Pillar Arts Dispatch | Bloomington Art Events & Gallery Shows January 8, 2026
Posted In: Newsletter Archives, News, Events | Posted by: Pillar Arts
Welcome back! We’re so excited to start 2026 with you and dive into another year supporting local artists and celebrating creativity across Bloomington. This year, we have plenty of programs, workshops, exhibitions, and performances in store, and we can’t wait to share them with our community. It’s going to be a great year to connect, learn, and experience all the ways art brings us together.
If you haven’t renewed your Pillar Arts membership yet, or are thinking about joining, now’s the perfect time. Membership helps us provide opportunities for local artists, create gallery and performance spaces, and bring engaging arts experiences to our community. Your support also provides access to events, networking opportunities, and more.
Lastly, we’re looking for volunteers to support us in a variety of ways from helping at our gallery spaces to assisting with programs and behind-the-scenes work. If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Here’s to a year full of creativity, connection, and inspiring local arts. We can’t wait to see what we’ll create together in 2026!
JOIN PILLAR ARTS
Becoming a Pillar Arts member is a simple way to stay connected to Bloomington’s creative community while helping local artists grow and thrive. Members gain opportunities to share their work, connect with patrons, and build relationships with fellow creatives through networking and collaboration. Artists can also access discounted gallery exhibition opportunities and take part in workshops and conversations designed to support professional growth.
Membership isn’t just for artists. If you love the arts and want to support the people who make our community vibrant, joining Pillar Arts helps strengthen the local arts ecosystem and expand access to creative opportunities across South Central Indiana. As we look ahead, we’re excited to welcome new members and continue creating more ways for local talent to be seen, supported, and celebrated. Join today and be part of what’s next for the arts in Bloomington!
CURRENT HAPPENINGS
Live Performance with Kyle Quass
Join us for an exciting evening of rhythm and creativity with talented local musician, Kyle Quass!
He’s coming back to the Arts Alliance Center to share more tunes, and we hope to see you there.
Pillar Arts Alliance Center
Fri Jan 23, 6-8 PM
Bloomington, IN
February Gallery Walk
This February we are thrilled to present the incredible artwork of Anne-Karine Bley at Pillar Arts By Hand.
We hope you’ll visit us on Friday, Feb 6 for the reception to celebrate this exciting exhibition!
Pillar Arts By Hand
Fri Feb 6, 5-8 PM
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
ANN WOODS
Ann Woods creates intricate bas-relief works entirely from paper. After a 27-year career as an art teacher, she shifted her focus fully to her own studio practice, using techniques like tearing, folding, rolling, quilling, and painting to build rich, three-dimensional images. Her subjects often include birds, flowers, insects, and abstract forms, all brought to life through careful attention to color and texture.
Ann loves the flexibility and surprise that paper offers as a medium. She works with a wide range of materials, from handmade paper and Coloraid sheets to found papers and repurposed old watercolors. Her work has been shown across galleries in Bloomington and Brown County, and she has received recognition from the Hoosier Heritage Art Show. Sharing her art is central to her practice, and she hopes viewers find the same joy in it that she does.
DAMA MORA
Dama Mora is a Bloomington-based painter known for her bold colors, playful style, and uplifting themes. Influenced by fauvism, she embraces bright, expressive palettes over realism to create joyful, empowering work that challenges outdated stereotypes—especially around the idea of the “cat lady,” which she reimagines as confident, modern, and celebratory.
With a background in art education from the University of Puerto Rico and the University of Arizona, plus continued studio work at Indiana University, Dama brings both intention and heart to her practice. Her work is also shaped by personal experiences, during which art and companionship became sources of comfort and strength—qualities that resonate throughout her paintings.
PILLAR ARTS BY HAND
The new year is just beginning, and Pillar Arts By Hand is easing into it with a cozy, mid‑winter selection of handcrafted art. We will be open and glowing with warmth, handmade goods, and plenty of inspiration for the season ahead.
January is the perfect moment to wander in from the cold, enjoy a slower pace, and explore pieces that bring brightness to winter days. Our shelves are freshly stocked with thoughtful, handcrafted items—just in time for early Valentine’s browsing. Whether you’re looking for something heartfelt, something practical, or simply something beautiful to lift the season, we’d love to help you find it.
We’d like to let you know that in February we’ll be showing a full exhibition of artwork by Anne‑Karine Bley. Her paintings will bring early springtime energy to the gallery next month.
Bundle up and join us for a warm, welcoming start to the year. We look forward to seeing you.
SHOUTOUTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
“Séance: The Board Awakens” by Constellation
Enter a suspenseful, immersive theatrical experience presented by Constellation Stage & Screen and co-produced with Mills Entertainment.
Set within the haunted remains of an old Ouija board factory, this chilling séance is guided by acclaimed magician Rob Zabrecky and invites audiences to confront the unsettling echoes of the past; recommended for ages 13 and up.
“POTUS, or Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive” by Selena Filinger
Join Off Night Productions for a sharp, fast-paced, staged reading comedy about the women working behind the scenes to manage a president in crisis. When a single slip sparks a political meltdown, seven smart and overworked women scramble to keep chaos from taking over the White House.
Performances take place February 1–3 at the Waldron Arts Center Firebay Theater. Tickets are $10 and available online. Recommended for ages 18+; mature audiences only.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
2026 VISION BOARD COLLAGE WORKSHOPSat Jan 10, 1-3 PM, Second Story Studio NASHVILLE – Plan your goals for 2026 in a fun, hands-on collage workshop with instructor Abby. Use our materials, or bring your own photos and keepsakes, to create a visual roadmap for the year ahead. All skill levels are welcome to explore their creativity and make something inspiring.
|
LIVE MUSIC: BEN TATUMSun Jan 18, 2-4 PM, Cedar Creek Winery MARTINSVILLE – Indulge in your favorite locally-crafted beverages while enjoying an incredible performance by Ben Tatum. And don’t forget about our amazing eatery menu as well. This is a free event and all ages are welcome. |
HALF-PRICE ADMISSION DAYMon Jan 19, 9 AM-5 PM, WonderLab Museum BLOOMINGTON – WonderLab will be open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with half-priced admission! While you’re there you can support the Diaper and Sock Drives by donating diapers (sizes 3–6), wipes, or socks. Stop in to play, explore, and give back to local families. |
FREEZEFESTFri Jan 23-Sat Jan 24, Various times, Switchyard Park BLOOMINGTON – Join us for a festive celebration featuring enchanting ice sculptures, delectable treats from local vendors, and a chilly cook-off contest. Embrace the warmth of community spirit in the heart of winter. Bundle up and dive into the joy of Freezefest! |
2026 WOMEN IN BUSINESS CONFERENCESat Jan 24, 10:15-4 PM, Indiana Memorial Union Alumni Hall BLOOMINGTON – Join us for a day of connection, learning, and practical insight for women interested in business and leadership. Centered on the theme “Root. Rise. Radiate.”, the event features speakers, breakout sessions, and networking focused on growth and shared experience. |
“TO THE MOON” VOCES NOVAE CONCERTSun Jan 25, 3-4 & 5-6 PM, Unitarian Universalist Church BLOOMINGTON – Explore Indiana’s role in the race to the moon through the story of astronaut Gus Grissom and mathematician Margaret Hamilton. This program pairs history and curiosity with a wide-ranging musical selection, inviting audiences to consider what it takes to imagine, and achieve, the extraordinary. |
RECENT EVENTS
PILLAR ARTS 5TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR
Photo by Charles Pearce
BLOOMINGTON – Pillar Arts Alliance Center
In December, we were so proud to host our 5th Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, welcoming local artists and arts supporters into the Arts Alliance Center to appreciate local art and celebrate the holiday season! Thank you to all who joined and made each weekend so special.
