We’re also thrilled to finally be able to invite you to our annual membership meeting, reimagined as “Gala-Round the Table,” which will feature an evening of delicious food, incredible fun, and time spent connecting with our valuable arts community. Please see more information below and feel free to RSVP here.

Finally, we hope to see you this Friday during Gallery Walk at the By Hand Gallery. This month, we are featuring the talented illustrator, Mark Riggins in our space, and we encourage you to come experience his work as well as several other amazing artists in our community!

Upcoming Events with the Arts Alliance

Gallery Walk featuring Mark Riggins – By Hand Gallery

Friday, February 7, 5:00-8:00 pm

Join us for an exciting evening at By Hand Gallery as we host our first Gallery Walk under new ownership. We are thrilled to open our doors this Friday evening, from 5-8 pm, welcoming you to explore our fresh space. It’s a special night for us, and we can’t wait to share this moment with our community of art lovers and creatives.

This month, we are honored to feature the stunning work of local illustrator Mark Riggins. Mark has brought in six large-scale pieces that showcase his unique style and perspective. These captivating works will be on display throughout the gallery until March, so there’s plenty of time to immerse yourself in his artistic world. Whether you’re a long-time supporter or new to our space, we hope you’ll join us for this celebration of art, community, and creativity. We look forward to seeing you there!

Flying Leaves & Dancing Shapes by Irina Shishova – Flex Space

Saturday, February 1 – Thursday, February 27

We are thrilled to feature the exhibition Flying Leaves & Dancing Shapes by Irina Shishova, a talented artist whose work captures the vibrant energy and beauty of the world around us. Born in Moscow and now a Bloomington resident, Irina’s artistic journey spans diverse media, from oils and watercolors to pencils and acrylics. With a passion for human figure drawing and landscapes, Irina’s art is deeply influenced by her travels across Europe, Asia, and the U.S., as well as her love for hiking and camping. This exhibition promises to be a stunning collection of dynamic, expressive pieces that will leave you inspired by the shapes and colors that flow through Irina’s work.

Flying Leaves & Dancing Shapes will be on display at the Arts Alliance Center’s Flex Space from February 1–27. We invite you to join us for the opening reception on Saturday, February 8 from 3–5 pm, where you can meet the artist, explore her captivating work, and engage with fellow arts advocates. We hope to see you there for an afternoon of art, conversation, and celebration!

Intro to Bellydance Classes – Flex Space

Sunday, February 6, 7:10-8:00 pm

Join instructor Donna Carlton for a vibrant 6-week bellydance session designed to explore the joy of movement, enhance your dance skills, and have fun in a welcoming and supportive environment. This class will dive into classic bellydance techniques, including fluid hipwork, graceful arm and hand movements, and veil techniques. You’ll also learn dynamic combinations to energetic music, helping you feel confident and energized as you express yourself through dance.

The sessions are scheduled for Thursdays from 7:10–8:00 PM, beginning on February 6 at $60 for those who register in advance, or $70 to pay the day at the door. Since class sizes are limited to ensure personal attention, it’s recommended to reserve your spot by paying in advance.

To learn more or to register, call or text Donna at (812) 330-1831, or visit the registration page on allaboutbellydance.com.

Arts Alliance Acquires the By Hand Gallery

We are honored to continue its legacy by showcasing and selling the work of its talented members. This change also adds a second gallery space to AAGB, strengthening our role as a central hub for the arts in Bloomington. While By Hand Gallery is under new management, we are very excited to announce that eight of the previous primary owners will continue to show their work in the gallery. They are Suzanne Halvorson, Carolynne Gieryn, Jim Halvorson, Joey Forney, Lee Cohn, Marilyn Greenwood, Ruth Conway, and Walt Schmidt.

With this new chapter, AAGB is committed to maintaining the gallery’s tradition of offering high-quality, hand-crafted art in a variety of mediums. We look forward to welcoming both artists and visitors into a welcoming, creative environment while expanding the gallery’s role in Bloomington’s cultural landscape.

You’re Invited to the Arts Alliance’s First Annual Gala

Renew Your Membership with the Arts Alliance!

Arts Alliance Center Artist: Mark Riggins

Mark is best known for his realistic pen-and-ink renderings, a style that emerged in the early 1980s when his wife, Diane, encouraged him to shift from abstract work to creating pieces that reflected familiar, meaningful scenes. Since then, Mark’s illustrations have captured iconic images of Bloomington and its landmarks, drawing on his deep connection to the community and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. His work often evokes nostalgia for those who call Bloomington home, while also introducing new viewers to the area’s charm.

This February, Mark is the featured artist at By Hand Gallery, where his stunning illustrations will be on display throughout the month. Be sure to visit during the Bloomington Gallery Walk this Friday, February 7, to experience Mark’s work in person and explore the classic By Hand Gallery under our leadership. It’s the perfect opportunity to see his art up close and discover a local treasure.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

.Big Red 2025 Swing Dance Weekend

Fri Feb 7th-9th

Venues in Bloomington

• After a five-year hiatus, Big Red is back! Hosted by the Swing Dance Club at Indiana University, Big Red is a Swing Dance Weekend featuring social dancing to Live music, DJ ‘ed music, and 8 hours of instruction by world-renowned teachers. This weekend has a variety of levels for those who have never danced before to people who have done more. No partner required and no experience is needed. Come join us for a weekend of fun, friend and dance.

Worth Saving

Fri Feb 7th-28th

Backspace Gallery

• Group art exhibition featuring artists Pat Brentano, Dena Hawes, Devan Horton, David J Emerson Young, & Malory Owen. The exhibition is focused on the issues of the environmental effects of climate change. The exhibition is February 7 – 28, and Backspace Gallery is open every day from 11am to 6pm. Additional exhibition events taking place at Backspace Gallery: February 15, 4:30-5:30pm. Presentation by Dr. Ben Brabson, climate scientist and IU professor emeritus “The Art and the Science of Climate Change” February 21, 6:30pm. Chicago based writer and performing artist Judith Harding performing “Wildergrace”, inspired by air and animals and drenced in dark humor.

Arts Mile Gallery Walk

Fri Feb 7th, 5:00-8:00pm (EDT)

Various Galleries in Bloomington

• Experience downtown Bloomington’s vibrant Arts Mile as select galleries showcase evolving live and virtual exhibits. EVERY. FIRST. FRIDAY. Experience an exciting night of the arts as fourteen distinct galleries stay open late to host special exhibits and serve refreshments from 5-8pm. Stroll the vibrant arts scene along the sensational art mile and experience amazing art by renowned local, regional, and international artists. Discover delightful surprises, inspiration, festivities, and original works of art for purchase. Explore each distinctive gallery in-person or online all year long at your own pace. Click here to learn more

Bird | International Art House Series

Sat Feb 8th, 4:00-6:00pm (EDT)

IU Cinema

• 12-year-old Bailey (Nykiya Adams) lives with her single dad Bug (Barry Keoghan) and brother Hunter in a squat in North Kent. Bug doesn’t have much time for his kids, and Bailey, who is approaching puberty, seeks attention and adventure elsewhere. Official selection of the 2024 Cannes, Toronto International, and Telluride film festivals. [119 min; drama; English]

Off Night Cabaret: Long Songs, Reimagined

Sun Feb 9th-12th

Constellation Playhouse

• Join Off Night Productions for an evening of love songs, reimagined! From musical theater to classic jazz standards, from pop anthems to folk ballads, six singers will perform love songs traditionally sung by the other gender. Directed by Cassie Hakken and music directed by Deborah Jenkins, this evening of music invites you to experience love’s universal truths from a new perspective! Doors open 30 minutes before each performance. There will be no intermission.

All First Roads Taste of Salt

Tues Feb 11th, 7:00-9:00pm (EDT)

IU Cinema

• A striking cinematic vision that weaves through time and space, the film follows Mack, a Black woman in Mississippi, as she experiences the joy, grief, love, and pain that defines the journey from childhood to adulthood. Expertly leveraging the sensation of touch in a way uncommon—and incredibly difficult—in cinema, Jackson creates an ethereal and deeply felt world that is simultaneously unfamiliar and yet instantly recognizable. Co-produced by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk), All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt premiered to rave reviews at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and was named one of the Top 10 Independent Films of 2023 by the National Board of Review. [92 min; drama; English]

The Taste of Things | International Art House Series

Thurs Feb 13th, 7:00-9:15pm (EDT)

IU Cinema

• Set in France in 1889, the film follows the life of Dodin Bouffant (Benoît Magimel) as a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie (Juliette Binoche). They share a long history of gastronomy and love, but Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her. [135 min; drama, history, romance; French with English subtitles]

IPAPA Paint In

Sat Feb 15th, 11:00am-4:00pm (EDT)

Brown County Art Guild

• IPAPA is better known as the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association. The Brown County Art Guild is proud to host members of the Indiana Plein Air Association for a “Paint In”! The painters will create beautiful scenes live in person in the Guild galleries. Open & free to the public. Come for fun & inspiration!

Born Innocent: The Red Kross Story

Sun Feb 16th, 7:00-8:30pm (EDT)

Buskirk-Chumley Theater

• This expansive documentary released in 2024 vividly captures the Los Angeles music scene starting from the late-1980s to today, centering around a band that was hailed as the “next big thing” and you may have never heard of — Redd Kross. The film gets into the mythology that grew around the band – their brushes with success, their giving the finger to the establishment, etc. In doing so, it explores what defines success. While they might not have become zillionaires or household names, they’ve done all right on their own terms.

Milisuthando | AfroFutures: Black Women and Cinematic Storytelling

Tues Feb 18th, 7:00-9:15pm (EDT)

IU Cinema

• This expansive documentary released in 2024 vividly captures the Los Angeles music scene starting from the late-1980s to today, centering around a band that was hailed as the “next big thing” and you may have never heard of — Redd Kross. The film gets into the mythology that grew around the band – their brushes with success, their giving the finger to the establishment, etc. In doing so, it explores what defines success. While they might not have become zillionaires or household names, they’ve done all right on their own terms.

Backyard Bird Chronicles Book Discussion

Wed Feb 19th, 4:00-5:00pm (EDT)

Juniper Gallery

• Join Nanette Brewer and Janelle Grimmer for a book discussion of The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan! Please pick up your copy at Morganstern Books.