Public Invited to Attend Waldron Arts Center Awakening Art Exhibition Opening Reception on Friday, May 6

Bloomington, Ind.–The City of Bloomington will celebrate the opening reception of a new art exhibition at the John Waldron Arts Center on Friday, May 6 from 5-8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. 

Awakening is a Spring introspective featuring ten local artists of mixed mediums in the Waldron’s Visual Arts Galleries: Huner Emin, Honey Hodges, Mac Clout, Christina E., Raheem Terrell Rashawn Elmore, Garrett Ann Walters, Brick Kyle, Elise Putnam, Diego Manansala, and Ellise Smith. Bloomington-based musician Lewis Rogers of Busman’s Holiday will DJ a set during the reception. The exhibition is curated by Chaz Mottinger, Special Projects Manager in the City of Bloomington’s Economic and Sustainable Development department.

Background

The ownership of the Waldron reverted to the City of Bloomington in January 2021 following its use by Ivy Tech Community College as classroom, performance, and display space since 2010.

Since reopening earlier in 2022 under the temporary management of the City, the Waldron has hosted work by over 50 local established and emerging artists. Awakening will be the final show mounted by the City of Bloomington before the building’s management is scheduled to be taken over by the newly formed Constellation Stage and Screen in July 2022.

The Waldron’s reopening follows a 21-month closure, during which time the City of Bloomington completed repairs to both stabilize and upgrade the facility. Repair of the facility follows recommendations made by the community-led Waldron Task Force (bloomington.in.gov/news/2021/05/06/4840). 

In May of 2021 Mayor Hamilton announced a $515,000 commitment for capital improvements to address deferred maintenance on the facility as part of the Recover Forward initiative to help the community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Waldron officially reopened on January 4 of this year (bloomington.in.gov/news/2022/01/04/5066).  

About Recover Forward

Recover Forward is a multi-year initiative to help our community rebound and thrive as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, moving toward greater racial, economic, and climate justice as we do so.

More than $15 million has been approved to date by the City Council for critical investments. Recover Forward Bloomington includes $9 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and $6 million from City reserve funds. Read more here: bloomington.in.gov/recoverforward.