Miller Beach Arts and Creative District
The Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts is a 6,000 square foot space for the presentation of visual and performing arts along with an active schedule of other community events. It is home to art exhibits, dance and concert performances, art classes, art workshops, community meetings and is available for rent from time to time to non-profits for charitable events/fundraisers or to individuals for events.
The Gardner Center’s mailing address is P.O. Box 2405, Gary IN, 46403. The phone number is 219.885.9114.
Jeff Marshall, the owner of Miller Drugs, gifted this beautiful building to the MBACD. It is named after his father, Marshall J. Gardner, who owned and operated Miller Drugs from 1959 to 1974. This damaged, empty, former drug store was transformed into the gallery we call home today, with grants from the Knight Foundation , the Legacy Foundation , Miller Community Fund , private loans, and a group of very committed volunteers—including Lee Companies , and architect Roz Mitchell.
Regular hours
The Gardner Center is generally open Fridays and Saturdays, from 6 to 8pm , and Sundays, from 2 to 4pm .
Marshall J. Gardner Center For The Arts
Upcoming events
October 1st –November 7th
Chernobyl Experience
With The Decay Devils
December 3rd –January 9th
Community Art Show
Past events
Artists’ Talk
The Decay Devils discuss their 2019 trip to Pripyat, Ukraine
October ’21
Chernobyl & Chicken
October ’21
Opening Reception & Book Release Party
October ’21
Layers
Layered paintings by L. Lee Ligocki
August ’21
I Know I Am But Who Are You?
Paintings by Sara Peak Convery, Randy Buvala, Tony Lipka, and Gary Price
July ’21
A Cultural Bridge
Lillian Porter Attinasi Artist Retrospective
June ’21
Plein Air Competition
Novice and Experienced Categories
May ’21
Art Still Lives fundraiser
Art sale and cocktail party
May ’21
Art From Excess II
Artist Talk II by Chris Toepfer
May ’21
Art From Excess II
2D and 3D paintings and sculptures from found objects by Chris Toepfer
May ’21
Artist Talk
Unapologetically Noir
March ’21
Community Photos
Apologetically Noir
February ’21
Round Table Talk
February ’21
Unapologetically Noir
Tyrell Anderson
February ’21
Haiku Workshop
November ’20
Artist Talk
November ’20
Opening Reception
Suzy Vance's Uncharted Territory
November ’20
Unchartered Territory
Fibre Art Exhibit
November ’20
Constance Volk
October ’20
Book Signing
Medley of Art: The Richness of Living in Community
September ’20
Medley of Art
The Richness of Living in Community
September ’20
Painters Printing: Miller Edition
Monotype Printing by Angela Saxon, Anne Corlett, Royce Deans
August ’20
Joe Rauen
Live Music With Handmade Instruments
August ’20
Industrial Sights
Photographs by Matthew Kaplan and Robin Michals
July ’20
Mid-Century Living
Acrylic paintings by Dan Nelson
June ’20
Lake Effekt
Mural Art Festival
June ’20
Living Mid-Century
An Exhibit of paintings by Daniel Nelson
March ’20
Dance, Song, & Soul Food
Celebrate Black History Month
February ’20
Smooth Willie Fultz band!
Live on Lake Street
February ’20
Chair Yoga
With Dave
Yoga
With Dave
Anatomy of Artists
Group Art Exhibit
October ’19
Artist Talk with Marty Bohn
About "Definitive Moments"
September ’19
On the Table
Community Discussion
September ’19
Marisol Miranda salsa band
Live on Lake Street
September ’19
Definitive Moments
Photography Exhibit
September ’19
Rebecca & Co!
Live on Lake Street
August ’19
The JEGS
Live on Lake Street
July ’19
In Her Own Style
Art exhibit
July ’19
One Mic
Youth music and spoken word performances
June ’19
Haunts
Urban Exploration Photography Exhibit
June ’19
What Do You Want To See?
A Community Discussion
December ’18
Kevin Firme
Solo Exhibit
November ’18
Holiday Bazaar
November ’18
Five Foot Two
A documentary film about Lady Gaga
November ’18
Community Meeting about Ming Ling
Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson—Lake Street Development
October ’18
Artist Talk: Larry Lapidus
Portrait Exhibit
October ’18
Shoreline Committee meeting (Miller Citizens Corporation)
September ’18
Larry Lapidus
Portrait Exhibit
September ’18
Plein Air
Event and art sale/reception
August ’18
Reconnect
An exhibition of landscape paintings
August ’18
Shoreline Committee meeting
Miller Citizens Corporation
August ’18
Hometown Gems
Through the Eyes of Jim Wilson, Della Schaller, Dale Fleming
July ’18
Shoreline Committee meeting
Miller Citizens Corporation
July ’18
Copper Guilding
Artist Demonstration with Kei Constantinov
June ’18
Artists’ Journey
Group art exhibit
June ’18
Summer Artisan Fair
June ’18
The Great Pretender
A documentary film about Freddie Mercury
June ’18
Dual Insights
Carole Stodder and Tom Brand Paintings
May ’18
Just US
Roosevelt High School student art exhibit
May ’18
Farmers Market Fundraiser
Chili cookoff, dancing, silent auction and more!
May ’18
Time Ghost
Gregg Hertzlieb
April ’18
Mocha Flavored Clouds
March ’18
Rosenwald
Documentary Film
February ’18
Paint It Black
Art Exhibit
February ’18
CommUNITY Station exhibit
January ’18
Joy Rides
A documentary film about outsider artist Wesley Willis
November ’17
Holiday Artisan Fair 2017
November ’17
Show Off
People Who Collect
November ’17
Night of the Living Dead
October ’17
Closing Ceremony
October ’17
Mani Stone Painting Workshop
Part of the Sacred Arts Tour
October ’17
Butter Sculpture Workshop
Part of the Sacred Arts Tour
October ’17
World Peace
Sand Mandala Construction
October ’17
Opening Ceremony
October ’17
Gallery of Horrors
October ’17
American Ballet Theatre
A documentary film
October ’17
Scary Stuff!
Watch it Grow!
October ’17
On the Table
Community Discussion and Meal
September ’17
Miller Citizens Corporation Shoreline Committee Meeting
September ’17
The Pain’t in My Life
Art exhibit by Parris Gill, Sr.
September ’17
Not Fade Away
Music Photography by Bobby Talamine
August ’17
Me, Myself & I
Jesse Johnson art exhibit
July ’17
Black Ice
Corky Gray art exhibit
July ’17
Drum Circle for First Fridays!!!
July ’17
Bette Midler
A documentary film
June ’17
Lake Effekt 2017!
June ’17
Art Extravanganza
From Lighthouse Charter Schools
June ’17
Conflict
Prints, Sculptures and Assemblage
May ’17
Open Mic Poetry Readings
April ’17
Gary Poetry Project workshop
April ’17
Get Surreal
With The Paintings Of Doug Davis
April ’17
April Artisan Fair
April ’17
The Art Within
Rebuilding Through Preservation
March ’17
Fats Domino
A documentary film
February ’17
Vanguards II
Hope, Disappointment and Future History
February ’17
Calumet Heritage Partnership meeting
Open to the public
January ’17
Poetry Reading
January ’17
Heroes’ Quest
The Indiana Dunes State Park Radio Play and Puppet Show
December ’16
Annual Holiday Artisan Fair
November ’16
Althea
Documentary Film
November ’16
Jeff Manes Book Signing
November ’16
South Shore Soup
Microfunding dinner
November ’16
Reframing Histories
October ’16
Cinema and Cocktails
Gary International Black Film Festival Eve
October ’16
Objectified
Mathias 'Spider' Schergen's solos art from found objects exhibit and workshop
October ’16
South Shore train double track project – meeting with NICTD
October ’16
Cut From a Different Cloth
Reception and art exhibit featuring Corky Gray
September ’16
Access 4 All
Film Premier
September ’16
Home Tour
Lake Michigan Modern
August ’16
Lake Michigan Modern
Miller Beach Exhibit
August ’16
Jeff Manes Book Signing
July ’16
Music/Movement Workshop – African Expressions for Kids (6-12 years)
July ’16
Nelson Algren Photography Exhibit
By Art Shay
July ’16
Nelson Algren Festival
June ’16
Music/Movement Workshop
African Expressions for Kids (6-12 years)
June ’16
Amy Winehouse
Documentary Film with introduction by Larry Lapidus.
June ’16
Intro to Manga
Japanese comic drawing art class (12—Adult)
June ’16
Yoga for kids
Ages 6—12 years
June ’16
June Pop Up Artisan Fair
June ’16
Sand and Steel
Iron Sculpture Exhibit
May ’16
Bead Town is BACK!!!
May ’16
Lighthouse Charter School
Student art showcase and silent auction
April ’16
Intermediate Drawing
For Adults
April ’16
Intermediate Drawing
Ages 8-10
April ’16
Poetry, Films and Popcorn
Celebrating National Poetry Month with live readings and films
April ’16
Soup and Screen
Film, soup and silent auction to benefit the Miller Beach Farmers Market
April ’16
Spring Pop Up – Artisan Fair and cafe
April ’16
Community Conversation
With Save the Dunes / National Lakeshore
March ’16
Beginning Drawing classes
For Adults
March ’16
Beginning Drawing classes – ages 8-10
March ’16
Jeff Manes Book Signing
March ’16
Straight Shooters
Photography Exhibit featuring Bob Palmieri and Larry Lapidus
March ’16
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Documentary Film
February ’16
Turning Trash into Treasure
Found Art Workshop
February ’16
Vanguards
Moving 'Out Here' to Miller
February ’16
Finding Lucy
Documentary film about Lucille Ball
January ’16
Zentangle
Adult drawing classes
January ’16
Exhibit and Silent Auction
For Miller Doors
January ’16
Miller Doors
Painting Workshop
January ’16
Footsteps in the Dunes
A radio play spotlighting 3 ecologists: Diana, Cowles and Douglas
December ’15
All Worth Their Salt
Book signing and live storytelling with Jeff Manes
December ’15
Richard Pociask
Art Exhibit
November ’15
Calumet River Project
November ’15
Watercolor and More
Art class, ages 16 and up
November ’15
Calumet River Project
November ’15
The Unwonted
October ’15
If These Walls Could Tell
Storytelling Event
September ’15
Collective Perspectives
Photo Exhibit
August ’15
Action Group Workshop
Organized by Miller Spotlight
August ’15
Tibetan Monks Sand Mandala
Opening Ceremony And Initial Viewing
August ’15
When You’re Strange
A Film About The Doors
July ’15
Saving The Dunes
Artist Path Exhibit
July ’15
I Am Divine
A Documentary Film
February ’15
Love: Lost & Found
Organized by Tim Petrites
February ’15
Holiday Bazaar
Pop-Up Arts & Crafts
December ’14
Bead Town
Art Exhibit and Workshops
January ’14
Motown Christmas Concert
Live Band
December ’13
The Power of Song
A documentary about Pete Seeger
December ’13
The Maestro
A film about Arturo Toscanini
November ’13
Aggregate
Valparaiso University Art Faculty Exhibit
October ’13
Everglades of the North
An award-winning film
September ’13
Dual Nature
Art Exhibit
September ’13
The Dream Continues
Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
August ’13
Line Drawing
Hannah Barnes Exhibit
August ’13
Sacred Arts Tour
Tibetan Monk Sand Madala Painting
July ’13
Classic Auto Show
& Pop Up Art
July ’13
Where’s the Magician When You Need Him?
Tom Torluemke
June ’13
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Lecture/Movie
June ’13
Wirt Emerson Visual & Performing Arts
Art, Music, & Dance Performance
May ’13
The Concert Years
Lecture/Movie about Judy Garland
May ’13
FDR
Ed Asner Performance
April ’13
Outsider Art
Lecture with John Cain / Susanne Craig
April ’13
Denny Davis Retrospective
Art Exhibit
March ’13
Leontyne Price Sings
Lecture/Movie
February ’13
Father of Modern Photography
Lecture/movie about Alfred Steiglitz
January ’13
In an Indescribable Vessel
And Moving Rapidly Toward An Indistinct Shore
December ’12
To Be Designed
SAIC Graduates
October ’12
La Davina
The Life & Career of Maria Callas
September ’12
Michael Jackson Visions
Exhibit & Films
August ’12
Emerging Perspectives
Ball State Graduate Artists
August ’12
Craig Smith Galleries
Exhibit & Pop Up
June ’12
