July 11, second floor gallery in Madjax Muncie. 

5-8pm, this event is free and open to the public.

Madjax Muncie
515 E. Main St.
The mainhall of Madjax, 1st floor will feature art by Justin Brown, a 31 year old mixed media artist from Indianapolis, Indiana. His work focuses primarily on American intelligence agency psychological operations and surveillance. Justin Brown is the founder/executive director of Hoy Polloy Art Gallery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This collection of work is a fraction of a series wherein Justin makes portraits of individuals with their FBI surveillance files. Individuals range from pop icons to lesser known community organizers and artists. The purpose of the series is to highlight the diversity and depth of the government’s previous surveillance programs as we enter a modern awakening to surveillance capitalism.

Muncie Makers Market
Corner of Walnut and Adams
The Muncie Makers Market is happy to be a part of Muncie’s First Thursday community events, even when it’s now SECOND Thursday! (Just this one time, back to regulation in August.) Thanks to an invitation to take over the sidewalks in front of the Muncie Map Co., the Muncie Makers Market will set up on the corner of Adams and Walnut Streets from 5-8p on Thursday, July 11th in Downtown Muncie.

Come see our local Growers and Makers for fresh homemade food, locally grown fruit and vegetables, fresh and dried herbs, live plants, beautiful art, and handmade crafts of all kinds! First Thursday is a popular local tradition, going many years back. All sorts of vendors, artists, and entertainers set up throughout all of Downtown Muncie. It is a fun time for everyone - Kids too! - and a great opportunity to shop local and support the Muncie economy!

More information:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627047027524961/ 

The Muncie Makers Market is open rain or shine. Our rain location for our First Thursday Markets will be inside of Madjax on the corner of Madison and Jackson in Downtown Muncie.

PlySpace
608 E. Main
Muncie Memories, a PlySpace and Muncie Arts and Culture Council project with PlySpace Resident Fellow Meredith Kooi, is a collaborative storytelling project that invites the residents of Muncie to share their experiences, memories, and stories of the place they call home. Muncie Memories will have a special Interview Booth set up on the first floor of Madjax from 5-8 PM. Come by and tell your stories about Muncie and be recorded for the living archive. The artist's studio will also be open on the second floor.  Learn more about the project at munciememories.tumblr.com or at plyspace.org/events.

Valhalla  (21+)
215 S. Walnut
Valhalla presents “Blues Jam” every Thursday. “Blues Jam” is an open event with sign-up starting at 7pm and music from 8-11pm. Come show us your talent!

Kevin Campbell at Brinkman Gallery Brenda Click's "Lessons in Color: A White Girl’s Education" at Cornerstone Center for the Arts "Reservoir Dogs" at the Fickle Peach, After Hours Art Reels "Animal Baubles" at GindhART Lisa Walsh at Gordy Fine Art and Framing, Co. Justin Brown, at Madjax's mainhall, 1st floor Muncie Makers Market Muncie Memories Exhibition at Plyspace Blues Jam at Valhalla

The Brinkman Gallery
409 S. Walnut
Brinkman Gallery is featuring a collection of miniature sculpted animals and Buddhas from Gay Nation's travels in Europe and Asia. Come out and enjoy refreshments from 5-8pm. Also featuring a permanent collection of artist, Kevin Campbell - "Waterscapes" meticulously painted water landscapes. At a distance they appear photorealistic, but as you approach the pattern of the waves begins to break down into abstract forms and shapes. Also on display, original DOG portraits, new puzzle pieces and a section of "Sweet Thursday" by artist Kevin Campbell. Puzzles range from a single piece to a 730 piece puzzle.

Cornerstone Center for the Arts
520 E. Main
Join Cornerstone Center for Arts on Thursday, August 1 for the opening reception of Lessons in Color: A White Girl’s Education featuring art by Brenda Click. The reception will take place in the Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery on the second floor of Cornerstone from 5 to 7 p.m. in conjunction with August’s First Thursday events.

Growing up and spending most of her life in predominantly white communities, Click realized she had so much to learn about race and racism. Her research began by reading books both fiction and nonfiction, holding conversations (listening mostly), attending lectures, and watching documentaries.  Click’s exhibit tells a story of that self-study through acrylic paintings and celebrates the persons of color she has come to know and the gratitude for lessons they have taught her.

Lessons in Color: A White Girl’s Education will be on display and open to the public in the Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery throughout the month of August.

The Fickle Peach (21+)
117 E. Charles
Reservoir Dogs: Muncie Downtown Development will host outdoor “Afterhours Art Reels” following the First Thursday Gallery Walks, June-September.  Films will be projected onto the Mutual Bank wall on Charles St. at dusk.  Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio located at 117 E. Charles St. for guests 21 and up. August’s movie is Reservoir Dogs from director Quentin Tarantino.

Gindhart (at Madjax)
514 E. Jackson St. (2nd floor)
“ANIMAL BAUBLES”: Local artist Debra Gindhart will feature her Green Glam Studio jewelry a line of recycled and repurposed accessories for August's First Thursday. The artist used wood, art glass, crystals, and metals for embellishments. 20% of all ANIMAL BAUBLES jewelry sales proceeds will be donated to Grateful Rescue & Sanctuary. This collection includes statement pendants and earrings all wires are hypoallergenic. Debra will also feature two assemblage art pieces, "Epstein Island" social commentary art addressing sex with children, a current crimes against humanity trend. She still has a $2 frames sale. Attend the reception and meet the artist at Madjax Muncie. 5-8pm. This event is free and open to the public.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E. Main
Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company will show Natural Influences: Two Hoosiers, Nature, and Their Art.  From topographically inspired jewelry by Lisa Walsh to floral designed silks by Carrie Wright, the influence of nature will be celebrated during First Thursday on August 1, from 5:00 to 8:00.  Lisa Walsh, a Lafayette jeweler, will give a short talk at 6:15.  Light refreshments will be served, and the public is invited to attend. The exhibition will remain on view with works for sale through Friday, August 30th. 

Lisa Walsh, a jewelry designer from Lafayette, will be showcasing pieces from her Topography Series. Walsh uses enamels and mixed metals to portray accurate contour lines from topographical maps.  Conceptualized in 2015, this series has received four consecutive Arts in the Parks grants from the Indiana Arts Commission.  The Topography Series includes work featuring Clifty Falls and Spring Mill State Park in southern Indiana, and recently expanded to include areas of Shenandoah National Park where Walsh was artist-in-residence in 2018.

Walsh’s influence is a “fascination with topographical maps which I have had since studying fire science many years ago but hadn't incorporated them into my work until relatively recently.  Topography and jewelry are such an unusual pairing that it often opens discussions that lead into important land and conservation issues,” she says.  “Jewelry is the ultimate traveling art, and as such, a great medium for encouraging dialogue between people.”

Carrie Wright, a Muncie silk painter and newly minted Indiana Artisan, will be sharing her beautiful pieces of wearable art.  Wright gives specific attention to several details, such as: where the design elements are likely to fall on the body when the scarf is worn; an appropriate color pallet within the design with careful consideration for the occasion or outfit for which the scarf might be worn; a balanced combination of floral and graphic elements maintaining visual tension and interest.  Wright’s creativity is nurtured by combining the clean design disciplines of the Japanese kimono textile creators and the forward-thinking creativity of European designers.

“I was born and raised amid the fields in northern Delaware County”, says Wright. “I’ve always been inspired by the beauty of Indiana landscapes, fields that stretch to the horizons of both the rising and setting sun. Much of my work is influenced by the flora of the area combined in some way with a bold graphic design element to help balance the piece and prohibit it from becoming flowery or fussy.”

Madjax Muncie
515 E. Main St.
The mainhall of Madjax, 1st floor will feature art by Justin Brown, a 31 year old mixed media artist from Indianapolis, Indiana. His work focuses primarily on American intelligence agency psychological operations and surveillance. Justin Brown is the founder/executive director of Hoy Polloy Art Gallery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This collection of work is a fraction of a series wherein Justin makes portraits of individuals with their FBI surveillance files. Individuals range from pop icons to lesser known community organizers and artists. The purpose of the series is to highlight the diversity and depth of the government’s previous surveillance programs as we enter a modern awakening to surveillance capitalism.

Muncie Makers Market
Corner of Walnut and Adams
The Muncie Makers Market is happy to be a part of Muncie’s First Thursday community events, thanks to a kind invitation to take over the sidewalks in front of the Muncie Map Co. at 111 East Adams Street in Downtown Muncie. We set up from 5-8p every month. 

The Muncie Makers Market is open rain or shine. Our rain location for our First Thursday Markets will be inside of Madjax on the corner of Madison and Jackson.

First Thursday is a popular local tradition, going many years back, where all sorts of vendors, artists, and entertainers set up throughout all of Downtown Muncie.  The Muncie Makers Market is a farmers market with fresh homemade food, locally grown fruit and vegetables, beautiful art, and handmade crafts of all kinds. Come enjoy the evening with us! 

PlySpace
608 E. Main
“Muncie Memories Exhibition”: The Muncie Arts and Culture Council & PlySpace Residency Program invites the public to the final exhibition event for the Muncie Memories project on First Thursday, August 1st, from 5-8 PM in the PlySpace Gallery (608 E. Main St, Muncie).  Muncie Memories is a collaborative, multi-media storytelling project led by PlySpace Resident Fellow Meredith Kooi, with assistance from Ball State University School of Art interns Ellie Phan, Jenna Mesker, Kai Cohen, Katie Strader, and Kitty Taylor. Muncie residents were invited to share their experiences, memories, and stories of the place they call home through a plethora of activities such as oral history interviews, fieldwalks, information gathering, soundwalking, archival research, and public engagement. The 10-week project engaged with over 100 participants from the community. The exhibition will feature highlights from the Muncie Memories project, including drawings by Cornerstone Summer Arts Camp students, interviews with Upward Bound of Ivy Tech students, archival material, artwork, photographs, audio and video documentation, interactive digital features, music and more. More information about the project can be found atwww.plyspace.org and munciememories.tumblr.com.

Savage's Ale House (21+)
127 N. High
Savage’s will feature Eli Shaw’s “Welcome Home,” an exhibition of acrylic paintings. 

Valhalla  (21+)
215 S. Walnut
Valhalla presents “Blues Jam” every Thursday. “Blues Jam” is an open event with sign-up starting at 7pm and music from 8-11pm. Come show us your talent!

Beyond I CAN "A Family Affair" at Cornerstone Center for the Arts "Herstory/History" by Dame Leo Bohemian Rhapsody at the Fickle Peach GIRL POWER by GindhART, Madjax 2nd floor Handmade frames at Gordy Fine Art and Framing Co. Dave Johnson, "Characters From An As Yet Unwritten Book About Muncie " "Curb Furniture" by Eric Kroczek, Madjax 1st floor "Curb Furniture" by Eric Kroczek, Madjax 1st floor Muncie Maker's Market, corner of Adams and Walnut "Vultures and Violets," work by Erin Williams and Jessica Calderwood Spiral Bound Fine Art United Way Campaign Kickoff, Walnut Street

Beyond I Can (Madjax, 1st floor)
515 E. Main St.
Beyond I CAN is a creative day service for adults with special-needs. We will be on the 1st floor of Madjax selling items such as pottery, greeting cards, signage, mosaic benches, wreaths, paintings, and other gift items.

Book Arts Collaborative (at Madjax)
514 E. Main
Book Arts Collaborative welcomes a new semester of students who are learning and teaching letterpress printing and hand-sewn book binding. Stop by to meet our new class and learn about our community workshop offerings for fall.

Cornerstone Center for the Arts
520 E. Main
Join Cornerstone Center for Arts on Thursday, September 5 for the opening reception of A Family Affair featuring art by Linda, Jerry, and Eloise McKean. The reception will take place in the Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery on the second floor of Cornerstone from 5 to 7 p.m. in conjunction with September’s First Thursday events.

The McKean family is in love with the visual arts. Subscribing to art pages on Facebook, visiting art galleries and museums at every opportunity, and regularly attending First Thursday events in Muncie. Cornerstone has been their headquarters for training in drawing, painting, ceramics, and mixed media. They are grateful for the chance to share their love of art with others.

Linda studied art in college, then stepped away from it for many years.  Five years ago, she decided she was in a time in life when she could return to her art.  She started painting and taking classes at Cornerstone Center for the Arts.  While her earlier paintings were very abstract, she is surprised to find that her style has evolved into “Representational Abstract”. One thing that has remained constant though, is her delight in and focus on the excitement of color.

When he was seven years old, Jerry started copying Batman comic books.  Thus began a life long appreciation of comic art. He began painting landscapes in classes with Gini Deaton and Sarah Shaffer.  Most of his other training comes from napping during episodes of “The Joy of Painting” by Bob Ross.  Joy, he has found comes from the play of color, brush and canvas in making happy little trees, mountains, and skies. 

Eloise is a junior at the University of Delta High School. She takes many art classes at school and as well as at Cornerstone Center for the Arts. Her love for art started in elementary school and grew stronger as the years grew. She has taken glass, drawing, painting, ceramics and general art classes. 

In addition to the First Thursday gallery opening, The Muncie Chamber of Commerce will also be at Cornerstone for the ribbon cutting ceremony and reception for the Muncie Altrusa Foundation Beulah Frogge Digital Arts Studio on Thursday, September 5 at 5:30 pm. Please plan to attend both of these exciting events at Cornerstone.

A Family Affair will be on display and open to the public in the Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery throughout the month of September.

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

Dame Leo (at Madjax)
514 E. Jackson St. (2nd floor)
“Herstory/History”: Dame Leo is tellin’ storieZ! We are our stories and they deserve to be told. Our stories not only celebrate us but they serve to pass on cultural/tribal traditions, where we come from, lessons from our uniqueness, and serve as a most important tool to keep it all alive and growing. Also featuring portraits Dame Leo style!  Come have a look-see! Commission one of you or a loved one! 2nd floor, 5-8pm.

The Fickle Peach (21+)
117 E. Charles
Muncie Downtown Development will host outdoor “Afterhours Art Reels” following the First Thursday Gallery Walk. September’s movie is Bohemian Rhapsody. Films will be projected onto the Mutual Bank wall on Charles St. at dusk.  Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio located at 117 E. Charles St. for guests 21 and up. For more information, please visit our website @ downtownmuncie.org/events

Forever Young Children’s Boutique
125 E. Charles
Forever Young will have extended hours from 5-7pm for September’s First Thursday.

Gindhart (at Madjax)
514 E. Jackson St. (2nd floor)
Local artist Debra Gindhart is channeling her inner Jean-Michel Basquiat in a new series GIRL POWER. Plus join her for “gindhART at madjax 67 pARTy!”: Debra turns 67 during the month of September. She has a long standing ART-birthday celebratory ritual with Downtown Muncie's First Thursday gallery walk event. There will be birthday treats and light refreshments. First Thursday at Madjax Muncie is an opportunity to meet the artist. See a new text collection of art featuring aerosols, acrylics, assemblage wall art. A new Green Glam Studio recycled jewelry PEACE, LOVE, AND WAR collection too. Recycle chic is the way of Real Babes Recycle art anthem of longtime artist/designer and educator Debra Gindhart. 2nd floor gallery, 5-8pm.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co.
224 E. Main
Gordy Fine Art & Framing Company is one of a few picture framing studios in the Midwest that offers handmade, hand-gilded, and hand-decorated frames made from locally milled wood.   During the month of September, our gallery will feature new frames made from original and historical designs as well as a restored antique frame from our collection. The show will open on Thursday September 5, from 5-8pm. At 6:15, shop owner Carl Schafer will speak briefly about the work.  Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend. 

Examples on view will demonstrate many traditional techniques used for decorating picture frames. These include gilding with 24K gold leaf and 12K white gold leaf, carving, sgraffito, granito, and compo ornaments. Also included will be more modern designs which are less decorative with the focus on form and surface such as wood grain, metal leaf, or other laminate.  “Gordy Framing has a long history of reproducing historical designs, creating original designs, and offering museum quality work restoring antique frames,” said owner Carl Schafer. “We are carrying on the tradition and adding to the portfolio established by Brian Gordy, the company’s founder.” On view will be frames inspired by Dutch and Italian renaissance styles, 19th century French and American styles, the Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 20th century, and contemporary American styles. 

The exhibition will remain on view throughout the month of September. Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company promotes talented artists, provides appraisals, 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, 9 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.

Grace Episcopal Church
300 S. Madison
There is music in the downtown air. Come down to Grace Episcopal Church (corner of Madison and Adams) for an evening of great folk music. Ric Dwenger will be performing at 7pm some of your favorite folk tunes. Ric is a local musician who has performed throughout Muncie for many years. Come and hear his take on folk music played on both the guitar and banjo.

The Guardian Brewing Company (at Madjax)
514 E. Jackson
The Guardian will feature "Characters From An As Yet Unwritten Book About Muncie " by artist David Johnson.

Madjax Muncie
515 E. Main St.
Eric Kroczek’s “Curb Furniture” consists of the framed and/or plastic-wrapped Instagram snaps of sofas and other furniture found abandoned on Muncie streets. He has been collecting these images on walks throughout town and posting them on social media over the past few years.Madjax, 1st floor gallery

Muncie Makers Market
Corner of Walnut and Adams
The Muncie Makers Market is excited to bring fresh homemade food, locally grown fruit and vegetables, fresh and dried herbs, live plants, beautiful art, and handmade crafts of all kinds to First Thursdays in Downtown Muncie! We’ll be near the *corner of Walnut and Adams Streets in Downtown Muncie, in front of Muncie Map Co at 111 East Adams Street, from 5-8p, during our town’s monthly celebration of local arts and culture, First Thursday! There is soooo much to do every First Thursday throughout Downtown Muncie, come see! Shop LOCAL and watch for our Markets year-round throughout Muncie! Please JOIN us on Facebook and Instagram, and please SHARE this information!

*The Muncie Makers Market is open rain or shine! Our First Thursday rain location is inside of MadJax on the corner of Madison and Jackson Streets in Downtown Muncie.

Muncie Makes Lab
628 S. Walnut
Please join us from 5-8 pm for Vultures and Violets, a two-person exhibition by Erin Colleen Williams and Jessica Calderwood at Muncie Makes Lab. Trained as metalsmiths but working in multiple media, Williams and Calderwood both create drawings and sculptures that use the devices of narrative and anthropomorphism. While vastly different in materiality and approach, both artists seek to express a complex spectrum of human experiences, including fear, love and loss. 

Erin Colleen Williams (www.erincwilliams.com) received her MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Material Studies, focusing in metalsmithing and sculpture. Using interdisciplinary media and methods including drawing, printmaking, ceramics, and metalsmithing, her work examines the intersectionality of human and animal experiences. Her work has been exhibited nationally with solo exhibitions at the Anderson Gallery (Richmond, VA), and the Arlington Art Center (Arlington, VA), and with group exhibitions at the Philadelphia Art Alliance (Philadelphia, PA); the Virginia Arts Center (Richmond, VA); the Ford Gallery at Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI); the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art (Wilmington, DE); among others. She is currently the Residency Coordinator for PlySpace, an artist residency program of the Muncie Arts and Culture Council, and is an Adjunct Professor at Ball State University. 

Jessica Calderwood (www.jessicacalderwood.com) is an image-maker and sculptor that works in esoteric craft media. She uses a combination of traditional and industrial metalworking processes as a means to make statements about contemporary life. She received her BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art and her MFA from Arizona State University, with an emphasis Metalworking. Her work has been exhibited extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally. She has participated in artist residencies with the John Michael Kohler Arts/Industry Program, Ferro Corporation, and the Mesa Arts Center. Her work has also been published in Metalsmith Magazine, American Craft, NICHE, Ornament, the Lark 500 series, and the Art of Enameling. She is currently an Associate Professor of Art at Ball State University.

Spiral Bound Fine Art (Madjax, 2nd floor)
515 E. Main St.
Spiral Bound Fine Art will be located at MadJax on the 2nd floor, in the free range makers space. Due to popular demand, Spiral Bound will be demonstrating paint pouring methods on the hour at 5 and 6 pm. There will also be art and notecards by the artist and available to purchase.

United Way
Walnut Street Downtown
Join us for the United Way Campaign Kickoff Celebration w/ Cook and Belle from 6-9pm. An energized United Way enters the next phase of its 2019 fundraising campaign with a citywide block party combining First Thursday and live music on Walnut Street in the heart of Downtown Muncie. Local headliners, Cook and Belle, will take the Walnut Street stage at 7pm to get the celebration started. Last year, more than 5,000 people jammed the streets to dance, sing, and support United Way’s efforts to end generational poverty and change the trajectory of our community through literacy.

Valhalla  (21+)
215 S. Walnut
Valhalla presents “Blues Jam” every Thursday. “Blues Jam” is an open event with sign-up starting at 7pm and music from 8-11pm. Come show us your talent!

Brink of Summer Artswalk, sponsored by Downtown Development After Hours Art Reels, sponsored by Downtown Development Flower Hour, sponsored by Downtown Development The Commercial Kitchen by Pink Leaf Opening Reception of Student Showcase, Cornerstone Center for the Arts Ron Richcreek at Dandelions Boutique The Downtown Farm Stand Cheryl Anne Lorance, "Leaving Biltmore," Gordy Fine Art and Framing Co. Brink of Summer Artswalk at Madjax Beyond I CAN, Madjax,1st floor Tribune Showprint, Madjax, 1st floor "Hot" Music Night Trivia and Raffle, Madjax, 2nd floor Debra Gindhart, Madjax 2nd floor Debra Shidler, Madjax 2nd floor Karen Fisher, Muncie Artists' Guild Artist of the Month Muncie Map Co. The North Church Venue "Cicada Chorus," at Plyspace Sea Salt and Cinnamon YART!

Downtown Development
A special edition of First Thursday, Brink of Summer ArtsWalk celebrates the arts culture in Muncie. Watch and learn from local artists as they perform their craft, support vendors at YART, and explore the DWNTWN community. This event is sponsored by The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County.

After Hours Art Reels
Muncie Downtown Development Partnership will host outdoor After Hours Art Reels following the First Thursday Gallery Walks in June–September. June’s film is Casablanca! 

Films will be projected onto the MutualBank wall on Charles St at dusk. Seating will be available on the Fickle Peach patio area located at 117 E Charles St for guests who are 21 and up. Viewers who are not yet 21 can watch the films from the sidewalk surrounding the patio area. 9-11pm

Go to http://www.downtownmuncie.org/after-hours-art-reels/ to see the trailers for all the films.

Upcoming:
July 1- The Untouchables
August 5- Rocketman
September 2- 2001 The Space Odyssey 

Flower Hour
Explore DWTNWN during Brink of Summer ArtsWalk and collect flowers from 10 different locations to create a beautiful, custom bouquet. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here or from a participating sponsor or Downtown Development board of staff member.

Money raised through this event will support DWNTWN event programming and development opportunities. This event is presented by Normandy Flower Shop, Foister's Flowers & Gifts, Dandelions Flowers & Gifts, and Miller's Flowers and Gifts

The Commercial Kitchen by Pink Leaf
108 S. Walnut
Bring the whole family and grow with us! We're opening up the Commercial Kitchen by Pink Leaf from 5:30-8:00pm for tours. Check out the newly commissioned art piece that will bloom in the lobby and take home a packet of seeds for your garden. Youth-designed coloring pages and cookies will keep the young ones happy while you browse.

Cornerstone Center for the Arts
520 E. Main
Opening Reception for Cornerstone Spring Celebration: Student Showcase Hosted by Cornerstone Center for the Arts in conjunction with DWNTWN Muncie’s First Thursday

As a celebration of our students' creativity and perseverance through the current

pandemic, our Teaching Artists have curated a gallery to showcase their outstanding pieces. The visual arts exhibit will be displayed in the Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery on the second floor of Cornerstone Center of the Arts.

The opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 3, from 5 - 8 p.m. and will remain on

display until Friday, June 25. In addition, recordings of student performances will be shown during the exhibit. A virtual gallery will be available on the Cornerstone Center for the Arts website during this time.

This event is free and open to the public, but visitors are asked to follow social distancing

guidelines and to wear masks. For more information about this event, please contact Claire Yazel at (765) 281-9503 ext. 123 or cyazel@cornerstonearts.org.

Dandelions Flowers and Gifts
120 S. Walnut
Ron Richcreek Pottery will be on display at Dandelions Flowers for June’s First Thursday. Ron has been working with slab ware and hand building along with his wheel thrown pieces.

Downtown Farm Stand
125 E. Main
The Downtown Farm Stand will have smoked pulled pork sandwiches in front of the Farm Stand for sale along with our full restaurant menu and beer and wine available inside.  

The Farm Stand Second Story banquet room will offer tours of our historically renovated dance hall and we will have a free wine tasting of newly available  organic Italian wines.
107 S Mulberry St Suite 210

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co. 
224 E. Main
Opening Reception for Summer Invitational, featuring Cheryl Anne Lorance, Aaron Nicholson, Chet Geiselman, and Josh Winkler.

Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company will celebrate the Brink of Summer ArtsWalk, June 3rd from 5 – 8 pm with an opening reception for the gallery’s annual Summer Invitational. The exhibit will feature work by Cheryl Anne Lorance, Aaron Nicholson, Chet Geiselman, and Josh Winkler. These four artists all have strong ties to Muncie and Ball State.  Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend.

The exhibit will be on view for three months through the end of August. 

A brief program at 6:15 will highlight the work of Cheryl Lorance and Aaron Nicholson. Lorance will talk about paintings from her Wanderlust series depicting the imaginary travels of a small camper at the car that pulls it.  Nicholson’s work focuses on outer space and human interactions in the galaxies.  He will be serving cherry pie made in his baking pan shaped like an alien. 

The work of Geiselman and Winkler will be highlighted at the First Thursday event in August.  

Gordy is proud to participate in DWNTWN Muncie’s Flower Hour as one of ten locations to collect flowers to create a beautiful, custom bouquet.  Tickets can be purchased for $20.  Money raised through this event will support DWNTWN event programming and development opportunities. 

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. Summer Invitational may also be viewed through the end of August during regular 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 
High Street UMC will be enjoying some of the thrills of summer in our parking lot on the corner of High Street and Jackson. We’ll have popsicles, some yard games, sidewalk chalk and more. Stop by and play awhile!

Madjax Muncie
515 E. Main St.
Brink of Summer ArtsWalk at MADJAX
Madjax, 1st and 2nd floors

Makers, creatives, and artists will fill Monroe Hall, Public Hall and Second Floor Galleries. We are thrilled to have these talents! 
June Brink of Summer ArtsWalk please support local artists and makers.

Meet the makers and artists and see their many talents, 5-8pm

Second floor galleries and Monroe Street Hall pop-up artists and makers

Beyond I CAN
Madjax, 1st floor
Beyond I CAN/CARS is a creative day service program for adults with special-needs. We create opportunities and experiences for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities to explore through creative media in a fun, social environment. We create pottery, mosaics, paintings, greeting cards, small wooden furniture, screen-printed t-shirts, jewelry, crocheted/knitted items, greeting signs and more!  Visit us in our new location on the first floor of MadJax.

Tribune Showprint
Madjax, 1st floor
Tribune Showprint will be open for shop tours and a press will be inked for you to pull a print to take home with you. Come see new presses and products that we have been working on this past year.

“Hot” Music Night: Trivia and Raffle!
Madjax, 2nd floor
Join Madjax for the Brink of Summer Artswalk to listen to some “Hot” music celebrating the summertime! Each song played will include “hot” words/synonyms (fire, inferno, burning, etc.) in either the title of the song or the name of the band. While you shop for art at Madjax, listen to the music, then fill out a trivia sheet naming at least three of the songs you heard. Everyone who fills out a sheet will be entered in a raffle to win an artsy Muncie price pack filled with goodies from places like The Orchard Shop at Minnetrista, the Mailroom, and Muncie Map Co.! Pick up and return your trivia sheets to Natalie at the DJ table on the 2nd floor. 

Debra Gindhart
Madjax, 2nd floor
Debra Gindhart artist in residence and First Thursdays curator at Madjax will feature TEXT ON altered thrift store art, redirected vintage paintings and prints. Humorous words on found art. Meet the artist and see this new art series TEXT ON. 5-8pm    

Debra Shidler
Madjax, 2nd floor
Bloom: A Beautiful Process of Becoming

About the Artist: Debra Shidler

I hail from the mid-west; a small town in central Indiana called Portland. Art is ingrained in my upbringing as there are wood workers, glass blowers, fashion designers and painters within my family tree.  I have always loved art since I was a child and could be found drawing in the afternoon sun by a door way. I have continually been inspired by nature, but had been struggling with a perfectionistic outlook throughout my art journey.

While taking classes for my art degree at Ball State; a painting teacher advised me to just live with a painting I loathed. She pushed me to see the imperfections and see the beauty in the work. That was the first time I had really stopped and took in my art. It was hard to see the beauty because I could only see what I had failed to accomplish in the painting. I began looking at the work as a whole with time I saw my painting process and fell in love.

I soon realized my creative style was marrying organic abstract with nature images ranging from birds, flowers, seed pods, wood grain, etc. While in ceramic and metal working classes I enjoyed exploring imprint of natural found objects. I loved painting in oils as this medium allows an artist to come back and push the colors or add textures. I really enjoy artist from all mediums as well.  I am inspired by the colors and movement of Paul Klee’s work. The clean, organic architecture and designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, and gorgeous glass work of Dale Chihuly. The impressive scale and ingenuity of the Burning Man Exhibits is truly an experience.

My work to this day still explores these very key elements and inspirations; however, it was my son who reminded me of loving the imperfections of creating again. I had recently rented a pottery wheel to help my son discover the love of art; of course, at 3 he loves to see what materials will do with force. As I pulled up a pot form from the wheel he would then “help.” This created a rose like sculpture. It was simplistic, but stunning.

My art has been in the Juried Art Show at Minnetrista, Cornerstone Center for Arts Show, Ball State’s Juried Art Show, Echo Gallery, Made in Muncie, F.B. Fogg Salon and Cornerstone Center for the Arts all in central Indiana. I have also worked within the Muncie community at the Boys & Girls Club doing summer art programs and the Unity Center; as it my goal to inspire youth to express themselves and see the beauty around them.

I began my formal art training at Ball State University in the Fall of 2001 and finished in the Spring of 2006. I was able to explore many mediums such as: enameling to copper forms and flat surfaces; metal working with various metals like copper, silver and nickel; electroforming to grow copper products, discovering numerous ceramic glazing processes and firing techniques; printing and etching; as well as painting.

The subject of this show is Bloom; a beautiful process of becoming. During this time of the epidemic, I have really been able to dive back into art again. The creative outlet has been uplifting, challenging and a welcome distraction. Most of the work is focused on flowers as this reminds me of new growth and spring when the world wakes up from hibernation. I like to paint with acid like colors, but have been trying to develop other tints and shades in my pallet. The bright colors remind me of happiness and have a playful demeanor; which I feel allow my abstract figures and objects to dance on the canvas.

I hope my work brings you joy, a feeling of optimism and a sense of freedom. Please enjoy my show.

Muncie Artist’s Guild
Various locations
Muncie Artists Guild’s June 2021 
Artist of the Month, Karen Fisher

Karen Fisher moved to Muncie in 1972 as a Ball State freshman majoring in art education.  Just as her graduation goal came into sight, and her plan to exit Muncie was forming, she met Paul Fisher, a native of Muncie; the rest (as they say) is history. Paul and Karen were married in 1982 and have one daughter, Elizabeth.

Karen finished her undergraduate degree in 1976 in art education and completed her master’s degree in education in 1990. She taught reading in the Anderson schools before going to work at Gordy’s Art Mart. In 2003 Karen and Paul purchased the business from the Gordys’ and renamed it, simply, Art Mart. Art Mart is a successful art materials business in the BSU “Village.” Karen is a Certified Art Materials Retailer by NAMTA, an International Art Materials Association. This year Art Mart received two awards from the Best of Ball State which is sponsored by the Daily News. They were thrilled and proud to accept both the Best Small Business Award and the Best Customer Service Award.   

Karen has taught art classes to many young students and adults over her years in art materials. She still interacts with many of those same folks, now some have kids and grandkids. Karen still does Art Camps in the summertime and often goes to area family art festivals to demonstrate one process or another. She also taught at Cornerstone Center for the Arts for several years.

As an artist Karen likes to paint and draw.  “I love stuff! Often I paint or draw what is on my studio table. Recently I have enjoyed drawing and painting architectural components. In particular I have been very interested in corbels, molding and fancy bric-a-brac on old Victorian homes. Living in a 125-year-old home allows me to appreciate the work that went into all the beautiful decoration on many of the old homes.”

Karen is a member of Muncie Artist Guild, a new member of the Mayor’s Public Arts Committee as well as a longtime member of NAMTA, National Art Materials Trade Association, and, iAMart, an international organization of Independent Art Materials stores.  

To see Karen Fisher's artwork in person, please visit the following businesses, proud hosts of the Muncie Artists Guild's Artist of the Month:

Vera Mae's - Walnut St.
Massage Therapy Associates - Walnut St.
Northwest Bank - Adams St.
Old National Bank - Madison St.
Rosebud Cafe -Memorial Dr.

Come see Muncie Artists Guild’s website for the latest news on our events and activities:  https://www.muncieartistsguild.com/ 

Muncie Map Co.
111 E. Adams
Jannell Summers will be set up outside with a table of some of her old prints and originals (inside if it rains). She will also be doing blind-continuous contour drawings for the public. 

Muncie Map will also have a clearance sale going on, free give-aways throughout the night. We will have coloring pages of a map of Muncie for kids to keep or enter into a coloring contest called "Hey, We're Neighbors!" Coloring pages need to be turned in by the following Thursday, June 10th. The winners will be announced on the first Thursday of July. Prizes include tshirts, stickers, magnets, and more. Notable entries will be displayed in our shop for the month of June.

Amy Shears, who owns Fur in Focus pet photography studio, inside and adjacent to Muncie Map, will have an open studio with refreshments, examples of past work, and will be available to chat with the public about her services.

The North Church Venue
400 E. North St.
The North Church Venue will have the following for June’s First Thursday celebration!:

- Elm Street Brewery will be bartending for drinks
- Jansen Blevins is playing live music 5-7pm and Jake Hendershot is playing 7-9pm
- A few local artists will be in attendance as well showcasing their recent works.

PlySpace
608 E. Main
First Thursday Open Studio Cicada Chorus Recording Session

The Muncie Arts and Culture Council invites you to stop by the PlySpace Gallery (608 E Main Street, Muncie) for First Thursday ArtsWalk on June 3 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm to sing like a cicada! Inspired by the buzzing, whirring, and chirping of cicadas during the late spring and summer, PlySpace artist in residence Erin Mallea will collaborate with community members to listen to and observe insect noises in the area and develop a performance as a choral insect cacophony. On First Thursday, you can chirp, buzz, hiss, hum, and scream into a microphone and become part of her work! Recorded sounds will be woven into the final project, The Cicada Chorus, which will be presented as a video to the public at the end of June (date and time, TBD). Participation is free, but masks are required. 

More information about the Cicada Chorus and how you can be a part of this project visit www.PlySpace.org/cicada. PlySpace Summer Term events can be found on the PlySpace website at www.PlySpace.org/events and the PlySpace Facebook page. Questions or comments about the PlySpace Residency program, events, and community collaborations can be directed to the Program Coordinator, Sarah Shaffer, at hello@plyspace.org. Learn more about Muncie Arts & Culture Council at www.munciearts.org.

PlySpace is a program of the Muncie Arts and Culture Council in partnership with the City of Muncie, Ball State University School of Art, and Sustainable Muncie Corporation. PlySpace is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Sea Salt and Cinnamon
Walnut and Main
Sea Salt and Cinnamon is fundraising for our new downtown storefront by holding a bake sale table (with proceeds going toward our Kickstarter campaign) in front of the Patterson building during Artswalk.

YART
Canan Commons, 500 S. Walnut St.
YART is Coming! 

YART is a Yard Sale for Art! YART began in Muncie, Indiana with students at Ball State University and continues here and in several U.S. cities - a Muncie original! The Muncie YART is now held Downtown, at Canan Commons, twice a year, Spring and Fall, and coincides with ArtsWalk. The Spring 2021 Muncie YART is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, June 3rd!

This community art sale, with a goal of making art affordable and accessible to everyone, brings together Artists and Art patrons in a casual and unique setting. The Spring 2021 Muncie YART will be held in conjunction with the 2021 Brink of Summer ArtsWalk on Thursday, June 3rd, from 5-8p. You can find YART and LIVE music performances at Canan Commons, Muncie's great urban greenspace park and amphitheater by the roundabout on South Walnut Street in Downtown Muncie, Indiana. 

All forms of Art are welcome at YART! Art of all kinds, by all kinds of Artists! YART encourages pandemic-safe and socially distanced interaction between Artists and the community, hoping to make Art more accessible, especially to those who think they cannot afford to buy Art for themselves and their homes. To this goal, all YART Art will be priced below $40! YART works to enable local creative entrepreneurs and to improve the Muncie economy. Shop local, support independents, enjoy your town! 

Last YART featured over 150 Artists! Each YART Artist will be present throughout YART, masked and socially distanced, to meet the public, discuss their Art, handle sales personally, and some Artists will be making Art LIVE at YART! This is a great opportunity to enjoy your family interacting with local culture in a dynamic, lively, and relaxed atmosphere. Face masks covering the nose and mouth are required for all who attend ArtsWalk and YART, including children. If you are unable to wear a face mask, this will not be a safe environment for you or the community. We strongly encourage everyone to immediately get fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Spring 2021 Muncie YART will feature a wide variety of handmade jewelry, photography, clothing, oil/acrylic/watercolor paintings, fused glass, ceramics, knits, pottery, candles, toys, drawings, sculpture, lampwork glass, stuffed animals, digital art, mosaics, LIVE ART and LIVE MUSIC, and so much more!

Outdoor fun for all ages - YART and ArtsWalk are for the whole family!

Miss Moth (YART Director) and the YART Artists very much thank Cheryl Crowder of the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership and the City of Muncie for their generous support! YART is an all-volunteer, zero-budget, community event. THANK YOU!

LIKE Muncie YART on FaceBook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Muncie-Yart/156725934394407