Come Downtown for the First Thursday Gallery Walk Sept. 4

Celebrate the arts in Downtown Muncie this First Thursday, September 4th, from 5 to 8pm. Our many art galleries launch their monthly exhibits on the first Thursday evenings of every month, with meet-the-artist receptions.

This month FB Fogg will relaunch following their recent remodeling, with an open house scheduled during the Sept 4th gallery walk during First Thursday.

The following exhibits will be opening (in alphabetical order by gallery) at the next First Thursday:

The Artist Within ~ 313 S Walnut Street ~ 765-289-7895

The Artist Within will feature the watercolors of Cindy Turner during September. There will be an opening reception First Thursday September 4th from 5-8pm. Her show will remain up through Sept. 27, 2008.

As an art major at BSU in the 1970's, she took a required Color class and it changed her way of looking at color forever. Until then, she had never really given much thought to color. She took it for granted like many other people do. This artist never knew to look beyond the crayon box to see that shadows are rarely ever just plain black.

Suddenly she noticed that a brick house under an orange tinted streetlight isn't brick red at all, but instead, it is a really neat shade of purple. Cindy says, "We are taught as children that black is black and then wonder at the many cool and warm shades of black at the paint store!"

She has taken this love of color and paired it with her beginning attempts at watercolor to create her first one woman show that is aptly titled Water + COLOR. Cindy goes on to say, "I have always loved watercolor paintings, but until I started doing paintings of my own, I never knew that I could pair my love and my bold use of color with a medium that is usually handled in a more delicate way. I love the results and hope that those who see my paintings will love them too!"

Cindy earned a BS degree in Visual Communications from Ball State University in 1979, but has spent much of her adult life working for University Libraries at Ball State. A Delaware County native, she has lived here most of my life. She did not dabble in the local art world until recently, but now that she has, she's hooked!

Cindy admits that she has always loved watercolor paintings and that she has purchased many books trying to teach herself to paint...with no success. According to Cindy, she is like many others who have tried and failed, always ending up with a very wet piece of paper with lots of runny brownish paint on it. In 2004 her husband gave her watercolor lessons for Christmas and in January of 2005, she took her first watercolor painting class from Brian Gordy. She took her second class with him that spring and would still be taking classes with him if he were still teaching. Cindy is quick to point out, "Brian is a wonderful watercolorist and a wonderful teacher and I feel very lucky to have learned what I have from him."

Brian Gordy encouraged Cindy and the others in the class to show their work and encouraged them to enter competitions.

Cindy has done this from the very beginning and considers it to have been a truly growing experience for her. Her paintings have been exhibited locally at Gordy's Fine Art Framing and at Minnetrista where she recently won an Award of Merit and the People's Choice Award. Cindy has also shown work at the Indiana State Fair. Originally she entered the non-professional division, but now has work in the professional category.


Artworks ~ 301 South Walnut Street ~ 765-288-2221

Twila Graber Beahm, a local Anderson, IN artist, will display her ceramics at ArtWorks Gallery from September 1st to the 30th. Twila graduated from Anderson University in 1992 with a BA in Fine Arts. She also studied ceramics under the instruction of Loran Hill, Bob Reiburg, Phil McLeod, Kim Anderson and John Peterson.

There will be an opening reception during First Thursday, Sept. 4, from 5 to 7:30 pm.

Twila was employed as a ceramic instructor for non-art majors at Anderson University from 1992 to 2002. She opened her Riverwalks Arts Studio and Gallery located on historical 8th Street in Anderson, IN in 2006. She also enjoys teaching classes in her studio. Twila comments, "I enjoy watching my students, who think they have no artistic ability, find that creative something that lets them express themselves in a new way".

Twila states, "Creating has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Working with clay lets me express my ideas and feelings best. I like to work with the clay and let it tell me what it wants me to do and then we create a new form together. Nature is where I get my inspiration and I love texture! Everywhere you look you have beautiful texture, the kind that you can hardly keep your hands from touching".

Twila uses pinch, coil and slab methods to create her pieces. However, her creativity utilizing these techniques is endless and her work gives insight into her views of social issues with a sense of humor. She recently finished a series: "Busting Out", which deals with women's issues of how they are viewed, abused and exploited through the ages because of their busts. Her "Busting Out" exhibit will be on display until September 5, 2008 at the Anderson Center For The Arts in Anderson, Indiana. Her exhibit at ArtWorks Gallery will include many of her functional pieces and sculptures such as mugs, platters, trays and will showcase her expertise in the manner in which she incorporates rich textural surfaces.

ArtWorks Gallery's Mission: as a non-profit cooperative artist gallery, our mission is to serve the Muncie community, provide local artists a facility to exhibit their art and to provide educational opportunities and affordable art to our community.

For more information the media may contact Twila Beahm at 765-623-2124.


Blue Bottle ~ 206 South Walnut Street ~ 765-284-3630

Bottle coffee shop on Walnut St. showcases local artwork every month. Visit www.bluebottlecoffee.com or myspace.com/bluebottlecoffee for information.


Cornerstone Center for the Arts ~ 520 E. Main Street ~ 765-281-9503 ext. 15

Blair Bowden's Exhibit, "Images and Words," has been extended through September 17 at cornerstone Center for the Arts.

Blair is currently a visual communications major at BSU with an emphasis in Graphic Design. Blair has lived in Kentucky, Indiana, and Japan. His work is often inspired by his travels and experiences with other cultures. Blair's pieces are a mixture of graphic design, photography, painting, ink, and other media.

The newly renovated Cornerstone Art Gallery is located on the second floor and will have a new show opening on the First Thursday of each month. The gallery exhibits and promotes the artwork of Cornerstone students and instructors, local high school and college students, as well as local and regional artists.


Gallery 308 ~ 308 E. Main Street ~ 765-289-8575

Gallery 308 Opens a new exhibit, "Copyright Propaganda: Street Art" with an opening reception during First Thursday, September 4, from 5 to 8 p.m.

This exhibition features the work of two artists: Mike Boyd and Will Britton. The artists will be on hand at the opening and light refreshments will be served.

In a related event, on the third Thursday of September, Gallery 308's Living Arts Series presents "Art in a Democracy." A panel of local artists will discuss such questions as what can happen when artistic freedom and censorship collide. It will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4800 N. Bradford Drive in Muncie at 7 p.m. on September 18.


Gordy Fine Art & Framing ~ 224 E Main Street ~ 765-284-8422

If Muncie held a "Most Recognized Artist" contest, Alan Patrick would certainly be a favorite candidate. His depictions of the wooded areas around Delaware County have graced local calendars and note cards, but more importantly, numerous public, private and museum collections around the country.

Known for his masterful brushwork of serene colors, Patrick provides viewers with a moment of calm - a beautiful walk in the woods, by a stream, under the cover of birch and elm, where one can almost hear the leaves crunch underfoot. Titled, "Heartland," the show delivers the sometimes forgotten soul of Indiana's countryside.

A gifted potter, Patrick ran the successful, "Bethel Pike Pottery" near Albany for several decades before retiring the wheel and kiln in lieu of the brush and canvas in 2006. Many of the pots the former art teacher created were glazed with intricate floral designs, a signature of its multi-talented creator.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing will be exhibiting new oil paintings by Patrick during the month of September at their downtown gallery. A reception for the artist will be held during the traditional First Thursday art event on September 4, 2008 from 5 to 8 PM. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend.

"Alan is always a big draw as an exhibitor," gallery owner Brian Gordy offers. "His exceptional landscape paintings are some of the finest created in this era of Muncie art." Gordy expects many visitors throughout the month. "Collectors have a great interest in the works of Alan Patrick, and we're happy to oblige their appetites for his work."

Gordy Fine Art and Framing is located at 224 East Main Street, next to Civic Theater. The exhibit may also be seen during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5:30, Saturday, 9 to 3, or by appointment. For more information, call 284-8422 or visit www.gordyframing.com.


Mitchell Place Studio ~ 301 S Walnut

Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts & Animation Student Art & Research Showcase
Thursday April 3rd, 5 p.m.

See monthly showcase of recent, supported student art and research projects in association with First Thursdays downtown. For more information on this and other IDIAA programs visit www.bsu.edu/cmd/mps.


Toys Forever Models & Hobbies ~ 311 South Walnut Street ~ 765-288-6505

On First Thursdays, Toys Forever Models & Hobbies hosts a meeting of modelers who build and detail plastic models of cars, trucks, aircraft, ships, sci-fi and other subjects. The meeting is held from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. Come see finished models on display, models in the process of being built and talk to the modelers about tips and techniques. Any person interested is welcome to join and participate in the display and discussion. For more information, contact Brandon Mundell at Toys Forever Models & Hobbies (765) 288-6505.

In addition, Toys Forever Models & Hobbies will be open to the public extended hours until 8:00 PM First Thursday. Come meet our knowledgeable and friendly staff while exploring East Central Indiana's premier selection of model and hobby supplies.

Other downtown Muncie businesses may have art exhibits or special events during First Thursdays include:

~ Cassella's Kitchen, 401 S. Walnut Street - 765-289-8980
~ Cortex Hair Center, 112 W Jackson Street - 765-288-6685
~ David Dale Designs, Interior Designs & Fine Art Gallery, 421 S Walnut Street - 765-284-4987
~ FB Fogg, 418 E Main Street - 765-289-7464
~ Minnetrista, 1200 N. Minnetrista Parkway - 765-282-4848

Additionally, all of Downtown's independently owned bars and restaurants will be open and ready to serve you. For more information, visit www.munciedowntown.com.

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Please help keep us informed of any upcoming events or exhibits in Downtown Muncie. Email details to info [at] munciedowntown.com.

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