Help us reach out to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault by helping fund books that will be donated to 19 local libraries with information on how to find help, escape, and heal.

Please pledge your support on our fundraising website to provide these invaluable resources to men, women, and children in Greene, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Lawrence, and Owen counties. We must reach our $3,000 tipping point goal or we will not get to keep any of the donations raised and the project will be a no-go!

For more in-depth information about the project or to donate, please visit: http://startsomegood.com/Venture/middle_way_house/Campaigns/Show/pages_for_change_by_middle_way_house

Pages for Change a project by Middle Way House, Inc., a non-profit domestic violence program and rape crisis center in Bloomington, Indiana.

The Monroe County Fair, running from July 28 to August 5, features a wide variety of fun for all ages and interests – from livestock shows (rabbits, goats, cows, pigs, horses, and more) and auctions to flower exhibits, motorcycle and kart racing, craft shows and live music. Food and drinks will be available from numerous vendors, and a carnival will be held in the evenings on July 31 and afterwards. Visit the fair website for more detailed information about the many different exhibits and activities.

This exhibit at the Mathers Museum of World Cultures examines history on a large scale, through exploration of cosmic, biological, and human origins. It is open weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from May 8 to August 26, 2012, and is free.

Mathers Museum hours are:
Tuesday-Friday: 9 am-4:30 pm
Saturday-Sunday: 1-4:30 pm

This exhibit at the Mathers Museum of World Cultures is a companion piece to the book by Eric Sandweiss, and presents a survey of Cushman’s extraordinary work, an archive of photographs that is the largest known body of early color photographs by a single photographer—14,500 in all, most shot on vivid, color-saturated Kodachrome stock. It will run until August 27.

Mathers Museum hours are:
Tuesday-Friday: 9 am-4:30 pm
Saturday-Sunday: 1-4:30 pm

This exhibit at the Mathers Museum of World Cultures examines the nature of culture through the exploration of cultural traditions surrounding life stages and universal needs. It is free and open to the public during regular museum hours, and will run until August 27.

Mathers Museum hours are:
Tuesday-Friday: 9 am-4:30 pm
Saturday-Sunday: 1-4:30 pm

When your toddler or preschool child hits the turf field at the Twin Lakes Recreation Center, they will be ready to run and play! An indoor turf field provides you and your young child with ample space to run, play on an obstacle course, and practice ball throwing and kicking skills. This free-time play is parent supervised while the TLRC provides all the equipment for an hour of healthy physical play. Check the monthly calendar for special Turf Time days with the bounce house and specially scheduled games. For children ages 1 – 6 yrs. w/parent. Every Monday and Wednesday.

The Farmer House Museum will be featuring the work of Jane Briley, a contemporary painter on porcelain. Ms. Briley began painting on china in 1972. On moving to Bloomington, Ms. Briley became active in teaching and promoting china painting, particularly through the activities of the Blooms of Bloomington china painting club. Ms. Briley’s work is traditional in style, timeless in its grace and charm. Her work is also currently on display at The Venue, Fine Art and Gifts. Exhibit runs until September 2.

The Farmer House is located at 529 N. College Ave. in downtown Bloomington, right across College Ave. from the Waffle House. The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday 10 am-1 pm, with additional hours until 4 pm on Saturday. Admission is free. The telephone number is 812-336-5597.

Every Wednesday morning at 10:30 is Discovery Time at the WonderLab science museum for kids. Enjoy a hands-on activity, book, or both with a different science topic each week. Siblings are welcome. Ideal for kindergarten age and younger children. Visit the website for information on other WonderLab programs and events.

Oils & Watercolors, and Fine Handmade Pottery on display in the Upper Loft Gallery August 1-25
Reception: Second Saturday, August 11, 5-8 pm, during the Village Art Walk

About Zhen-Zhong Duan:
Zhen-Zhong Duan was born in Anhui, China in 1944. In 1969, he graduated from the Central Academy of Arts and Design where he majored in Decorative Arts and Architecture. From 1969 to 1973 he worked as an art designer for the Song and Dance Ensemble Central Troup. He then took a position at the Beijing Film Studio where, in 1990, he became their Senior Arts Designer. His set designs have appeared in over 20 major film and television productions, and he has received many special honors and awards for his contributions to the Chinese Moving Picture Industry. In 1989 he was awarded the “Golden Rooster,” which is equivalent to the American Academy Award, for his set design for the movie Waiting for Daybreak. Mr. Duan also collaborated with Ann Hu, a world-recognized director, on the internationally acclaimed film, Dream and Memory.

Mr. Duan is an accomplished watercolor and oil landscape/cityscape painter. His work has been exhibited internationally, in Beijing, Hong Kong, Europe and the United States. His oil paintings have also been displayed and sold by Sothebys, a prestigious and highly respected art auction house. Zhen-Zhong is a member of the Chinese Association of Movie Artists, a member of the Chinese Academy of Movie Artists and a member of the Oriental Art Association, where he was Director of the Research Division for Qi Baishi-Art. He has been a Full Member of the Brown County Art Guild in Nashville, IN since 2007.

About Larry Spears:
Larry Spears works with primarily functional forms in various stoneware and porcelain clay bodies. Larry brings a rich color palette to his wares with a wide variety of glazes and glazing techniques. As a primarily self-taught potter, Larry has been working at his craft for over 30 years. The work encompasses a variety of forms, textures, glazes, glazing techniques, and various firing methods. Larry’s work is shown in his studio and gallery (Spears Pottery) located in Nashville, Indiana, and at various juried art shows and at numerous galleries in the USA. The work is ever-changing, with each firing creating subtle variations on the pottery. The pottery is lead-free, dishwasher and microwave-safe, and may be used in a conventional oven. Larry has been a member artist with the Brown County Art Guild since 2000.

Artist’s Statement:
“Focusing on the various aspects of design, my work continues to evolve around the simple correlation between form and function. I enjoy experimenting with various clay bodies, glazes and glazing techniques, and various methods of firing. All of my work is thrown, with much of it adorned with hand-built appendages, and reduction or wood-fired. Capturing the innate integrity of each piece is perhaps the most challenging aspect of the process. Hopefully the end result is a piece that can become a part of, and enrich someone’s lifestyle.”

The Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs is established to work toward economic, educational and social equity for Hispanics and Latinos residing in Bloomington and to promote cooperation and understanding among cultures. Learn more about the Commission.

All Commission meetings are open to the public and are held the first Wednesday of every month at 5:30pm in the McCloskey conference room at City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street, Bloomington. If you are interested in serving as a member of the commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs go to the Bloomington City Clerk’s home page to complete an application. If you have any questions, contact the City Clerk and Council office at (812) 349-3408.