Shop local this holiday season and help to support the vibrant Bloomington community. Our annual holiday show highlights work from local Bloomington artists that you can then share with your friends and loved ones, knowing that each piece is handmade and from the heart.

Your local Bloomington Sam’s Club® Hearing Aid Center (located at 3205 West State Highway 45, Bloomington, IN) will be holding an Open House Event on 12/8, 12/9, and 12/10. This is an absolutely FREE event that is open to both Sam’s Club members and non-members. Event attendees will be able to receive FREE hearing tests and consultations, FREE demonstrations of our premium digital hearing aids, FREE gifts, and more.
According to a Johns Hopkins Medicine study, roughly 20% of Americans have a hearing loss and that number jumps to 33% at age 65 and older. Curious if you have a hearing problem? You may if any of the following apply to you:
• Others ask you to turn the television down
• You ask others to repeat themselves
• Background noise makes it hard for you to follow conversations in noisy places
• You have trouble communicating on the telephone
• You have worked in a loud environment
• You have any of the following medical issues: diabetes; heart, kidney, thyroid disease; depression; memory problems
If you suspect that you, or a loved one, has a hearing loss make an appointment today to reserve a spot at our Open House to be tested by one of our licensed specialists. You can call us directly at (812) 558-7391 or schedule an appointment online at appointments.libertyhearingaids.com

We’re celebrating the fall semester release of books written or edited by Mathers Museum faculty, research associates, and colleagues–Folk Art and Aging: Life Story Objects and Their Makers, by Jon Kay; Indiana Folk Arts: 200 Years of Tradition and Innovation, edited by Jon Kay; Material Vernaculars: Objects, Images, and Their Social Worlds, edited by Jason Baird Jackson; Quilts of Southwest China, edited by Marsha MacDowell and Lijun Zhang; and Tennessee Delta Quiltmaking, by Teri Klassen. Join us to congratulate them and learn more about their work.

The Grunwald Gallery at Indiana University is pleased to announce the upcoming BFA Thesis Exhibition. This exhibition will open Wednesday, November 30 th and continue through Saturday, December 10 th. The Studio Art Department will hold it’s annual Awards Ceremony at 5:30 pm in FA015 on December 9th with an opening reception following from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Grunwald Gallery.

BFA Thesis Exhibitions
These exhibitions feature work created by graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts students in the Studio Art Department, in the School of Art & Design at Indiana University. Each exhibition features student work from a variety of the studio areas: digital art, graphic design, metalsmithing and jewelry design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. To gain professional experience, exhibiting students participate in the planning of their shows and installation of their pieces.

Students exhibiting include: Tyler Bartle (Photography), Jenica Brown (Painting), Mitch Carpenter (Printmaking), Lisa Havlat (Graphic Design), Maggie Kroh (Painting), Mitch Myers (Sculpture), Won Hee Park (Painting), Mimi Pinnow (Painting), Sarah Power (Painting), Kordula Schild (Painting), and Yue Yan (Painting).

For further information, please contact the Grunwald Gallery at (812) 855-8490 or [email protected]. We invite you to visit our website at https://studioart.indiana.edu.The Grunwald Gallery is accessible to people with disabilities. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 12:00pm – 4:00 pm, closed Sunday and Monday or by appointment. All events are free and open to the public. For more information on the Studio Art Department, the School of Art and Design and the Grunwald Gallery at Indiana University, please visit https://soad.indiana.edu/.

On Friday, December 9th beginning at 6:00 p.m., as our feature Artist for the entire month of December, The Venue will host a Reception for Bert Gilbert, The Metal Master.
Bert received a BA in Sculpture and Painting from Indiana University in 1983, but, allowed many years to pass artistically fallow while creating a family, home, and remodeling business in Bloomington, Gilbert Construction. Yes, the same fellow who may have designed and constructed your home addition, the same fellow that underwrites you favorite show on WFIU, when he turned 50 decided to return to the sanctuary of his youth, making art.
Invigorated by the amazing iron casting workshops at Sculpture Trails of Solsberry, Indiana, Bert discovered an instant affinity in working with metal, forged in the steel mills and smelting plants of Northern Indiana where he spent his college summers. In Bert’s own words, “The work of the Surrealists and “primitive” art, as well as the questing spirit of Bruce Nauman, have been the greatest influence on my sculpture.
The Venue challenged Bert to create a body of metal sculpture that manifested his creative style, and was small enough and affordable enough to practically become a part of one’s home collection. We believe he has more than met that challenge.
On Friday refreshments will be served in the usual manner, and our full collection of art, selected to serve your holiday gift needs, will be on display for purchase. You can visit the following link for free parking options near The Venue:

http://bloomington.in.gov/parksmart.

We look forward to hosting you Friday!

The Exonerated

By Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen

Directed by Liam Castellan,
2nd Year M.F.A. Directing candidate

The stories of six average Americans, wrongly accused of murder and put on death row, are told simultaneously, interwoven so the audience can see the similarities between all the exonerated victims. The play reveals a very disturbing pattern within our judicial system and invites us to examine the society in which justice is not served, where confessions are still gained through torture, threats and deception.

Performance dates include December 2, 3, 6-9, 2016 at 7:30 pm and December 10 @ 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Thank you Partner Level Associate Producers and Theatre Circle Members Caryl & Tom Bowers and Virginia & Michael Metzgers for supporting this production.

Live musical holiday variety show all new for 2016! Playhouse’s annual event for all ages – kids 10 & under free with paid adult. Big beautiful voices sing all your favorite classics. Special effects lighting and Santa Claus finale. Discounted Preview on Black Fri 11/25 with Opening night Sat 11/26. Sunday matinees. Beer, wine, special holiday drinks served in the auditorium.

A benefit for All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center, Don’t Call Me Betty performs music featured in the NETFLIX hit series STRANGER THINGS and other 1980s clasics. $5 suggested donation at the door. 21+ show

Prepare for a clash of the holidays!!!

The “holiday season” takes The Back Door’s stage by storm, In Singed: The Holiday Escapade. A thrilling rumpus full of twists & turns, as well as both surprising & predictable shenanigans. The Holiday Escapade is a journey, nay, a battle, through the sacred, and the profane, as our vivacious performers explore the “real” meaning of the holiday season.

Doors open at 10pm, Show starts at 11pm.
$10 at the door. 21+

Produced & MCed by: Singe
Stage Madaming by: Mercy Merlot
Stage Kittening by: Regina Sweet
Our amazing local performers are:

Argenta Perón
Corvin Rose
Mercy Merlot
Envy Debeauté
JB Awesome
Marcia Melons
Verna Ven Detta
Mocha Debeauté
Rock Ruffergood
Tipsy Teasdale
And Tea!

Plus our fantastic performers from Indianapolis:
Maella Cai Vane
Juju Bone
and MaMarie LaVeaux