In an effort to raise awareness among Ball State University students about the art scene just outside campus, the galleries of downtown Muncie are showcasing artwork on a monthly basis from professional artists as well as Ball State students.
Artswalk, the largest of these events, is planned for Oct. 6 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Muncie. The Artswalk is an event showcasing entertainment and artwork by Ball State students, local and national artists, local musicians and improv groups.
A trolley can be caught on campus, beginning at 5 p.m. It will stop at the downtown galleries.
Downtown Development Special Events Coordinator Cheryl Crowder describes the event as a celebration for the community and Ball State as a whole.
"Ball State is a huge part of what makes Muncie cool," Crowder said.
The Artswalk has traditionally been held in the summer, but Crowder said it was hard to get students to attend in the summer, so it was moved to the fall.
In an effort to attract more students, another addition to the Artswalk was the incorporation of the campus galleries.
Up until this year, the trolleys made stops at the downtown galleries but not the Atrium Gallery or The Ball State Museum of Art.
Jenny Gordy, owner of Gordy's Fine Arts and Framing, said the trolley traditionally made trips starting at Corner Stone Center for the Arts and stopping at Mitchell Place Gallery, F.B. Fogg and other art venues.
Gordy said that some of the downtown venues, such as Mitchell Place Gallery, are non-profit galleries run by volunteers.
Mitchell Place Gallery board member Yvonne Williams said the gallery displays artwork from professional as well as Ball State artists and tries to feature artists from the northern Indiana region.
The Animal Show, on display now at Mitchell Place Gallery, showcases the artwork of Ball State faculty. Two Ball State senior art shows displaying the artwork of Benny Sanders and Josh Winkler are also at the Gallery.
"We have a very good relationship with Ball State," Williams said.
Gordy said she expects this year's Artswalk to be the largest yet, and she said she hopes there will be more student involvement than ever before.
The Muncie galleries are only a few years old, and the relationship between the galleries and students is still new, Gordy said.
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