We have an exciting few months ahead, packed with workshops, exhibitions, and the upcoming holiday season. Stay tuned—there’s a lot in store, and you won’t want to miss a thing!

Updated Gallery Hours

Upcoming Events with the Arts Alliance

Martina Celerin “On the Cusp of Autumn” – Flex Space

Friday, September 28 – Thursday, October 30

At the end of September, we are hosting an open reception in the Arts Alliance Center for Martina as our featured artist for the month of October. This is an amazing opportunity to view her talented work and connect with her and fellow patrons of the arts in our community. We hope you’ll join us there!

“In the past I focused on oil pastels and acrylic painting. Independently, experimentation with each of these has been useful for my current medium of choice, fiber. Work with oil pastels forced me to focus on visual mixing of color, and the powerful interplay of colors when they are applied proximally compared to when they are physically distant. Acrylic painting allowed for quick mixing of colors both before and after applying it to the canvas, but, as with oil pastels, I became dissatisfied with the flatness of the art. I began gluing found objects onto the canvas and then painting over them. This was better, but still not enough. Eventually I realized that I needed to create my canvas. Weaving allows me to incorporate objects, textures and shapes, as well as colors and coarsenesses into the canvas. By combining this with needle felting, I have been able to push the dimensional limits of wall art and to create weaving-felting fusions that are 3D tapestries.” – Martina Celerin

• Reception: September 28 @ 6:00pm
• Exhibition: September 28 – October 30 during gallery hours

Paint! Bloomington – Woodlawn Pavilion, Bryan Park

Saturday, October 5, 9:30-4:30pm

Join us for the 3rd annual Paint Bloomington! on Saturday, October 5th at Woodlawn Pavilion in Bryan Park, hosted by the Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington alongside the Bloomington Arts Commission, Bloomington Thrift Shop, Upland Plein Air Painters, Bloomington Watercolor Society, and Psi Iota Xi. This free event welcomes professional and emerging artists of all ages to showcase their talent. Artists can paint anywhere in Bloomington, and all mediums are encouraged.

There is no fee, but you must register in order to participate. Check-in begins at 9:30 AM, and artists will have their canvasses or paper stamped before getting started. Classes, demos, and supplies will be available at the Pavilion from 10 AM to 3 PM, with live music, storytelling, and a portrait model to inspire your creativity.

The event will wrap up with an art display from 3-4 PM, followed by an award ceremony at 4 PM. Categories include Professional Artists, Emerging Artists, Youth (7-11), and Teens (12-17).

This exciting day will be filled with creativity, community, and artistic expression, so be sure to mark your calendars! For more info, email paintbloomington@gmail.com.

Creative Resources Forum – Rose Firebay, Waldron Arts Center

Tuesday, October 22, 7:00pm

This October we are excited to co-host another Arts Forum at the Waldron Arts Center. Join us for an exciting and important conversation where we will address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by creative entrepreneurs in our region. Unlike traditional industries, artists and creatives often have non-standard journeys and ideas, which can make it difficult for them to access development resources. Whether your business is just starting out or looking to grow, this forum will highlight the crucial role that creativity plays in our local economy, from driving tourism to enhancing regional culture.

The forum will bring together representatives from local economic development organizations and artists, performers, designers, and makers to discuss how we can strengthen the creative ecosystem in the Bloomington area. Topics will range from identifying entrepreneurial opportunities within creative fields to understanding how to access resources for education and business growth. The goal is to foster collaboration and experimentation between regional entrepreneurship supporters and the creative community, ensuring a stronger, more unified environment where local artists can thrive.

Following the forum, there will be an afterparty at The Bishop Bar, located just across the street. If you’re a creative or simply interested in supporting the arts, this event is an important step toward shaping a vibrant, sustainable future for our region’s creative scene. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation!

Tony had a way of bringing out the beauty in everyday things. Whether it was through his intricate carvings or the bold strokes in his paintings, his art left a lasting impression on all who had the chance to see it.

He chose to be cremated at Christensen Family Funeral Home, and a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, his family has requested that donations be made to the L.I.F.E. Food Pantry (lifeindiana.org), an organization that was close to his heart.

Though we mourn the loss of a cherished friend and artist, we will always remember the impact of his work and the memories we shared with him.

RECENT EVENTS

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Kevin Willmott: By Any Means Necessary!

Tues Sep 24th, 7:00-9:30pm (EDT)

IU Cinema

• After enduring racial discrimination, members of the Army’s all-Black 24th Infantry Regiment become involved in a deadly rebellion in Houston in 1917. Stars Trai Byers, Bashir Salahuddin, Aja Naomi King, and Thomas Haden Church. [113 min; drama; English]. A Q&A with filmmaker Kevin Willmott will follow the screening.

Kiwanis Indiana Balloon Fest

Sat Sep 27th – Sat Sep 28th, 4:00-10:00pm (EDT)

Lawrence County Fairgrounds

• Join us at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds for the international award winning Kiwanis Indiana Balloon Fest! Featuring: Hot Air Balloons some in special shapes, Pyrotechnic Skydivers, Amusement Rides, Tethered Balloon Rides, Jeep Show & Shine, Robotics Demonstrations, Beer & Wine Garden, Entertainment, Maelyn Wilkes Memorial Youth Egg Hunt, Wilkes Concessions Adult Egg Hunt.

Duke Substation Community Paint Day

Sat Sep 28th, 11:00am-4:30pm (EDT)

Duke Energy Bloomington Rogers Street Substation

• The City of Bloomington is inviting members of the community to participate in the Duke Mural Community Paint Day on Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event is at the Duke Energy Substation located at the northwest corner of W. 11th St and N Rogers St. Participants will help create the first mural in a series planned for the substation walls. Up to 150 volunteers can register in advance for 75-minute shifts throughout the day to paint the mural. Volunteers are required to sign a waiver ahead of time, as walk-up participation is not permitted on the day of the event. No prior painting experience is necessary, as local artists will guide participants during the process.

Sounds From the Black Hole

Sat Sep 28th, 8:00-11:00pm (EDT)

Orbit Room

• Sounds From the Black Hole: a concert series featuring experimental music and explorations of sound. Saturday September 28, 8p at Orbit Room, underground on the square in Bloomington, IN.

Author Talk: Claire Arbogast with Shayne Laughter

Mon Sep 30th, 6:30pm (EDT)

Morgenstern Books

• Author Talk: Claire Arbogast with Shayne Laughter. Gritty courage & love in the endless struggle for power.

Sugarcane | New Americas Cinema

Thurs Oct 3rd, 7:00pm-9:00pm (EDT)

IU Cinema

• A stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life, Sugarcane, the debut feature documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning. Set amidst a groundbreaking investigation into abuse and death at a Native residential school, the film empowers participants to break cycles of intergenerational trauma by bearing witness to painful, long-ignored truths—and the love that endures within their families despite the revelation of genocide. [111 min; documentary; English]