First Thursday Event - TODAY

Every month, on the first Thursday, there is an arts event in Downtown Muncie. The art galleries and many of the shops stay open until 8 pm and feature special exhibits, menus, sales, and other events. It is open to the public and free to attend. It is a great way to relax and enjoy a bit of Muncie life.

Below is information about this month's event.

Note: This information is taken from today's StarPress - Muncie's local newspaper. 

Prints, paintings and photographs are just some of the things you’ll find at today’s First Thursday event downtown. The event is set for 5-8 p.m. at the galleries and shops along Walnut and Main streets.

Details:

» Rose Court: The featured artist for February is Jerry Dreesen. Dreesen is a painter/poet. He writes and publishes haiku and other short form Japanese poetry online and in paper journals. This self-taught artist loves to challenge himself in a variety of mediums and styles including acrylic, watercolor, pastel and linocut printing.

» Gordy Fine Art & Framing: Gordy’s will present the works from husband and wife duo and Ball State University professors, David and Sarojini Johnson, as well as their students, Terre Keck and Brandon Beeson.

The four artists will present works made using either the intaglio or relief process, typically used to create multiple copies of a “plate” that has been altered, via chemicals or gouging tools. In either case, ink is applied to the prepared plate, paper is laid on the inked surface, pressure applied, and the paper — now carrying an image — is pulled away to dry. Printmaking is a demanding art, as each color represents either a different plate, or the original plate, re-altered. Either way, a challenging series of steps stands between the artist and the final works of art.

On the other side of the gallery space, Amelia Morris will kick off Gordy’s “Small Exhibit Series” with, “An Honest Assessment: Recent Efforts from Amelia Morris.” Her images make up a photo diary of her days, post college.

» The Artist Within: Featured this month will be "Each Face is Unique,” the photography of Rachel Rector. This young artist bought her first camera when she was a freshman in high school and started shooting immediately. Rector readily admits that the most exciting experience she has had behind the lens came from the hundreds of photographs she took while on a mission trip in Haiti. Many of her photos are part of this exhibit.

» Gallery 308: Kim and Scott Anderson will be the featured artists this month. Both artists are professors at Ball State University in the Department of Art and exhibit their work professionally in galleries, museums and national and regional juried exhibitions. Kim’s exhibit, “Rock Paper Scissors,” will show her work in ceramics, porcelain and her new line of textiles featuring custom handbags, purses, backpacks and ladies accessories. Scott’s exhibit, “Envisions,” showcases his paintings.