New Contemporary Art Gallery To Make Debut In Downtown Muncie: Art & Soul By Phoebe Art Gallery

Artist Phoebe Wantz is opening a new art gallery, Art and Soul by Phoebe Art Gallery, in Downtown Muncie.

The grand opening will be on Friday, October 30, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with an artist reception starting at 6 p.m. at 409 South Walnut Street, downtown Muncie.

Ms. Wantz is a former art major at Ball State, but better known locally for her work in Community Theater, has currently turned her focus to her artistic talent and established a new contemporary art gallery, the "Art and Soul by Phoebe Art Gallery."

Wantz currently has about 100 completed canvases and these paintings cover a variety of eclectic themes - from Southwest art, religious themes, abstracts to nudes. One can tell by Wantz's work that the "Muse" has really taken her by storm, since she has painted all of these works since March, 2008. Her paintings recently took first, second and third place in acrylics at a juried art show at the Minnetrista Cultural Center.

Multi-media artist Michael DuQuette will be the artistic director and curator of the gallery. Mr. DuQuette recently moved to Muncie from Chicago where he received his BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Mr. DuQuette is a rare artist in that he displays convincing accomplishment both in abstract expressionism and a kind of "funk-neo-realism" with which he creates portraits, cityscapes/landscapes and other urban vistas in a decidedly off beat style which is visually provocative, compositionally exciting and wild with color. DuQuette has received several awards over the last 25 years and has shown his work nationally and internationally.

The gallery's Artist-in-Residence, Mrs. Hye-Sook JEE, will be the on-site studio artist creating traditional Korean paper art using only paper to form bowls, lamps, tables and sculptures. Ms. JEE and her family just recently moved to Muncie from Korea. Not only will the public be invited to enjoy her work, but to SEE her work.

This new art gallery's mission and motto is: "Artist First". Art and Soul by Phoebe Gallery will be focusing on the art and artists which includes low commissions on sales: 20% for established/up and coming artists and 10% for student artists (currently enrolled) with no membership fees, which is unheard of in traditional galleries.

The gallery will be providing a Senior High School Student Scholarship Program and month long show with the scholarship awarded in the late spring of 2010. Plus there will be monthly featured artists, periodic juried art shows, poetry readings, book signings, play readings, musical presentations and other artistic adventures in the future.

Tanglevine Crossing, of Farmland, Indiana, will also be adding some selected pieces to be displayed and sold at the Gallery.

This is an exciting opportunity for local and out-of-state artists to display their work while bringing the spirit of the arts to the Muncie community. The Art and Soul by Phoebe Art Gallery is seeking artists for upcoming shows located downtown at 409 S. Walnut Street. It is certain to be a showplace of fresh and exceptional talent. The gallery welcomes diverse, unique artistry encompassing all media forms. Interested artisans should contact Art and Soul by Phoebe Art Gallery at 765-288-0005.


Contact Information:
Phoebe Wantz, Owner/Artist/Director
Michael DuQuette, Artistic Director and Curator
Art and Soul by Phoebe Art Gallery
Phone: 765-288-0005 Cell: 765-717-5456
Email: artandsoulbyphoebegallery@gmail.com


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