Thursday, February 7, 2013

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. The featured artist at Rose Court for February is Jerry Dreesen. Dreesen is a self-taught artist who loves to challenge himself in a variety of mediums and styles including acrylic, watercolor, pastel and linocut printing.

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.




Sunday, January 27, 2013

Carry On


Indie rock band, FUN. came to Muncie on Friday night! It was announced only earlier in the week and there was only ONE day to get tickets. It was a BIG DEAL and was sold out by mid afternoon. FUN. has been nominated for SIX Grammy Awards, so this is a big year for the band.


And for us here in Muncie, Friday night's concert was a big event. Even if you didn't get the chance to see them live, maybe you can enjoy some YouTube clips.

For Monday's Music Pick, I'm going with the band's song, Carry On because I think it is very appropriate here in the dead of winter. Let us all be cheered on -


"Carry On"

Well I woke up to the sound of silence
the cars were cutting like knives in a fist fight
and I found you with a bottle of wine
your head in the curtains
and heart like the Fourth of July

You swore and said
"We are not
We are not shining stars"
This I know
I never said we are

Though I've never been through hell like that
I've closed enough windows
to know you can never look back

If you're lost and alone
Or you're sinking like a stone
Carry on
May your past be the sound
Of your feet upon the ground
Carry on

Carry on, carry on

So I met up with some friends
at the edge of the night
At a bar off 75
And we talked and talked
about how our parents will die
All our neighbours and wives

But I like to think
I can cheat it all
To make up for the times I've been cheated on
And it's nice to know
When I was left for dead
I was found and now I don't roam these streets
I am not the ghost you are to me

If you're lost and alone
Or you're sinking like a stone
Carry on
May your past be the sound
Of your feet upon the ground
Carry on

Whoa
My head is on fire
But my legs are fine
After all they are mine
Lay your clothes down on the floor
Close the door
Hold the phone
Show me how
No one’s ever gonna stop us now

Cause we are
We are shining stars
We are invincible
We are who we are
On our darkest day
When we’re miles away
Sun will come
We will find our way home

If you're lost and alone
Or you're sinking like a stone
Carry on
May your past be the sound
Of your feet upon the ground
Carry on

Carry on, carry on

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Sports this weekend!


SPORTING ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND

If you enjoy sports and enjoy being a spectator, 
then come out this weekend and support fellow 
IEI students this weekend! 


Tennis


Women's Tennis vs. Milwaukee @ 11AM 
When: Saturday, January 26 
Where: Northwest YMCA
Come see our very own IEI student compete, AYAKA TERASHI

CHIRP! CHIRP! GO AYAKA!!!

Basketball


Women's Basketball vs. Ohio @ 2PM 
When: Saturday, January 26
Where: Worthen Arena
Come see our very own IEI student compete, NATHALIE FONTAINE

CHIRP! CHIRP! GO NATALIE!!!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Game ON! January 19th


Ball State Women's Basketball 
against Kent State 
this Saturday, January 19th 
NOON!




























Saturday's game is being promoted as an "International" event and we want to show our international diversity by having as many international students in attendance as possible.

 The coaches have offered to meet with IEI and other international students at 11:30 - just before the game - to talk about basketball rules and game strategies and to answer any questions you might have. 


                       
                       There is a good chance you 
                       can even use that as 
                       one of your listening logs!! 

   





This is an awesome opportunity! 
I hope you will come out to experience Indiana Basketball 
(also known as) 
HOOSIER HYSTERIA! 



You will even get a gift: 
Each international student will receive a t-shirt and a poster. 

And wait - there's even more!!!
 After the game, the players will visit where the students are sitting to say hello and sign autographs. 
How cool is that???


And one more thing: one of our very own IEI students is the 
STAR PLAYER! Natalie Fontain
 So come out and support Natalie 
show your Ball State school spirit 
and get a real-life taste of Hoosier Hysteria!


NOTE: Please contact the IEI office if you plan to go because the Athletic Department would like to have some idea how many international students to expect. 

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Welcome Back! 2013


Welcome back to Fun Muncie



Welcome back to Ball State! 


And Happy 2013!


By now, all students and faculty should be back in the swing of academic life. I hope you are having a great semester so far. I think one of the biggest challenges of going into the spring semester is the Indiana weather and the short days. Cold, gray, and dull, Indiana winters keep many people inside. As a result, Indiana isn’t exactly “FUN” at this time of year.


Oh wait, but it IS! I mean, it CAN be fun if you make it that way. What I really mean is that Fun-see MUNCIE is still alive and well, even in these cold dark days.


And there is a lot going on. You still have many opportunities to experience local culture, make friends, gather with old friends, see new things, learn new things, and do interesting stuff!

You see, we each have the power to make choices that will contribute to the quality of our lives. And I know that there are still many interesting and fun things to do in the Muncie area, even in the dead of winter.

Therefore, it is important to be aware of events and to make that extra effort to get out and participate. I will do my best to keep you informed here of what’s going on. And please, if you have any news or information to share, please send it my way: ralin@bsu.edu.

Welcome back and have a great semester!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


In the United States, many people make "New Year's Resolutions".
a resolution is a promise to do something new or better. 
So at this time of year, many people have thought about the past year,
contemplated about their lives and their dreams and goals,
and made promised to themselves to make positive changes that will lead them closer
to the life they hope for.

Of course, it is much easier to SAY you will do this or that, or stop doing this or that,
but KEEPING your promises is a bigger challenge. 
Therefore, the media is saturated with tips and comments by psychologists 
to help us keep our New Year's Resolutions.

First, let's look at this year's top resolutions:
1. Eat healthy
2. Exercise more
3. Drink less (alcohol)
4. Learn something new
5. Quit smoking
6. Volunteer
7. Save Money
8. Get organized
9. Read more
10. Enjoy more of life

Did you make any New Year's Resolutions? If you did, what were they? How do they compare to the list above? If you didn't, think about it now - is there something you would like to do differently in 2013? 

However you spent the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, I hope you are ready now for a new year with lots of new experiences and challenges. I hope that your studies go well at Ball State University and that you find something new and exciting here in Muncie in this new year!

HAPPY 2013!!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Women's Basketball! Let's Go!

Hi everybody! Wellcome back to the IEI! 

I've got lots of things to blog about, but first of all, I have an announcement about BASKETBALL! 

In Indiana, basketball is a really big thing. It's so big, in fact, that if you want to experience your local culture, you really need to experience BASKETBALL!




Here is your first opportunity:

You are invited to join us this Thursday night at the BSU vs. Miami Women's Basketball Game. We will meet at Gate #1 at 6:45 P.M. Let's kick off the session and the new year by showing our IEI spirit!

Come on out and enjoy some HOOSIER spirit!