Topic: College of Fine Arts
September 26, 2007
Visitors to Muncie's downtown will soon find it permeated with artwork and music, some by Ball State students and faculty.
ArtsWalk, beginning at 5 p.m. Oct. 4, will last four hours and cover Walnut and Main streets. The gallery on the first floor of Ball State's Art and Journalism Building also will be open, and the Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) trolleys will shuttle visitors between campus and downtown.
"There's not just a single not-for-profit behind it," said event co-chair Genny Gordy, owner of Gordy Fine Art and Framing Co. "It's a group effort that has worked because so many organizations are involved, including downtown development organizations, the business council, galleries, restaurant and bar owners, and independent artists."
ArtsWalk began six years ago when Robert Kvam, dean of the College of Fine Arts, witnessed a similar event in Indianapolis.
Gordy said ArtsWalk was a way to bridge the divide between campus and the Muncie community.
"It's been a wonderful melding of the town and gown," she said. "We're excited that we finally have something worth coming to, and the community loves it."
Co-chair Cheryl Crowder expressed a similar view.
"This is our sixth year of collaboration between the university and downtown for the ArtsWalk," Crowder said. "It's wonderful to see the talent of the whole community represented in downtown."
For more information, contact Crowder at 765-282-7897 or chercrowder@gmail.com.
By Alaric DeArment