The art exhibts open Friday evening, October 7th, and the block party is Saturday, October 8th in the afternoon. (Kayte Young/WFIU)
Maybe you’ve peered in the window after grabbing a donut at Rainbow Bakery, and wondered, “What goes on in there?” Or, maybe you’ve attended an art opening in the cavernous rooms inside–garage door flung open to foot traffic–during a First Friday Gallery Walk. I’m talking about the historic, yellow brick building on the corner of 4th and Rogers in Bloomington–The I Fell Community of Artists. The gallery, also known as The Fell, is celebrating their 10 year anniversary on October 8, 2022. Cindy Brubaker is the preservation developer and the sole proprietor of I Fell LLC. I spoke with Brubaker about the events they have planned to celebrate.
Located on the Near-West Side of downtown Bloomington, The Fell houses two galleries, studios for working artists, small businesses and a vegan bakery.
Cindy Brubaker is an artist herself, and she shares a corner studio with two jewelery makers, Angela Caldwell and Jonathan Barnitt (Kayte Young/WFIU).
As an historic preservationist, Cindy Brubaker had a vision for this building a decade ago. She had already spearheaded one historic building renovation on South Washington, as part of Middle Way House’s New Wings project in the old Coca Cola building– completed in 2010. When Cindy walked by the Fell building on her way to work, she wondered what it might become. She was attracted by the textured, yellow brick exterior, and once she had a chance to go inside, she saw what she expected to find--concrete floors, exposed steel trusses overhead, brick walls and an industrial feel that she knew would be conducive to an art space. She teamed up with Daniel Evans of the Bloomington Clay Studio to transform the building. They did much of the renovation work themselves through a sweat-equity arrangement with the owner for reduced rent in the early years of the lease.
With their attracive store front and enticing aromas, Rainbow Bakery has served as an anchor for The Fell from the beginning. Several businesses and creatives have moved through the building over the years including artists working in bookmaking, letter press, stained glass, jewelry, clay, fiber arts, woodworking and paint. Ardent Instruments recently expanded their musical instrument repair shop. The Fell also hosts poetry readings and other events--Angela Caldwell handles those arrangements.
If you’re wondering where the building got its name, it was built in 1930 by Isaac Fell, and remains in the family–his great grandson, Scott Caulfield is the current owner. The building originally served as a car dealership, but it has also been a gas station, and a beauty supply warehouse. Brubaker consulted historic photos provided by the family when restoring some of the store fronts on the building’s facade.
The 10 year anniversary celebration of the I Fell Community of Artists starts this Friday, October 7 from 5-8pmwhen the art show Sundown Sesh opens in the main gallery, featuring paintings by Joel Washington and Cory Scroggins. In the pop-up gallery is a display of posters from art shows The Fell has hosted from 2012-2022. On Saturday from 2pm to 8pm The Fell hosts a block party at 4th and Rogers. The event features artist booths, food vendors, live music, DJs, spoken word, podcasters and more.