A Ball State University alumna is opening a new gallery in downtown Muncie focused on helping up and coming artists, particularly students. Art and Soul by Phoebe Art Gallery, owned by Phoebe Wantz, will open at 10 a.m. on Friday.
The eclectic collection of fine art, its "Artist First" motto and Wantz's goal to help young artists is what sets Wantz's gallery apart from others like it. In an effort to showcase more work by students, "Art and Soul by Phoebe" will charge a 10 percent commission to student artists currently enrolled in school and will not charge any membership fees. A 20 percent commission will be charged to artists who are not students.
"I don't care if I make a dime. Just as long as I can pay the rent and help young artists," Wantz said.
The gallery will also offer a Senior High School Student Scholarship Program. The scholarship will be given to a senior high school student in the spring. The winner will be determined at a juried art show. The scholarship will be given in Wantz's father's name, Clinton Thomas, from whom Wantz said she inherited her talent.
Wantz was an art major at Ball State, but is more locally known for her work in community theater. Her decision to open the gallery came about pretty suddenly in a whirlwind of events. The idea originated when she rented out space to display her work for the Governor's ArtsWalk.
Multimedia artist Michael DuQuette, the gallery's artistic director and curator, was looking through the window of the gallery when Wantz invited him in and had him set up his work in an extra room. Throughout ArtsWalk, people begged Wantz to keep the gallery open. She decided she was in a place in her retirement where she was able to afford her venture. She had the support of her daughter who thought of the name for the gallery.
"So many great people have come together that it feels meant to be," she said.
The gallery already has 22 artists lined up to display work for the opening without the help of any advertising.
"I told Michael that I feel like this is sort of like the ‘Field of Dreams.' If I build it, they will come," Wantz said.
Wantz really wants to get the word out to young artists and doesn't want the gallery to get stale, she said. They will be changing the pieces in the gallery every month in order to keep the gallery fresh. There will also be a new featured artist every month. They will be keeping files on everything shown in the gallery so that people can come back later to buy a piece they had seen in a previous month.
The gallery will always be open for new fresh ideas, Wantz said. If anyone has any ideas for the gallery, they should feel free to let the people at Art and Soul by Phoebe Art Gallery know.
Some of the artwork Wantz's gallery will showcase on Friday includes paintings, sculptures, vintage jewelry, woven pieces, Native American art and Korean paper art. The artwork will be a mixture of work from local artists as well as from artists around the globe. The vintage jewelry will be provided by Rosemary Gard of Chicago, who has designed a necklace Oprah wore . Hye-Sook Jee, the gallery's artist-in-residence, will provide the Korean paper art.
For more information, contact the gallery at 765-288-0005.
Art and Soul by Phoebe Art Gallery Opening
When: 10 a.m. Friday; Artist reception 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: 409 S. Walnut St.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
