ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
FAR Center Art Workshops For Kids and Grown-Ups Too
“Spaces make things happen.” That’s a common refrain at the FAR Center for Contemporary Arts, where an expanding lineup of workshops is opening up a variety of art forms to aspiring artists of all ages.
B-Town’s Carrie Newcomer Records Her 19th Album
We’re all a work in progress—as we evolve, staying connected to our surroundings and the people we reach for in the toughest moments can help us weather one transition after another.
Young, Old, Novice, Amateur: There’s an Orchestra for You!
Whether you’re 8 or 80 years old, there are two new ways for you to make music in Bloomington.
Dylan Quackenbush: Clay Artist & Groundskeeper
Brown County, Indiana, potter Dylan Quackenbush says working with three-dimensional objects and transforming clay into functional art pieces matches his personality and fosters his creativity.
Singer Marshella Griffin-Larry: Success in London and LA, Still a Bloomington Townie
Marshella Griffin-Larry describes herself as an “Indiana girl in a California world.”
Brown County Playhouse: Coming Back with More “Oomph”
Amanda Webb didn’t have to think twice about her biggest challenge since becoming executive director of the Brown County Playhouse— keeping the historic Nashville, Indiana, theater afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glenn Close Visits Her Costumes At IU’s Eskenazi Museum of Art
Award-winning actress Glenn Close said she was flooded with memories as she walked through an exhibition at the Indiana University Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art showcasing costumes from some of her most notable roles, including the nurse’s uniform she wore in her very first film in 1982, The World According to Garp.
Thomas DeCarlo: An Indie Film-Style Animator
Thomas DeCarlo knows what he wants to see in an animated film—sci-fi and fantasy stories with adult characters who tackle complex social issues, but something that is still is enjoyable for the whole family.
IU’s New 88,000-Pound Carillon: The Ultimate Heavy Metal Music
For 47 years, Indiana University’s Metz Carillon rang from the campus’ highest point, near the intersection of North Jordan Avenue and East 17th Street.
Krista Detor to Perform at Switchyard Park October 22
Local musician Krista Detor will present an outdoor concert at Switchyard Park on Friday, October 22, at 6 p.m. She will be joined by daVida, featuring Janiece Jaffe, David Gulyas, and Dave Bruker.
After Pandemic Hiatus, Lotus Festival Returns to Enthusiastic Crowds (PHOTO GALLERY)
From September 23–26, the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival brought music from 14 countries to downtown Bloomington.
Hundredth Hill Artist Retreat Seeks Applicants For Writing Residency
Applications are open for the Deep Winter writing residency at The Hundredth Hill artist retreat until September 30, 2021.
The 28th Annual Lotus Fest Has Arrived! Here’s What You Need To Know
The 28th annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival begins on Thursday, September 23 in downtown Bloomington, featuring 18 artists performing music from 14 countries.
Viridian Moon: B-Town’s New Art Gallery
Ten local artists have launched a new art gallery in town: Viridian Moon Art Gallery, which began displaying the art of its members in January. Viridian, located at 1600 W. Bloomfield Road, has been closed for renovations since June but will reopen on August 21 for a grand opening celebration from 5–8 p.m.
Alison Kingsley: Artist & Educator
As a child, Alison Kingsley loved drawing and painting. She relished summer art camps, and high school art classes were the highlight of her days. That’s when she decided to become an art teacher and develop her diverse artistic talents.
Bloomington Photography Club: 29th Annual Show This Autumn
The technology of picture taking has changed over the decades since the Bloomington Photography Club (BPC) began meeting, but the group’s goals remain the same. “The idea is to have fun first, and the second is education,” says board member James Kellar.
New Cook Center at IU Strengthens Link to Local Arts Community
At the new Gayle Karch Cook Center for Public Arts and Humanities at Indiana University, exhibits by IU faculty and community artists and a regional artist-in-residence program are creating stronger links between the university and the Bloomington arts and cultural communities.
Fourth Street Festival Returns In Person
The 4th Street Festival of the Arts & Crafts will be an in-person event this year after being held virtually in 2020.
Trenton Musch, a.k.a. ‘Moosy’: Painting the Town with Color
Trenton Musch sees walls as opportunities. Using the smooth, clean lines produced by applying consistent pressure to the top of a spray can, Musch, a.k.a. “Moosy,” turns ordinary walls into large-scale works of art.
‘Spirit of Indiana’: A New Campus Sculpture
From meticulous gardens to architectural gems, Indiana University is known for its picturesque campus. Outdoor statues and sculptures help accentuate that beauty, but IU philanthropist Pat Miller noticed that the artistic touches stopped north of 17th Street as visitors approached the athletics complex.
Nancy Grabner: Creative B-Town Basket Weaver
When Nancy Grabner began weaving baskets as a hobby 20 years ago, she found it so calming that her home was soon filled with them.
Pacifica Quartet Wins Another Grammy
At the 2021 Grammy Awards, Indiana University’s quartet-in-residence, The Pacifica Quartet, was awarded Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for its album Contemporary Voices.
New City-Wide Youth Theatre Collective Tackles Racial Justice
The City-Wide Youth Theatre Collective is a new theater group in Bloomington, made up of diverse students (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and their allies) ages 13–18.
Aerialist Superstar Dreya Weber Returns to Perform in Bloomington
When Dreya Weber brings her one-woman aerial performance to Bloomington in July, she will be returning to the place where her dream of flying was first realized.
The Elder Music Recording Project To Improve Well-Being of Oldsters
Jon Kay remembers reading a 2015 Gallup report that ranked Indiana 46th in the overall well-being of its elders.
Live, In-Person Theater Returning With Cardinal’s Cabaret
Staging a theater production is a tough proposition in a socially distanced, mostly virtual world.
George Taliaferro Documentary To Air on Big 10 Network in June
A documentary film about George Taliaferro, the Indiana University football legend, activist, professor, administrator, and philanthropist, is currently being co-produced by Bloomington creative agency Blueline and the Big Ten Network.
‘The Vice President’s Black Wife’: New Book by IU History Professor
Dr. Amrita Chakrabarti Myers regards her work as an academic focused on slavery and Black women’s history as a “labor of recovery.” Her subjects, many illiterate, left little behind.
Artist Carol Bridges: Maker of Life-Affirming Quilts
Carol Bridges invites fellow travelers on “a spiritual journey along the artist’s path.”
The Stone Age Institute Presents Popular Culture Livestream Series
From March 28—May 2, the Stone Age Institute will present a popular culture livestream series via streaming platform Mandolin, featuring performances by drummer Kenny Aronoff, singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin, and jazz duo Tuck & Patti, among others.
April Gallery Walk to Feature Two New Galleries
The Gallery Walk on April 2 will feature five live gallery openings, including two new galleries.
Raymond Fleischmann: B-town’s New Novelist
Raymond Fleischmann, director of advancement communications at the Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences, published his debut novel, How Quickly She Disappears (Berkley Books), in January 2020.
Artist Adam Long: Painting the Town
Longtime Bloomington resident Adam Long, 43, doesn’t have an artist’s background.
New Director of Buskirk-Chumley Arrived Just in Time for Shutdown
In January 2020, when Jonah Crismore was interviewing for the position of executive director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater (BCT), the dimensions of the COVID-19 crisis were only dimly visible.
Artist Ellen Starr Lyon: Looking Inward
Ellen Starr Lyon’s portraits are largely of family members depicted smack in the middle of their daily lives. The result is both emotional and intimate.
April Strawn: Teen Book Illustrator
Late in the process of publishing The Chill, author Michael Koryta pitched the idea of including pictures in the novel to his editor. And he knew exactly who he wanted to draw them.
Review: ‘The Way of Imagination’
“How can we keep from crying out in wonder and praise?” asks Scott Russell Sanders in one of the alternately exultant and grieving essays contained in his newest collection, The Way of Imagination.
A New Music Livestream Platform Conceived in B-town Law Office
The coronavirus pandemic has created a huge demand for internet- streamed music.
Innovation Drives B-town Theater Groups During Pandemic Shutdown
Locally, Bloomington theater companies are innovating ways to keep audiences engaged while working together in the spirit of collaboration.
Live Local Theater Returns Outdoors at Hundredth Hill
Live theater returned to Bloomington at The Hundredth Hill, a 40-acre nonprofit artist retreat on North Fish Road, owned by singer-songwriter Krista Detor and husband, music producer David Weber.
REVIEW: ‘Kitchen Think’
Like Nancy Hiller’s well-crafted cabinetry, her newest book, ‘Kitchen Think’ (Lost Art Press), is both useful and beautiful.
Power Plant Collective Shows Art by Marginalized Artists
In a small basement on Bloomington’s Near West Side, a group of 20-somethings has created a gallery where aspiring artists can gather. It’s a space where they can display their work and showcase talents that might otherwise remain unknown.
Brown County Music Center Brings Big Names to Nashville
After a 2009 arson fire destroyed the Little Nashville Opry, an entertainment venue that had served Brown County for more than 30 years, the community felt the loss. Things took a bright turn when the Brown County Music Center opened in August 2019 to a sold-out Vince Gill concert.
Wylie House Exhibit Portrays Marginalized, Silenced Hoosiers
The written records and visual art we share as historical representations of our collective past depict, more often than not, only one point of view. Those who weren’t in positions of power—who didn’t have a voice—are frequently forgotten or simply overlooked.
‘‘Lock Ness!’ and Other Tales of Nessie the Scottie’
For all the joy they bring, it’s a sad truth that pets’ lives are much shorter than our own. In “Lock Ness!” and Other Tales of Nessie the Scottie (BookLocker, 2019), Bloomington resident and Bloom contributor Lee Ann Sandweiss explores the loss of her own pet and offers a guiding hand for those experiencing similar grief.
Local Dancer Wins World Country & Western Award
When Mary Hoedeman Coniaris got the call that she was receiving the Pioneer Award from the United Country and Western Dance Council (UCWDC) at its World Championships, she was stunned.
Review: ‘Author in Chief’
Just before President’s Day, Bloom caught up with Bloomington resident Craig Fehrman as he set out on a national book tour for ‘Author in Chief’.
Chamber Singers to Present ‘Considering Matthew Shepard’
Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, was brutally murdered 22 years ago, and his death served as a catalyst for legislative and cultural change.
King Bee & The Stingers: Blues Band on the Rise
By day, Mark Menefee, 60, is the Indiana University director of utilities. By night, he’s the black- and-yellow-clad harmonica player “King Bee” of the blues band King Bee and The Stingers.
Ransom Haile: Multimedia Digital Artist
Most recently, most of Haile’s art has been visual: sculptures, drawings, tattoos, paintings, and photographs.
The Waldron Marks Ten Years as Part of Ivy Tech
Ten years ago, Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington acquired the John Waldron Arts Center, a building with a long history of public use that was in danger of being shuttered.
New Cardinal Initiative Works to Increase Diversity of Plays
In an ongoing effort to be more inclusive, welcoming, and representative of the Bloomington community, Cardinal Stage has introduced the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative. The program is part of Cardinal’s five-year plan that was established in 2018.
Servers and Bartenders Perform At Cardinal Spirits’ Tipple and Tune
On the first Monday of each month, Cardinal Spirits, 922 S. Morton St., hosts Tipple and Tune from 7 to 9 p.m.
Artist Larissa Danielle Celebrates Beauty, Strength of Black Women
It’s hard for mixed-media artist Larissa Danielle, an Indiana University Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Design MFA student, to name her favorite medium. Much of her work combines paint, sculpture, fiber, and an array of recycled materials on canvas.
Six Area Artists’ Work Chosen for New Hospital
When the new IU Health Regional Academic Health Center opens next year, works by six area artists will play a role in the healing of all who enter the new hospital.
‘Ada and the Engine’ Celebrates the First Computer Programmer
More than 175 years ago, the coding concepts that would lead to modern-day computer programming were pioneered by a woman named Ada Lovelace.
Introducing Singer Emma Peridot, Formerly B-town’s Emily Morrone
To launch her new album, Morrone, as Peridot, will do some weekend touring around the Midwest, including a performance in Bloomington at The Back Door on March 5.
Two Productions Honor Legacy of IU’s Ernie Pyle
Although it’s been 75 years since his death during World War II at the Battle of Okinawa, Ernie Pyle’s legacy looms large in Indiana.
Four B-town Films Shown At Heartland Film Festival
This year, four films with Bloomington ties were shown at The Heartland International Film Festival, which was held October 10–20 in Indianapolis.
Bloomington Symphony Orchestra Celebrates 50 Years Making Music
In 1969, when Geoffrey Simon and Tamás Ungár were students at the Indiana University School of Music, they noticed a lack of performance opportunities for musicians in Bloomington and set out to establish a community orchestra. While Simon actively recruited musicians, Ungár managed behind-the-scenes operations. The result was the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra (BSO).
Reissue of ‘The Boy Who Loved Batman’ Updates Author’s Life & Batman Movies
IU Press just reissued Michael Uslan’s 2011 memoir, The Boy Who Loved Batman. When asked why, the author replies, “Well, it’s pretty simple. A lot has happened to me and to Batman in the meantime.”
Guggenheim Fellow Sam Stephenson Finds B-town a Fertile Place to Write
Author Sam Stephenson’s work focuses on the culture, music, and art that develops in large cities like Los Angeles and New York, yet, he says, Bloomington is a good place for a writer with eclectic cultural interests.
Eskenazi Museum Acquires The Jeffrey Wolin Collection
Photographer Jeffrey Wolin has spent a lifetime capturing the tragedy, grit, and beauty of the human experience, and his photographs are displayed in museums and galleries worldwide. Now, the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University has acquired Wolin’s archives—and they contain more than just his previously exhibited and published works.
Cardinal Stage Presents ‘The Roommate’: A Comedy About Two Women Over 50
Film and theater roles for women over 50 have traditionally stayed in a narrow lane—one filled with maternal or spinster archetypes. The Roommate, penned by playwright Jen Silverman, is a dark comedy that aims to break that mold. “Older women are often depicted in a way that belies the truth,” says Indianapolis-based actor Constance Macy. “They aren’t the 50-something women I know.”
B-town Music Expo Is Back February 8
The Bloomington Music Expo—part record and music-memorabilia show, part art and music festival— will be held Saturday, February 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Monroe Convention Center. The event, now in its second year, came from the mind of Mike McAfee, executive director of Visit Bloomington.
BPP Kids MiniPlay Festival Features ‘Explorers’ Theme
Budding playwrights have an opportunity to see their work come to life as Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP) hosts its 36th Annual MiniPlay Festival, open to students in first through eighth grade.
Documentary on IU’s Henry Glassie Premieres at Toronto Film Festival
The documentary film Henry Glassie: Field Work opens with a series of vignettes of Brazilian sculptors creating traditional sacred art. Not until 30 minutes into the film does Glassie, an internationally renowned folklorist and Indiana University professor emeritus, make an appearance.
Local Drummer Is Living the Dream
Local drummer Luke Narey has long been a fan of alternative metal band 10 Years. “I would blast their music while driving to and from [Edgewood] high school, but never would have imagined I’d have a chance to be part of the band one day,” Narey says.
Steve Dawson: An Unlikely Artist
As a mechanical engineering graduate of Purdue University and president of local mechanical contracting and service firm Harrell-Fish Inc., Steve Dawson might seem an unlikely artist.
New Books from IU Press: ‘Pilgrims of Woodstock’
It’s been 50 years since the Woodstock Music & Art Fair brought 400,000 people together on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York. A new book from IU Press, Pilgrims of Woodstock, celebrates the festival’s anniversary by gathering previously unpublished photographs along with the reminiscences of audience members.
The Ryder: For 40 Years Part of the B-town Scene
Printing issue No. 1 ominously on April Fools’ Day 1979, The Ryder is the sole survivor of a half-dozen or so free alternative publications circulating in Bloomington at the time.
The Blues Jam Is Back at Port Hole & Bear’s Place
Joel Kohen has been passionate about the Bloomington music scene since his days as an undergraduate at Indiana University, but he went from enthusiast to proprietor when he and his wife, Deana, bought the Port Hole Inn in January 2017.
Salaam Has Found Its ‘Perfect Balance’
Although Salaam has been together a quarter of a century, founder Dena El Saffar says that only recently has the Middle Eastern quartet hit upon a certain balance that had been quietly simmering for nearly a decade. With patience, practice, and the space to make intuitive music, she says the group feels it has achieved the ideal blend of cultural sounds.
Pictura Gallery: A Nonprofit Supporting Arts Education
David and Martha Moore say they do not have time for stuffy, pretentious art spaces. Once, while in Seattle, they visited an art gallery with a plastic model of a massive, red T. rex on display. David recalls his disappointment seeing a “Don’t Touch” sign juxtaposed with several children running around the model, dying to play with it. “Plastic dinosaurs are meant to be played with,” he says. “How do you not touch a huge, plastic dinosaur?”
Krista Detor’s Annual Holiday Show at FAR Center Dec. 13
Once again, Bloomington-based singer-songwriter Krista Detor will be staying close to home for the holidays, performing an annual show to benefit a local nonprofit organization. “It’s my way of giving back to the community and, at this point, it feels like a tradition, although it’s always a little bit different,” says the internationally acclaimed performer.
Cardinal Brings ‘Newsies’ To Buskirk-Chumley Stage
This holiday season, Cardinal Stage will bring the story of the 1899 newsboy strike to life when it presents Disney’s Newsies December 12–29 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
Check Out a Zine or Learn to Make One at the Public Library
When local nonprofit bookstore Boxcar Books closed in 2017, the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL) was the recipient of more than 300 zines, increasing its collection to nearly 600 of the small-circulation magazines that are typically self-published and frequently photocopied.
IU’s Eskenazi Art Museum Reopening on November 7
After being closed for renovations since May 2017, the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University will reopen on November 7. David Brenneman, museum director, says planning for new spaces and re-conceived galleries has been a main focus of the renovation.
Multimedia Artist David Ebbinghouse–Aka Tom Cat Spray
Multimedia artist David Ebbinghouse has created sculptures, drawings, and paintings; graffiti; installation, performance, and situation art; silkscreen and mono prints; apparel; and jewelry.
‘Race and Football in America’
In Race and Football in America, Dawn Knight traces the impact that the late Indiana University football hero George Taliaferro had on her and many others, as well as on the game of football and the civil rights movement.
Opera Singer Amanda Biggs Again Gracing World Stage
Growing up, opera singer Amanda Biggs traveled with her family of Pentecostal praise and worship church musicians. When they weren’t on the road, parents, grandparents, and children lived in a one-bedroom trailer in Bridgeport, Illinois. “Food insecurity, money insecurity—we ate government cheese and peanut butter,” Biggs, 41, recalls.
IU Student Film Supports Sexual Assault Survivors
After their film Rolling won one of four Best Picture awards and a Best Performance award at Indiana University’s local Campus Movie Fest 2018, Riley Dismore, 22, and Katherine Crump, 23, headed to the big leagues, taking their 5-minute film to the Cannes Film Festival in France.
It’s Time for Lotus! September 26 to 29
Lotus World Music & Arts Festival is back in Bloomington September 26 to 29 with fan favorites Movits! and Väsen. Other returning acts include Finnish quartet Kardemimmit, hurdy-gurdy player Guilhem Desq, and Canadian folk group Le Vent du Nord.
Civic Theater Hails Thirty Years of the Bard in the Park
This September, William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be accompanied by the music of Felix Mendelssohn as the Monroe County Civic Theater (MCCT) celebrates 30 years of Shakespeare in the Park.
Ivy Tech Theatre Season Faces End of the World
It’s the end of the world, if one is to believe the 2019–20 Ivy Tech Student Productions theater season.
B’Town Jazz Fest Set for August 31
B’Town Jazz has been bringing jazz to Bloomington since 1999, when trumpeter Pat Harbison; his wife, Kristin; and pianist Monika Herzig formed the nonprofit organization that was then called Jazz from Bloomington.
Artist Betsy Stirratt Finds Comfort in Nature’s Mystery (PHOTO GALLERY)
“I’m interested in many aspects of how humans interact with nature,” says artist Betsy Stirratt. “I love the beauty of natural forms and the way weather is unpredictable and elemental.”
Bloomington Chamber Singers Celebrate a Half Century of Making Beautiful Music (PHOTO GALLERY)
Half a century ago, about a dozen passionate amateur musicians gathered around a kitchen table sharing their love of singing.
Enthusiasm Earns Local Women Magical Trip to Broadway Show
When friends Carolyn Anderson, Linda Burton, Sandy Martin, and Suzanne Roberts attended a performance of the musical Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations at IU Auditorium last June, they noticed a man seated across the aisle from them who seemed to be eavesdropping on their conversation at intermission.
WFHB’s Live ‘Saturday’s Child’ Celebrates 25 Years on the Air
WFHB-FM’s live monthly music broadcast, Saturday’s Child, aired for the first time in March 1994 from the Rose Firebay at the John Waldron Arts Center. According to host Dan Grundmann, WFHB’s chief engineer Jeff Morris approached him with the idea of airing a live performance at a public venue.
Priscilla Barnes: TV & Film Star Performed Here in Play at BPP
Priscilla Barnes was in Bloomington for several weeks in April and May, performing in the Bloomington Playwrights Project production of the psychological thriller To Quiet the Quiet. The play was directed by David Anspaugh, who also made his acting debut.
Southern Indiana Novelist Gets Hollywood Treatment
Frank Bill was working the night shift at a factory in Louisville, Kentucky, when he saw the movie Fight Club. The experience changed (and didn’t change) his life.
At Carnegie Hall: Jill Bolte Taylor’s TED Talk Plays as a Choral Composition
In July 2018, neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor received an unexpected email from Brad and Doug Balliett, the renowned twin orchestral composers. They proposed making Taylor’s life and work the focus of a new choral composition, thus providing perhaps the strangest-ever answer to the age-old question, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?”
Artist Dixie Ferrer: Inspired by Nature
In her 40-year career, longtime Brown County resident Dixie Ferrer has been a textile and ceramic artist and a painter. She has created quilts, silkscreens, batiks, tiles, oil paintings, water-based-paint collages with homemade papers, drawings, and photographs.
New Visitor Center for Guests at T.C. Steele State Historic Site
Summer visitors to the T.C. Steele State Historic Site will be greeted by a whole new experience. Singing Winds Visitor Center, a 4,600-square-foot structure, is the largest and most noticeable of the changes. It features indoor restrooms, programming space, a gift shop, and a video introduction to the site’s history, among other amenities.
‘Birch Bayh: Making a Difference’
In his new book about Birch Bayh, Indiana’s Democratic U.S. senator from 1963 to 1981, author Bob Blaemire shows his hand up front, writing, “This biography was a labor of love.” And the book couldn’t be more timely. Sadly, Bayh died on March 14 at the age of 91.
Players Pub Lives on in Mural at I Fell Event
While The Players Pub may be closed, a piece of it lives on. The mural that graced the back stage of Bloomington’s iconic music venue will be the centerpiece of a jazz-themed exhibit at the I Fell building during its June 7 First Friday @ the Fell, 415 W. 4th. St.
FAR Center Tango Event Is Dance with Photographs
Part of the stated mission of the FAR Center for Contemporary Arts is to “nurture community within the arts by means of collaboration between diverse art forms and other disciplines.” On May 31 and June 1, “Black + White,” to be held at FAR’s 505 Theater, is an event that puts that aspiration into action.
Priscilla Barnes: Star of TV and Film Performing in B-town
Actress Priscilla Barnes is directed by David Anspaugh in To Quiet the Quiet on stage at the Bloomington Playwrights Project, 107 West 9th St. The psychological thriller, by playwright and screenwriter Christy Hall, opens May 10.
Jewish Theatre Play Addresses Prejudice From Various Angles
Titled for the burgundy Doc Marten boots worn by its antagonist, the Jewish Theatre of Bloomington’s most recent production, Cherry Docs, tells the story of recently arrested neo-Nazi Mike Downey and his court-appointed Jewish lawyer, Danny Dunkelman.
ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
FAR Center Art Workshops For Kids and Grown-Ups Too
“Spaces make things happen.” That’s a common refrain at the FAR Center for Contemporary Arts, where an expanding lineup of workshops is opening up a variety of art forms to aspiring artists of all ages.
B-Town’s Carrie Newcomer Records Her 19th Album
We’re all a work in progress—as we evolve, staying connected to our surroundings and the people we reach for in the toughest moments can help us weather one transition after another.
Young, Old, Novice, Amateur: There’s an Orchestra for You!
Whether you’re 8 or 80 years old, there are two new ways for you to make music in Bloomington.
Dylan Quackenbush: Clay Artist & Groundskeeper
Brown County, Indiana, potter Dylan Quackenbush says working with three-dimensional objects and transforming clay into functional art pieces matches his personality and fosters his creativity.
Singer Marshella Griffin-Larry: Success in London and LA, Still a Bloomington Townie
Marshella Griffin-Larry describes herself as an “Indiana girl in a California world.”
Brown County Playhouse: Coming Back with More “Oomph”
Amanda Webb didn’t have to think twice about her biggest challenge since becoming executive director of the Brown County Playhouse— keeping the historic Nashville, Indiana, theater afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glenn Close Visits Her Costumes At IU’s Eskenazi Museum of Art
Award-winning actress Glenn Close said she was flooded with memories as she walked through an exhibition at the Indiana University Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art showcasing costumes from some of her most notable roles, including the nurse’s uniform she wore in her very first film in 1982, The World According to Garp.
Thomas DeCarlo: An Indie Film-Style Animator
Thomas DeCarlo knows what he wants to see in an animated film—sci-fi and fantasy stories with adult characters who tackle complex social issues, but something that is still is enjoyable for the whole family.
IU’s New 88,000-Pound Carillon: The Ultimate Heavy Metal Music
For 47 years, Indiana University’s Metz Carillon rang from the campus’ highest point, near the intersection of North Jordan Avenue and East 17th Street.
Krista Detor to Perform at Switchyard Park October 22
Local musician Krista Detor will present an outdoor concert at Switchyard Park on Friday, October 22, at 6 p.m. She will be joined by daVida, featuring Janiece Jaffe, David Gulyas, and Dave Bruker.
After Pandemic Hiatus, Lotus Festival Returns to Enthusiastic Crowds (PHOTO GALLERY)
From September 23–26, the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival brought music from 14 countries to downtown Bloomington.
Hundredth Hill Artist Retreat Seeks Applicants For Writing Residency
Applications are open for the Deep Winter writing residency at The Hundredth Hill artist retreat until September 30, 2021.
The 28th Annual Lotus Fest Has Arrived! Here’s What You Need To Know
The 28th annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival begins on Thursday, September 23 in downtown Bloomington, featuring 18 artists performing music from 14 countries.
Viridian Moon: B-Town’s New Art Gallery
Ten local artists have launched a new art gallery in town: Viridian Moon Art Gallery, which began displaying the art of its members in January. Viridian, located at 1600 W. Bloomfield Road, has been closed for renovations since June but will reopen on August 21 for a grand opening celebration from 5–8 p.m.
Alison Kingsley: Artist & Educator
As a child, Alison Kingsley loved drawing and painting. She relished summer art camps, and high school art classes were the highlight of her days. That’s when she decided to become an art teacher and develop her diverse artistic talents.
Bloomington Photography Club: 29th Annual Show This Autumn
The technology of picture taking has changed over the decades since the Bloomington Photography Club (BPC) began meeting, but the group’s goals remain the same. “The idea is to have fun first, and the second is education,” says board member James Kellar.
New Cook Center at IU Strengthens Link to Local Arts Community
At the new Gayle Karch Cook Center for Public Arts and Humanities at Indiana University, exhibits by IU faculty and community artists and a regional artist-in-residence program are creating stronger links between the university and the Bloomington arts and cultural communities.
Fourth Street Festival Returns In Person
The 4th Street Festival of the Arts & Crafts will be an in-person event this year after being held virtually in 2020.
Trenton Musch, a.k.a. ‘Moosy’: Painting the Town with Color
Trenton Musch sees walls as opportunities. Using the smooth, clean lines produced by applying consistent pressure to the top of a spray can, Musch, a.k.a. “Moosy,” turns ordinary walls into large-scale works of art.
‘Spirit of Indiana’: A New Campus Sculpture
From meticulous gardens to architectural gems, Indiana University is known for its picturesque campus. Outdoor statues and sculptures help accentuate that beauty, but IU philanthropist Pat Miller noticed that the artistic touches stopped north of 17th Street as visitors approached the athletics complex.
Nancy Grabner: Creative B-Town Basket Weaver
When Nancy Grabner began weaving baskets as a hobby 20 years ago, she found it so calming that her home was soon filled with them.
Pacifica Quartet Wins Another Grammy
At the 2021 Grammy Awards, Indiana University’s quartet-in-residence, The Pacifica Quartet, was awarded Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for its album Contemporary Voices.
New City-Wide Youth Theatre Collective Tackles Racial Justice
The City-Wide Youth Theatre Collective is a new theater group in Bloomington, made up of diverse students (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and their allies) ages 13–18.
Aerialist Superstar Dreya Weber Returns to Perform in Bloomington
When Dreya Weber brings her one-woman aerial performance to Bloomington in July, she will be returning to the place where her dream of flying was first realized.
The Elder Music Recording Project To Improve Well-Being of Oldsters
Jon Kay remembers reading a 2015 Gallup report that ranked Indiana 46th in the overall well-being of its elders.
Live, In-Person Theater Returning With Cardinal’s Cabaret
Staging a theater production is a tough proposition in a socially distanced, mostly virtual world.
George Taliaferro Documentary To Air on Big 10 Network in June
A documentary film about George Taliaferro, the Indiana University football legend, activist, professor, administrator, and philanthropist, is currently being co-produced by Bloomington creative agency Blueline and the Big Ten Network.
‘The Vice President’s Black Wife’: New Book by IU History Professor
Dr. Amrita Chakrabarti Myers regards her work as an academic focused on slavery and Black women’s history as a “labor of recovery.” Her subjects, many illiterate, left little behind.
Artist Carol Bridges: Maker of Life-Affirming Quilts
Carol Bridges invites fellow travelers on “a spiritual journey along the artist’s path.”
The Stone Age Institute Presents Popular Culture Livestream Series
From March 28—May 2, the Stone Age Institute will present a popular culture livestream series via streaming platform Mandolin, featuring performances by drummer Kenny Aronoff, singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin, and jazz duo Tuck & Patti, among others.
April Gallery Walk to Feature Two New Galleries
The Gallery Walk on April 2 will feature five live gallery openings, including two new galleries.
Raymond Fleischmann: B-town’s New Novelist
Raymond Fleischmann, director of advancement communications at the Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences, published his debut novel, How Quickly She Disappears (Berkley Books), in January 2020.
Artist Adam Long: Painting the Town
Longtime Bloomington resident Adam Long, 43, doesn’t have an artist’s background.
New Director of Buskirk-Chumley Arrived Just in Time for Shutdown
In January 2020, when Jonah Crismore was interviewing for the position of executive director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater (BCT), the dimensions of the COVID-19 crisis were only dimly visible.
Artist Ellen Starr Lyon: Looking Inward
Ellen Starr Lyon’s portraits are largely of family members depicted smack in the middle of their daily lives. The result is both emotional and intimate.
April Strawn: Teen Book Illustrator
Late in the process of publishing The Chill, author Michael Koryta pitched the idea of including pictures in the novel to his editor. And he knew exactly who he wanted to draw them.
Review: ‘The Way of Imagination’
“How can we keep from crying out in wonder and praise?” asks Scott Russell Sanders in one of the alternately exultant and grieving essays contained in his newest collection, The Way of Imagination.
A New Music Livestream Platform Conceived in B-town Law Office
The coronavirus pandemic has created a huge demand for internet- streamed music.
Innovation Drives B-town Theater Groups During Pandemic Shutdown
Locally, Bloomington theater companies are innovating ways to keep audiences engaged while working together in the spirit of collaboration.
Live Local Theater Returns Outdoors at Hundredth Hill
Live theater returned to Bloomington at The Hundredth Hill, a 40-acre nonprofit artist retreat on North Fish Road, owned by singer-songwriter Krista Detor and husband, music producer David Weber.
REVIEW: ‘Kitchen Think’
Like Nancy Hiller’s well-crafted cabinetry, her newest book, ‘Kitchen Think’ (Lost Art Press), is both useful and beautiful.
Power Plant Collective Shows Art by Marginalized Artists
In a small basement on Bloomington’s Near West Side, a group of 20-somethings has created a gallery where aspiring artists can gather. It’s a space where they can display their work and showcase talents that might otherwise remain unknown.
Brown County Music Center Brings Big Names to Nashville
After a 2009 arson fire destroyed the Little Nashville Opry, an entertainment venue that had served Brown County for more than 30 years, the community felt the loss. Things took a bright turn when the Brown County Music Center opened in August 2019 to a sold-out Vince Gill concert.
Wylie House Exhibit Portrays Marginalized, Silenced Hoosiers
The written records and visual art we share as historical representations of our collective past depict, more often than not, only one point of view. Those who weren’t in positions of power—who didn’t have a voice—are frequently forgotten or simply overlooked.
‘‘Lock Ness!’ and Other Tales of Nessie the Scottie’
For all the joy they bring, it’s a sad truth that pets’ lives are much shorter than our own. In “Lock Ness!” and Other Tales of Nessie the Scottie (BookLocker, 2019), Bloomington resident and Bloom contributor Lee Ann Sandweiss explores the loss of her own pet and offers a guiding hand for those experiencing similar grief.
Local Dancer Wins World Country & Western Award
When Mary Hoedeman Coniaris got the call that she was receiving the Pioneer Award from the United Country and Western Dance Council (UCWDC) at its World Championships, she was stunned.
Review: ‘Author in Chief’
Just before President’s Day, Bloom caught up with Bloomington resident Craig Fehrman as he set out on a national book tour for ‘Author in Chief’.
Chamber Singers to Present ‘Considering Matthew Shepard’
Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, was brutally murdered 22 years ago, and his death served as a catalyst for legislative and cultural change.
King Bee & The Stingers: Blues Band on the Rise
By day, Mark Menefee, 60, is the Indiana University director of utilities. By night, he’s the black- and-yellow-clad harmonica player “King Bee” of the blues band King Bee and The Stingers.
Ransom Haile: Multimedia Digital Artist
Most recently, most of Haile’s art has been visual: sculptures, drawings, tattoos, paintings, and photographs.
The Waldron Marks Ten Years as Part of Ivy Tech
Ten years ago, Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington acquired the John Waldron Arts Center, a building with a long history of public use that was in danger of being shuttered.
New Cardinal Initiative Works to Increase Diversity of Plays
In an ongoing effort to be more inclusive, welcoming, and representative of the Bloomington community, Cardinal Stage has introduced the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative. The program is part of Cardinal’s five-year plan that was established in 2018.
Servers and Bartenders Perform At Cardinal Spirits’ Tipple and Tune
On the first Monday of each month, Cardinal Spirits, 922 S. Morton St., hosts Tipple and Tune from 7 to 9 p.m.
Artist Larissa Danielle Celebrates Beauty, Strength of Black Women
It’s hard for mixed-media artist Larissa Danielle, an Indiana University Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Design MFA student, to name her favorite medium. Much of her work combines paint, sculpture, fiber, and an array of recycled materials on canvas.
Six Area Artists’ Work Chosen for New Hospital
When the new IU Health Regional Academic Health Center opens next year, works by six area artists will play a role in the healing of all who enter the new hospital.
‘Ada and the Engine’ Celebrates the First Computer Programmer
More than 175 years ago, the coding concepts that would lead to modern-day computer programming were pioneered by a woman named Ada Lovelace.
Introducing Singer Emma Peridot, Formerly B-town’s Emily Morrone
To launch her new album, Morrone, as Peridot, will do some weekend touring around the Midwest, including a performance in Bloomington at The Back Door on March 5.
Two Productions Honor Legacy of IU’s Ernie Pyle
Although it’s been 75 years since his death during World War II at the Battle of Okinawa, Ernie Pyle’s legacy looms large in Indiana.
Four B-town Films Shown At Heartland Film Festival
This year, four films with Bloomington ties were shown at The Heartland International Film Festival, which was held October 10–20 in Indianapolis.
Bloomington Symphony Orchestra Celebrates 50 Years Making Music
In 1969, when Geoffrey Simon and Tamás Ungár were students at the Indiana University School of Music, they noticed a lack of performance opportunities for musicians in Bloomington and set out to establish a community orchestra. While Simon actively recruited musicians, Ungár managed behind-the-scenes operations. The result was the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra (BSO).
Reissue of ‘The Boy Who Loved Batman’ Updates Author’s Life & Batman Movies
IU Press just reissued Michael Uslan’s 2011 memoir, The Boy Who Loved Batman. When asked why, the author replies, “Well, it’s pretty simple. A lot has happened to me and to Batman in the meantime.”
Guggenheim Fellow Sam Stephenson Finds B-town a Fertile Place to Write
Author Sam Stephenson’s work focuses on the culture, music, and art that develops in large cities like Los Angeles and New York, yet, he says, Bloomington is a good place for a writer with eclectic cultural interests.
Eskenazi Museum Acquires The Jeffrey Wolin Collection
Photographer Jeffrey Wolin has spent a lifetime capturing the tragedy, grit, and beauty of the human experience, and his photographs are displayed in museums and galleries worldwide. Now, the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University has acquired Wolin’s archives—and they contain more than just his previously exhibited and published works.
Cardinal Stage Presents ‘The Roommate’: A Comedy About Two Women Over 50
Film and theater roles for women over 50 have traditionally stayed in a narrow lane—one filled with maternal or spinster archetypes. The Roommate, penned by playwright Jen Silverman, is a dark comedy that aims to break that mold. “Older women are often depicted in a way that belies the truth,” says Indianapolis-based actor Constance Macy. “They aren’t the 50-something women I know.”
B-town Music Expo Is Back February 8
The Bloomington Music Expo—part record and music-memorabilia show, part art and music festival— will be held Saturday, February 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Monroe Convention Center. The event, now in its second year, came from the mind of Mike McAfee, executive director of Visit Bloomington.
BPP Kids MiniPlay Festival Features ‘Explorers’ Theme
Budding playwrights have an opportunity to see their work come to life as Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP) hosts its 36th Annual MiniPlay Festival, open to students in first through eighth grade.
Documentary on IU’s Henry Glassie Premieres at Toronto Film Festival
The documentary film Henry Glassie: Field Work opens with a series of vignettes of Brazilian sculptors creating traditional sacred art. Not until 30 minutes into the film does Glassie, an internationally renowned folklorist and Indiana University professor emeritus, make an appearance.
Local Drummer Is Living the Dream
Local drummer Luke Narey has long been a fan of alternative metal band 10 Years. “I would blast their music while driving to and from [Edgewood] high school, but never would have imagined I’d have a chance to be part of the band one day,” Narey says.
Steve Dawson: An Unlikely Artist
As a mechanical engineering graduate of Purdue University and president of local mechanical contracting and service firm Harrell-Fish Inc., Steve Dawson might seem an unlikely artist.
New Books from IU Press: ‘Pilgrims of Woodstock’
It’s been 50 years since the Woodstock Music & Art Fair brought 400,000 people together on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York. A new book from IU Press, Pilgrims of Woodstock, celebrates the festival’s anniversary by gathering previously unpublished photographs along with the reminiscences of audience members.
The Ryder: For 40 Years Part of the B-town Scene
Printing issue No. 1 ominously on April Fools’ Day 1979, The Ryder is the sole survivor of a half-dozen or so free alternative publications circulating in Bloomington at the time.
The Blues Jam Is Back at Port Hole & Bear’s Place
Joel Kohen has been passionate about the Bloomington music scene since his days as an undergraduate at Indiana University, but he went from enthusiast to proprietor when he and his wife, Deana, bought the Port Hole Inn in January 2017.
Salaam Has Found Its ‘Perfect Balance’
Although Salaam has been together a quarter of a century, founder Dena El Saffar says that only recently has the Middle Eastern quartet hit upon a certain balance that had been quietly simmering for nearly a decade. With patience, practice, and the space to make intuitive music, she says the group feels it has achieved the ideal blend of cultural sounds.
Pictura Gallery: A Nonprofit Supporting Arts Education
David and Martha Moore say they do not have time for stuffy, pretentious art spaces. Once, while in Seattle, they visited an art gallery with a plastic model of a massive, red T. rex on display. David recalls his disappointment seeing a “Don’t Touch” sign juxtaposed with several children running around the model, dying to play with it. “Plastic dinosaurs are meant to be played with,” he says. “How do you not touch a huge, plastic dinosaur?”
Krista Detor’s Annual Holiday Show at FAR Center Dec. 13
Once again, Bloomington-based singer-songwriter Krista Detor will be staying close to home for the holidays, performing an annual show to benefit a local nonprofit organization. “It’s my way of giving back to the community and, at this point, it feels like a tradition, although it’s always a little bit different,” says the internationally acclaimed performer.
Cardinal Brings ‘Newsies’ To Buskirk-Chumley Stage
This holiday season, Cardinal Stage will bring the story of the 1899 newsboy strike to life when it presents Disney’s Newsies December 12–29 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
Check Out a Zine or Learn to Make One at the Public Library
When local nonprofit bookstore Boxcar Books closed in 2017, the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL) was the recipient of more than 300 zines, increasing its collection to nearly 600 of the small-circulation magazines that are typically self-published and frequently photocopied.
IU’s Eskenazi Art Museum Reopening on November 7
After being closed for renovations since May 2017, the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University will reopen on November 7. David Brenneman, museum director, says planning for new spaces and re-conceived galleries has been a main focus of the renovation.
Multimedia Artist David Ebbinghouse–Aka Tom Cat Spray
Multimedia artist David Ebbinghouse has created sculptures, drawings, and paintings; graffiti; installation, performance, and situation art; silkscreen and mono prints; apparel; and jewelry.
‘Race and Football in America’
In Race and Football in America, Dawn Knight traces the impact that the late Indiana University football hero George Taliaferro had on her and many others, as well as on the game of football and the civil rights movement.
Opera Singer Amanda Biggs Again Gracing World Stage
Growing up, opera singer Amanda Biggs traveled with her family of Pentecostal praise and worship church musicians. When they weren’t on the road, parents, grandparents, and children lived in a one-bedroom trailer in Bridgeport, Illinois. “Food insecurity, money insecurity—we ate government cheese and peanut butter,” Biggs, 41, recalls.
IU Student Film Supports Sexual Assault Survivors
After their film Rolling won one of four Best Picture awards and a Best Performance award at Indiana University’s local Campus Movie Fest 2018, Riley Dismore, 22, and Katherine Crump, 23, headed to the big leagues, taking their 5-minute film to the Cannes Film Festival in France.
It’s Time for Lotus! September 26 to 29
Lotus World Music & Arts Festival is back in Bloomington September 26 to 29 with fan favorites Movits! and Väsen. Other returning acts include Finnish quartet Kardemimmit, hurdy-gurdy player Guilhem Desq, and Canadian folk group Le Vent du Nord.
Civic Theater Hails Thirty Years of the Bard in the Park
This September, William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be accompanied by the music of Felix Mendelssohn as the Monroe County Civic Theater (MCCT) celebrates 30 years of Shakespeare in the Park.
Ivy Tech Theatre Season Faces End of the World
It’s the end of the world, if one is to believe the 2019–20 Ivy Tech Student Productions theater season.
B’Town Jazz Fest Set for August 31
B’Town Jazz has been bringing jazz to Bloomington since 1999, when trumpeter Pat Harbison; his wife, Kristin; and pianist Monika Herzig formed the nonprofit organization that was then called Jazz from Bloomington.
Artist Betsy Stirratt Finds Comfort in Nature’s Mystery (PHOTO GALLERY)
“I’m interested in many aspects of how humans interact with nature,” says artist Betsy Stirratt. “I love the beauty of natural forms and the way weather is unpredictable and elemental.”
Bloomington Chamber Singers Celebrate a Half Century of Making Beautiful Music (PHOTO GALLERY)
Half a century ago, about a dozen passionate amateur musicians gathered around a kitchen table sharing their love of singing.
Enthusiasm Earns Local Women Magical Trip to Broadway Show
When friends Carolyn Anderson, Linda Burton, Sandy Martin, and Suzanne Roberts attended a performance of the musical Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations at IU Auditorium last June, they noticed a man seated across the aisle from them who seemed to be eavesdropping on their conversation at intermission.
WFHB’s Live ‘Saturday’s Child’ Celebrates 25 Years on the Air
WFHB-FM’s live monthly music broadcast, Saturday’s Child, aired for the first time in March 1994 from the Rose Firebay at the John Waldron Arts Center. According to host Dan Grundmann, WFHB’s chief engineer Jeff Morris approached him with the idea of airing a live performance at a public venue.
Priscilla Barnes: TV & Film Star Performed Here in Play at BPP
Priscilla Barnes was in Bloomington for several weeks in April and May, performing in the Bloomington Playwrights Project production of the psychological thriller To Quiet the Quiet. The play was directed by David Anspaugh, who also made his acting debut.
Southern Indiana Novelist Gets Hollywood Treatment
Frank Bill was working the night shift at a factory in Louisville, Kentucky, when he saw the movie Fight Club. The experience changed (and didn’t change) his life.
At Carnegie Hall: Jill Bolte Taylor’s TED Talk Plays as a Choral Composition
In July 2018, neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor received an unexpected email from Brad and Doug Balliett, the renowned twin orchestral composers. They proposed making Taylor’s life and work the focus of a new choral composition, thus providing perhaps the strangest-ever answer to the age-old question, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?”
Artist Dixie Ferrer: Inspired by Nature
In her 40-year career, longtime Brown County resident Dixie Ferrer has been a textile and ceramic artist and a painter. She has created quilts, silkscreens, batiks, tiles, oil paintings, water-based-paint collages with homemade papers, drawings, and photographs.
New Visitor Center for Guests at T.C. Steele State Historic Site
Summer visitors to the T.C. Steele State Historic Site will be greeted by a whole new experience. Singing Winds Visitor Center, a 4,600-square-foot structure, is the largest and most noticeable of the changes. It features indoor restrooms, programming space, a gift shop, and a video introduction to the site’s history, among other amenities.
‘Birch Bayh: Making a Difference’
In his new book about Birch Bayh, Indiana’s Democratic U.S. senator from 1963 to 1981, author Bob Blaemire shows his hand up front, writing, “This biography was a labor of love.” And the book couldn’t be more timely. Sadly, Bayh died on March 14 at the age of 91.
Players Pub Lives on in Mural at I Fell Event
While The Players Pub may be closed, a piece of it lives on. The mural that graced the back stage of Bloomington’s iconic music venue will be the centerpiece of a jazz-themed exhibit at the I Fell building during its June 7 First Friday @ the Fell, 415 W. 4th. St.
FAR Center Tango Event Is Dance with Photographs
Part of the stated mission of the FAR Center for Contemporary Arts is to “nurture community within the arts by means of collaboration between diverse art forms and other disciplines.” On May 31 and June 1, “Black + White,” to be held at FAR’s 505 Theater, is an event that puts that aspiration into action.
Priscilla Barnes: Star of TV and Film Performing in B-town
Actress Priscilla Barnes is directed by David Anspaugh in To Quiet the Quiet on stage at the Bloomington Playwrights Project, 107 West 9th St. The psychological thriller, by playwright and screenwriter Christy Hall, opens May 10.
Jewish Theatre Play Addresses Prejudice From Various Angles
Titled for the burgundy Doc Marten boots worn by its antagonist, the Jewish Theatre of Bloomington’s most recent production, Cherry Docs, tells the story of recently arrested neo-Nazi Mike Downey and his court-appointed Jewish lawyer, Danny Dunkelman.