Observe artists capturing the beauty of Brown County in the fall. The Indiana Plein Air Painters will be demonstrating their craft at the T.C. Steele State Historic Site. A different artist will be present every weekend afternoon in October to paint and chat about their work.

Showcasing photographs taken by local residents, the ‘This is How I Live United’ gallery captures how our friends, family, and neighbors Live United by giving, advocating, and volunteering to create a better tomorrow for our community.

United Way of Monroe County and our partners work every day to ensure everyone in our community has the building blocks for a better life — Education, Earnings, and the Essentials. And you are part of this work — whether through donations, volunteering, or lending a helping hand to those in need.

The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday from 8 am until 1 pm, from April through November.

The Farmers’ Market is located at 401 N. Morton St. next to City Hall – Showers Building. Locally grown produce, annual and perennial plants, and a variety of prepared foods are available. Purchase your food directly from farmers and ask them questions about their products. Local entertainment adds to the shopping as well as socializing experience. Tantalizing scents and the inviting atmosphere may cause you to make the Market a weekend tradition.

Free plant swap hosted by the Bloomington Organic Gardeners Association (BOGA). Native plants, tree saplings, and seeds are encouraged but all non-invasive plants are welcome.

The 30th Annual American Red Cross Book Fair will be held October 3 – 8 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds, Commercial Building West. There will be 100,000 gently used books, CDs, videos, DVDs, cassettes, records, games, puzzles, maps, sheet music, and many other items for sale at very reasonable prices.
Opening day admission is $10, but the rest of the week’s attendance is free. Please call to receive a Book Fair bookmark with dates, times (vary from day to day) and specials listed. All proceeds from the Book Fair benefit Red Cross disaster relief, service to military families, and emergency preparedness services in Monroe and Owen Counties.
Thurs., Oct. 3, 9 am -7 pm OPENING DAY! $10 admission for best selection of books & media.
Friday, Oct. 4: 9 am – 7 pm: No admission charge. 4th annual food drive for Hoosier Hills Food Bank – bring non-perishable food and you’ll receive a “book buck,” good for $1 off book and media purchases.
Saturday, Oct. 5: 9 am – 6 pm : 4th annual food drive for Hoosier Hills Food Bank – bring non-perishable food and you’ll receive a “book buck,” good for $1 off book and media purchases
Sunday, Oct. 6: 9 am – 6 pm: Half-price day & Military Family Appreciation Day – Military families present ID and get free goodie bags for your children!
Monday, Oct. 7: 9 am – 6 pm: $10 bag-it day – we furnish the bag or bring your own of comparable size. You can fit at least two dozen books in a grocery bag – all for ten bucks.
Tuesday, Oct. 8: 9 am – 12 pm Community Day; Books and media left are free. Donations are encouraged.
Contact us at (812) 332-7292 or [email protected] for more information or to volunteer for this event, or visit us on the web at www.redcross.org/in/bloomington.

Nathan Hunter & Vincent Edwards, contemporary furniture; CRUSH II, jewelry; Kelly Novak, jewelry; Indianapolis Area Artists, prints, drawings, & paper quilts; Vincent Desjardins, digital illustration. M-F 9-7; Sat 9-5. Closed Sun.

Come check out the Saturday arts market at the Trained Eye Arts Center. Featuring local artists, live music and more! Stop by the art market on the first and third Saturday of the month for an opportunity to tour the open studios and see artists at work. The art market will be held inside the Trained Eye studios during the winter months.

Special Exhibition, “Art Interrupted: Advancing American Art and the Politics of Cultural Diplomacy”
Runs September 15-December 15
This exhibition reconstructs a 1946‒47 exhibition titled Advancing American Art, which featured over one hundred examples of stylistically diverse American art from the mid-1930s to the mid-1940s. Organized by the State Department as a form of cultural diplomacy, Advancing American Art traveled to venues in Latin America and Europe before political controversy in the United States led to its cancellation. Art Interrupted illuminates a fascinating historical moment when modern art was seen as a powerful tool for furthering democratic ideals around the world.

New in the Galleries: “Photographing Rosie the Riveter”
Runs October 1-January 26
The conscription of men into military service during WW II led to a demand for female workers in the factories supplying munitions and war supplies. Government photography projects, such as the Farm Security Administration (FSA), revamped their operations to support the efforts of the Office of War Information (OWI). This installation features propagandistic images of female assembly-line workers by Andreas Feininger, Alfred T. Palmer, and Howard Liberman. Organized by Maura Campbell-Balkits, a museum intern in the Department of Communications and Culture.

Artist show of “Moe’s Menagerie” by Cappi Phillips. A collection of animals, birds, fish and much more, all derived from recycled and up-cycled materials.

Fall Festivities at Freeman Family Farms runs until October 27. Activities include:

Pumpkin Patch – pick your own pumpkin!
Hay rides! Petting Zoo!
A fun filled mini train with 7 cars made just for the little pumpkin pickers!

Friday, 4 – 7 pm; Saturday, 10 am – 8 pm; Sunday, Noon – 5 pm.