Enjoy art, a mystery, jazz and cocktails at May's First Thursday in downtown Muncie

MUNCIE, Ind. — Visitors to May's First Thursday gallery walk can solve a fairy tale mystery as well as viewing art shows and shopping at downtown businesses. The monthly event will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday, May 5, around downtown Muncie.

To take part in the "Once Upon a Muncie Mystery" between 5 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, participants will visit 10 downtown businesses to collect clues into the case of why Snow White has succumbed to a mysterious sleeping spell. Participating businesses are Downtown Farm Stand, Sea Salt and Cinnamon, Accutech, The Hayloft, Open Door, Toys Forever, Twin Archer, Jesse Anderson/State Farm, Massage Therapy Associates and the Muncie Visitors Bureau. Download a Crime Tracker with map at downtownmuncie.org/muncie-mystery or pick one up during First Thursday at Canan Commons or Dave’s Alley, then turn in your finished Crime Tracker by 6:30 p.m. at Canan Commons for a chance to win prizes.

More details: Sleuths invited to solve a fairy tale mystery during First Thursday

Book Arts Collaborative at MadJax, 514 E. Main St., will mark its last First Thursday before closing with performances by singer/song-writer Cara Wahlers. Students will present their final "opus" projects demonstrating what they have learned during their apprenticeship. "Celebrity judges," including all of the authors whose work has been printed at Book Arts Collaborative Press, will decide which projects gain immortality in the Special Collections at Bracken Library.

An exhibit of the winning artworks from the 2022 Muncie Young Artist Exhibition Juried Art Competition, a celebration of young artists throughout Delaware County, will open Thursday in the Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, 520 E. Main St. The theme of the 2022 Young Artist Exhibition Juried Art Competition is “My Community," reflecting on how our understanding of community has shifted in the past two years. The YAE Awards Ceremony will be 5-8 p.m. May 20 in the auditorium at Cornerstone.

First Thursday at The Downtown Farm Stand, 125 E. Main St., will feature a 21-and-older event starting at 5 p.m. in the new Farm Stand Second Story Lounge, with the theme Jazz with Cocktails inspired by Mexico. A Ball State student jazz quintet, all of them members of the BSU Jazz Ensemble, will play a selection of jazz tunes. The Farm Stand will be rolling out its new craft cocktails selection from all fresh and organic ingredients, and a menu including fresh preparations of light dishes inspired by the cuisine of Mexico and Cinco de Mayo.

Forever Young Children’s Boutique, 125 E. Charles ST., will be open 5-8 p.m. for a Ladies Night Out event.

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Co., 224 E. Main St., will celebrate an exhibition and sale of new paintings and sculpture by Alfredo Marín-Carle 5-8 p.m. Thursday. Marín-Carle joined the faculty at Ball State University in 1985, and is now Associate Professor Emeritus and resides in Indianapolis. Light refreshments will be served, and the public is invited to attend. The exhibit, titled "Visions," includes works of art that convey what the artist sees, reflecting his lifetime fascination with eastern philosophies. The show will be on view with works for sale through May 28. Information: gordyframing.com or 765-284-8422

Made in Muncie, 313 S. Walnut St., will feature three exhibitions celebrating the "Conservation Tales: Central America Series" and its artists. Visitors can view artwork from the upcoming books on macaws and sloths and meet the team of illustrators, graphic designers, photographers and science storytellers, who will be available to answer questions about the creative process. Activities for children and book sales will be offered. A special exhibition will feature photographs by Abbey Jessup and Brooke Ackerman in partnership with the Cincinnati Zoo, Zoo Knoxville, and Indianapolis Zoo for the Conservation Tales books series. Visitors also meet meet Sara Misak, who completed a life-size model of a sloth for her Creative Honors Thesis.

MadJax Muncie, 515 E. Main St., will celebrate local artists, makers and musicians, including harpist and vocalist Maevyn Stone, Tom Stader, Angel Gillette, Johnny Woods, Georedt Michael Huggins, Debra Gindhart Dragoo and Debra Mae Shidler. Locally made arts, unique gifts, paintings, ceramics, clothing, photography, wood carvings, jewelry, baked goods and more will be available 5-8 p.m. in the first- and second-floor galleries. Guardian Brewery will be open. Parking is available in the MadJax lot at the corner of Jackson and Monroe, and at the corner of Main and Monroe.

More downtown news: Guardian Brewing owners buy iconic downtown Muncie bar Heorot

The Muncie Artists Guild's Artist of the Month, Marta Stephens, will have work on view throughout May, including Thursday night, at locations throughout the city: Vera Mae's Bistro, Northwest Bank, Old National, Rose Bud Coffeehouse, and Parlour. Stephens has been painting for more than 40 years. Her painting style has continuously evolved through experimentation and studying works of contemporary and traditional impressionist artists. She is also a published author of crime mystery novels and, in 2021, an anthology of short mysteries. She retired in 2020 from Ball State University, human resources, after 41 years.

Muncie Makes Lab, 628 S. Walnut St., will be open 6-9 p.m. for two exhibitions. "Cinematic Environments" is an exhibition of short films centered around world-building that occupies the fuzzy space between realism and speculation. Students from the Department of Architecture, within the College of Architecture Planning at Ball State University, produced films by photographing small scale, detailed models using cinematic techniques utilized by Hollywood, according to a release. "The Final: This is (not) a Sign" features neon work including both sculptural and sign-based forms from the current Ball State neon class.

Muncie Map Co., 111 E. Adams St., will reveal the long-awaited update to the Ultimate Muncie Map. A follow-up to the 2019 map of the same name, the 2022 edition is all new, including updated and additional details. A limited number of copies will be available for purchase on First Thursday. Visitors also will be able to peruse the Local Business Hall of Fame, a growing collection of graphics from legendary Muncie establishments of the past, available to order on a wide range of apparel and other products.

The Shoppe by Pink Leaf, 108 S. Walnut St., will be selling Mother's Day baskets and other unique gifts, with in-store specials including 10% off a locally-designed and created Mother's Day card with the purchase of any basket.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Enjoy art, a mystery, jazz and cocktails at First Thursday downtown