Jeffrey Gibson (b. 1972, Colorado) is a multidisciplinary artist working across sculpture, painting, installation, video art, and performance. He is a citizen of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and is half Cherokee. In his work, Gibson combines Native American traditions and materials with visuals from Modernism to explore the connections between personal identity, culture, and history and how these elements influence each other. He grew up in Germany, South Korea, and England, and in each of these multicultural environments, he found friendships and connections in the music scenes. Following this influence, song lyrics and costumes are important elements in his work, along with objects associated with Indigenous culture and ceremonies such as leather, beadwork, drums, and metal jingles. Gibson received his BFA from The Art Institute of Chicago and his MA from the Royal College of Art. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Claremont Graduate University in 2016. Gibson has received distinguished awards from the Joan Mitchell Foundation, National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian Institution), TED Foundation, and the Jerome Hill Foundation. He was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2019. Notable solo exhibitions of his work have been presented at the Brooklyn Art Museum, Times Square Arts, Blanton Museum of Art, Wellin Museum of Art, The New Museum, and Denver Art Museum.
John C. Gonzalez: Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play
This exhibition runs January 7-29
John C. Gonzalez is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans installation, sculpture, painting, performance, writing, music, game design, and socially engaged projects. Deeply collaborative in nature, his work often blurs the lines between artist, viewer, and participant, challenging conventional notions of authorship and production. Gonzalez frequently partners with individuals or institutions not traditionally associated with artmaking to create pieces that reflect shared labor, conversation, and experience. These conversations result in works that are as much about the process and relationships as they are about the final product. Through his ongoing exploration of labor, cooperation, and institutional critique, Gonzalez’s practice offers a reflective and often playful lens on the social systems that shape artistic and everyday life. Whether building systems that critique their own fabrication, facilitating game-based art experiences, or searching for meaning in collective action, he consistently seeks to expand the role of the artist beyond the studio and into the shared spaces of work, play, and community. Gonzalez lives in Rhode Island and teaches drawing and game design at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI.
The exhibition Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play will include several interactive and game-adjacent artworks in the galleries. These works will include images, performance, and site-specific works that will solicit viewer engagement and provide space for unexpected connections and exchanges.
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. Closed weekends and all Ball State breaks and holidays.
John C. Gonzalez: Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play
This exhibition runs January 7-29
John C. Gonzalez is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans installation, sculpture, painting, performance, writing, music, game design, and socially engaged projects. Deeply collaborative in nature, his work often blurs the lines between artist, viewer, and participant, challenging conventional notions of authorship and production. Gonzalez frequently partners with individuals or institutions not traditionally associated with artmaking to create pieces that reflect shared labor, conversation, and experience. These conversations result in works that are as much about the process and relationships as they are about the final product. Through his ongoing exploration of labor, cooperation, and institutional critique, Gonzalez’s practice offers a reflective and often playful lens on the social systems that shape artistic and everyday life. Whether building systems that critique their own fabrication, facilitating game-based art experiences, or searching for meaning in collective action, he consistently seeks to expand the role of the artist beyond the studio and into the shared spaces of work, play, and community. Gonzalez lives in Rhode Island and teaches drawing and game design at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI.
The exhibition Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play will include several interactive and game-adjacent artworks in the galleries. These works will include images, performance, and site-specific works that will solicit viewer engagement and provide space for unexpected connections and exchanges.
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. Closed weekends and all Ball State breaks and holidays.
John C. Gonzalez: Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play
This exhibition runs January 7-29
John C. Gonzalez is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans installation, sculpture, painting, performance, writing, music, game design, and socially engaged projects. Deeply collaborative in nature, his work often blurs the lines between artist, viewer, and participant, challenging conventional notions of authorship and production. Gonzalez frequently partners with individuals or institutions not traditionally associated with artmaking to create pieces that reflect shared labor, conversation, and experience. These conversations result in works that are as much about the process and relationships as they are about the final product. Through his ongoing exploration of labor, cooperation, and institutional critique, Gonzalez’s practice offers a reflective and often playful lens on the social systems that shape artistic and everyday life. Whether building systems that critique their own fabrication, facilitating game-based art experiences, or searching for meaning in collective action, he consistently seeks to expand the role of the artist beyond the studio and into the shared spaces of work, play, and community. Gonzalez lives in Rhode Island and teaches drawing and game design at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI.
The exhibition Checkpoint: Interactive Artworks & Experimental Play will include several interactive and game-adjacent artworks in the galleries. These works will include images, performance, and site-specific works that will solicit viewer engagement and provide space for unexpected connections and exchanges.
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. Closed weekends and all Ball State breaks and holidays.
Holiday Arts & Culture Night
Presented by Ball State’s Integrated Cultural Committee, the free festive event shines the holiday spotlight on many arts and culture spots along the campus Cultural Corridor.
Enjoy activities, live performances, and demonstrations at the David Owsley Museum of Art, Emens Auditorium, Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, Sursa Performance Hall, the Nature Center, Christy Woods, the Glick Center for Glass, and the Charles W. Brown Planetarium!
Visit the Holiday Hub, located on the second floor of the Fine Arts building (please use Riverside Avenue entrance) to learn more about the Integrated Cultural Committee, The Rinker Center, University Libraries, and more!
The first 10 people who visit the Holiday Hub will receive a free ticket to an upcoming Emens Auditorium performance of “The Nutcracker!”
And, as you make your way along the Cultural Corridor, you’ll hear carillonneur John Gouwens perform songs of the season (beginning at 8 p.m.) from the Shafer Bell Tower.
Free shuttles (running continuously on a loop from the Glick Center and DOMA) will take visitors to and from Minnetrista’s Enchanted Luminaria Walk. The free Minnetrista event includes three miles of enchanting lights, sweet treats, food, live music, live theater, winter crafts, a barrel train for kids, a Holiday Artisan Market, and more.
While you are there, be sure to stop by the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center for the Holiday Open House from 5 to 9 p.m., where you can see the beautifully-decorated home, listen to live music, and watch demonstrations by local artisans. The Holiday Open House and the Luminaria Walk are also happening on Friday (5-9 p.m.).
Locations and event information for the Holiday Arts & Culture Night:
Many people mill around on the white marble floor of the museum lobby while a woman in a red dress sings at a piano and people do crafts off to the sides.
CHARLES W. BROWN PLANETARIUM
Holiday Programs and Science Activity
The Planetarium will offer showings of “The Christmas Star” at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Come early for seats and to enjoy a holiday themed science activity.
FSEEC
Holiday in Bloom
The BSU Field Station and Environmental Education Center will be open for our annual evening program, Holiday in Bloom. Visitors can tour the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, decked out for the holidays; create nature-inspired ornaments in the Nature Lab; and explore Christy Woods along our Luminaria Trail. Live performances by a cappela and other groups will happen throughout the evening.
GLICK CENTER FOR GLASS
Holiday Glass Sale & Demonstrations
Glick Center for Glass joins the holiday festivities with an Open House, offering a glass arts sale by the BSU Glass Alliance and live glass working demonstrations each hour during the event.
DOMA
Holiday Community Open House
DOMA joins in the annual community holiday festivities with refreshments, children’s art activities, and live holiday music.
SURSA PERFORMANCE HALL
Trombone Studio
Enjoy the Ball State Trombone Studio at 7:30 p.m. in the beautiful hall.
EMENS AUDITORIUM
“The Nutcracker”
Bring the whole family on a wild, whimsical ride through the heart of childhood dreams as this classic holiday tale returns to the stage as you’ve never seen it before. Tickets required and available at the Emens Box Office.
Light Up Muncie
Save the date! LIGHT UP MUNCIE on Thursday, December 4, 2025!
Enjoy festive performances and food trucks, shop at the Holiday Makers Market, and witness the magical lighting of the animated community tree at Canan Commons.
NEW this year, Lighted Parade and kids fun zone! Bring your family and friends for a magical night in Downtown!
Want to be in the PARADE?: Sign-up sheet and info
