Pillar Arts Dispatch | Bloomington Art Events & Gallery Shows December 2, 2025
Posted In: Newsletter Archives, News, Events | Posted by: Pillar Arts
We hope you had a restful and joy-filled Thanksgiving weekend! Over the past few weeks, we’ve been busy welcoming guests for our long-anticipated oil painting workshop with Jason Bailey, celebrating the talents of young creators at the Middle School Student Art Show Awards, and filling the Arts Alliance Center with music during a special session featuring Kyle Quass, Joshua Joy, Nick Najera, and Brendan Keller-Tuberg. It’s truly inspiring to see our community come together for so many different artistic moments.
We also kicked off our annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair this past weekend, and the gallery is so festive already. Each Saturday and Sunday through December 21, you can browse a rotating selection of handmade goods from local artists and find meaningful gifts for loved ones (or a little something for yourself). It’s a wonderful way to support Bloomington’s creatives while getting into the holiday spirit.
As we enter the final stretch of the year, we invite you to continue supporting the arts by renewing or becoming a Pillar Arts member. Your membership helps us host exhibitions, performances, youth programs, and workshops all year long. Thank you for being part of our growing community!
CURRENT HAPPENINGS
Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair
Join us at the Arts Alliance Center in College Mall to experience our 5th annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair!
Come find the perfect gifts and celebrate the season each weekend from Black Friday through mid-December.
Pillar Arts Alliance Center
November 28-December 21 (weekends only)
Bloomington, IN
December Gallery Walk
Come visit us at Pillar Arts By Hand this weekend for December’s First Friday Gallery Walk!
This month we are excited to celebrate the holiday season with our community and share the artwork of a variety of talented local artists.
Pillar Arts Alliance Center
November 28-December 21 (weekends only)
Bloomington, IN
GET INVOLVED
PILLAR ARTS ALLIANCE CENTER
We’re seeking volunteers to greet guests, share about the artwork, and support daily operations at Pillar Arts Alliance Center.
No experience needed, just a positive attitude and willingness to learn.
If you’re interested, please reach out and a member of our team will be in touch.
PILLAR ARTS MARKETING TEAM
Do you have experience in Canva, design, or social media?
Pillar Arts is looking for skilled marketing volunteers to support our outreach efforts. If that sounds like you, please get in touch and our team will follow up.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
RUTH HAYES
Ruth Hayes has spent more than 65 years exploring art in her own thoughtful, winding way. She earned degrees in biology and ethology, and her creative spark was rekindled while working for a construction company, where she created pen and ink drawings with color overlays for architectural projects. That work led to many commissions and deepened her fascination with the detail and character found in buildings.
Over the years, Ruth began taking her camera everywhere, using photos of architecture and nature as inspiration for new paintings and drawings. Today, she continues creating architectural and pet portrait commissions, along with acrylic paintings inspired by lily ponds and ginkgo leaves. Her work reflects a lifelong dedication to observing the world closely and turning those moments into art.
SIMONE CABRAL-VILACA
Simone Cabral Vilaca is the artist behind By Soul & Hands, an eco-conscious brand that turns discarded aluminum coffee pods into colorful, handcrafted jewelry, accessories, and decorative pieces. Originally from Brazil and now based in Bloomington, Simone blends her background in environmental sustainability with her love for art. What began in 2021 as a spark of curiosity has grown into a practice rooted in creativity, care, and the belief that beauty can be found in unexpected places.
Each piece Simone creates is carefully shaped, folded, and refined to bring out something new in a material most throw away without a second thought. Her work celebrates individuality, resourcefulness, and the joy of giving objects a second life. Through By Soul & Hands, Simone invites people to see sustainability not only as a responsibility but as an opportunity to wear something meaningful.
View Simone Cabral Vilaca’s Profile
MEMBER SHOUTOUTS
Congrats, Jake Kujava!
Photo by Gianna Mainella and Kathleen Lemme
We’re thrilled to share that one of our members, Jake Kujava, was recently featured in an article by IU Media School students Gianna Mainella and Kathleen Lemme!
The piece, “Local Artist’s Childhood Sparks Creativity Toward His Future Artistic Endeavors,” highlights Jake’s journey from a comic-loving kid to a local Bloomington artist, and his ongoing efforts to inspire creativity in younger generations.
It’s always exciting to see our members’ work and stories celebrated by the community. You can read the full article here and learn more about him at our directory.
Give Back on Giving Tuesday
Today is Giving Tuesday, and we’re grateful for everyone who’s supported us this year through our rebrand, gallery move, and all the growth we’ve experienced. Your encouragement means so much.
As a nonprofit, your tax-deductible donations help us continue serving our local arts community with exhibitions, events, and creative opportunities. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of Pillar Arts.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
CREATE JEWELRY FROM UPCYCLED COFFEE PODS W/ SIMONE VILACA OF BY SOUL & HANDSWed Dec 3, 6-8 PM, T.S. Artisans COLUMBUS – Make your own jewelry from recycled coffee pods in this workshop led by Simone Vilaca. Pick from a wide range of colors and designs to craft a unique set. Guests can also enjoy tea samples from A Cup of Leaves and Books, with teas and other small-batch goods available for purchase.
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QUARRYLAND MEN’S CHORUS: STAY GOLDSat Dec 6-Sun Dec 7, First United Church BLOOMINGTON – Quarryland’s winter concert returns December 6 (7:30–9 PM) & December 7 (3–4:30 PM), featuring festive choral music, sing-alongs, and fresh takes on Broadway, pop, and rock classics. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, and free for ages 17 and under. |
MARTINSVILLE COMMUNITY BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERTMon Dec 8, 7-8:30 PM, First Baptist Church MARTINSVILLE – Celebrate the season with the Martinsville Community Band at their annual Christmas Concert! Enjoy a lively program of festive music performed by talented local musicians. Admission is free, and donations are gladly accepted. |
WRITER’S GUILD SPOKEN WORD SERIESThurs Dec 11, 6-8 PM, Backspace Gallery BLOOMINGTON – Experience William S. Burroughs’ classic tale The Junky’s Christmas, performed by ORTET with Kyle Quass. Stay after for open mic, and enjoy drinks available for purchase. Sponsored in part by the Bloomington Arts Commission and the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association. |
A CHRISTMAS STORY THE MUSICALThurs Dec 11-Sun Jan 4, Waldron Arts Auditorium BLOOMINGTON – Constellation Stage & Screen presents A Christmas Story: The Musical! Follow Ralphie’s hilarious quest for the perfect gift, full of holiday cheer, iconic moments, and family fun. Tickets and showtimes at seeconstellation.org/kids/christmas-story. |
IMPROV BLOOMINGTON: LIVE COMEDY SHOWFri Dec 12, 7:30-9 PM, Constellation Studios BLOOMINGTON – Catch a night of quick-witted, unscripted comedy inspired by shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway? The performers create every scene on the spot using audience suggestions, and the show is free, but ticketed. FARMERS’ HOLIDAY MARKETSat Dec 13, 9 AM-12:30 PM, Art Sanctuary of Indiana MARTINSVILLE – Visit the lower level of the Art Sanctuary of Indiana for the Farmers’ Holiday Market. Browse locally made gifts, meats, syrups, soaps, candles, and more! This festive event is also part of the Martinsville Cookie Stroll, but no cookie passport is needed to shop. |
AN ACT OF GODThurs Dec 18-Sun Jan 4, Waldron Arts Firebay BLOOMINGTON – Constellation Stage & Screen presents An Act of God, a hilarious and irreverent comedy where God delivers a modern set of commandments with wit, sass, and surprises. Recommended for mature audiences. Tickets and showtimes at seeconstellation.org/event/an-act-of-god/. |
RECENT EVENTS
MIDDLE SCHOOL ART SHOW AWARD CEREMONY
Photo by Donna Carlton
BLOOMINGTON – Pillar Arts Alliance Center
On Sunday, November 16, we hosted an Award Ceremony for the Middle School Student Art Show. Congratulations to the winners and all who participated! It was amazing to see such incredible talent from young, local artists.
“SECRET SESSIONS” WITH KYLE QUASS, JOSHUA JOY, NICK NAJERA & BRENDAN KELLER-TUBERG
Photo by Donna Carlton
BLOOMINGTON – Pillar Arts Alliance Center
On Friday, November 21, Kyle Quass and friends performed an exciting session of live music, enjoyed by all who came out. Thank you to the musicians who made such a great afternoon possible!
OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP WITH JASON BAILEY
Photo by Henry Leck
BLOOMINGTON – Pillar Arts Alliance Center
On Saturday, November 22, we welcomed Jason Bailey to the Pillar Arts Alliance Center to guide a day-long oil painting workshop. It was a fun and educational time, thanks to Jason and all who came!