gallery exhibitions
A rotating schedule of diverse exhibitions are featured in Minnetrista’s six gallery spaces. These exhibitions are catered to all age groups and interests, emphasizing art, history, and interactive experiences. One affordable ticket price gets you access to everything available at the time of your visit.
Oakhurst Experience
Oakhurst Home
The Oakhurst Experience tells the story of the George and Frances Ball family through the eyes of their daughter, Elisabeth, “Betty”. The home is filled with interactive exhibitions that make it an exciting place to play and to learn. The Experience explores the themes of literacy, home food preservation, nature, and time spent together—all things the Ball family was passionate about. Read a book from the shelves of the expansive library or challenge a friend to a game from the large collection of board and digital tabletop games. Visitors of all ages and interests are invited to come and get lost in a house full of history and wonder.
Bob Ross Experience
LL Ball Home
Bob Ross inspired generations of viewers with his soft-spoken voice and a pallet knife. Explore the life, philosophy, and art of this iconic American painter and arts educator inside the historic home where The Joy of Painting was filmed. Our immersive exhibit features original paintings and artifacts, inspiring visitors with Bob’s message of fearless creativity all in the building where the magic happened.
Ball Stores
Center Building, Heritage Gallery
Step back in time at the Ball Stores exhibition, a captivating journey through the history of this beloved shopping destination. Adorned with the iconic brown plaid, the intimate exhibition boasts a rich collection of objects and artifacts that illustrate the memories shared by those who experienced the magic of the Stores firsthand. With a planned refresh for the winter holiday season, you will have a great excuse to visit more than once—just as with the Stores themselves! Join us for this nostalgic celebration.
The Ball Stores exhibition will be closed November 6-8 for a charming refresh and reopen on November 9 just in time for the holiday season.
Presented by
In partnership with
Join us for these upcoming gallery talks!
Crisis Canning
October 12, 2024 – January 26, 2025
Center Building, Gallery 1
Just as the cold weather goes hand-in-hand with crockpots, canning jars frequently become countertop staples in times of uncertainty. Featuring historic objects from Minnetrista’s collection, this original exhibition will explore the history of canning during times of crisis. Visitors will learn more about the ancient and global art of food preservation and explore how wars, pandemics, and economic struggles have transformed canning from an ordinary mode of cooking into a form of emergency planning for Americans across the decades.
Presented by
Supported by
Join us for these upcoming canning workshops and talks!
Majestic Mountains at Bob Ross Experience
LL Ball Home, Upstairs Gallery
Exciting updates are coming to the Art Gallery at the Bob Ross Experience! Spotlighting iconic mountain scenes from Bob’s legendary paintings, this new exhibit provides more original Bob Ross paintings for you to love. Don’t miss this opportunity to see a beautifully painted gold panning plate created by Bob during his time spent in Alaska. This rare early painting predates his rise as a public television icon and is the perfect excuse to visit (or re-visit) the Bob Ross Experience.
Open Space: Art About the Land
November 2, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Center Building, Gallery 3
Since 2001, Open Space: Art About the Land has encouraged artists across the state to draw inspiration from the land that surrounds us. From painters to sculptors and beyond, the exhibition presents a diverse showcase of creative talent that celebrates the beauty achieved when nature inspires art. Mark Ruschman, curator of fine arts at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, will be this year’s exhibition juror. Once again, tandem exhibitions will be presented by Minnetrista and the Anderson Museum of Art, all in support of Red-tail Land Conservancy’s mission to protect wild lands in East Central Indiana.
Presented by Joan & Stefan Anderson fund
Ball Stores Holiday Refresh
Center Building, Heritage Gallery
Step back in time at the Ball Stores exhibition, a captivating journey through the history of this beloved shopping destination. Adorned with the iconic brown plaid, the intimate exhibition boasts a rich collection of objects and artifacts that illustrate the memories shared by those who experienced the magic of the Stores firsthand. With a planned refresh for the winter holiday season, you will have a great excuse to visit more than once—just as with the Stores themselves! Join us for this nostalgic celebration.
November 6-8 for a charming refresh and reopen on
November 9 just in time for the holiday season.
Presented by
In partnership with
Join us for these upcoming gallery talks!
Imagine in Glass
November 16, 2024 – February 9, 2025
Center Building, Gallery 2
Imagine in Glass celebrates our region’s glass history in a unique way, by casting children as creative directors! Children are invited to unleash their creativity on the page while professional glassworkers from the Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass at Ball State University bring select drawings to life in glass. Discover what happens when we combine the skills of experienced artists with the unbound imagination of children.
Activities are made possible in part by the Community Foundation of Randolph County and the Indiana Arts Commission, which receives support from the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Deep Roots: Exploring the Ball Family Tree
Coming Soon!
Oakhurst Galleries
Step into the captivating narrative of the Ball family and their legacy in this original exhibition exploring Muncie’s most famous family. Through lively storytelling, family photographs, and cherished historic objects, the exhibition will trace the Ball family’s path from Buffalo, NY through their remarkable impact on the East Central Indiana region that continues to this day.
