Marshall J. Gardner Center For The Arts

540 S. Lake Street • Gary, IN 46403

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 Marshall J Gardner Center for the Arts hours are: Tuesday – Saturday 11am to 2pm Sundays 2pm – 4pm First Fridays 5pm – 8pm Closed on Mondays

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Marshall J. Gardner Center For The Arts

Upcoming events

Free Community Yoga
Work In Progress Calling all visual artists.
Linocut Printmaking Workshop
Silver Screen Filmmakers Club Spring Showcase
I Love Lucy Documentary
Life Drawing Open Studio
All in Jest Trivia
Mending Clinic With Jane Whedbee
Allison Svoboda Confluence: Nature as Medium
Opening Reception Mixed media
Orizomegami Workshop by Allison Svoboda
Artist’s talk by Allison Svoboda
Mudballs Workshop by Allison Svoboda
Rashelle Roos & Joe Agati Paintings and sculpture
Cydney Lewis & Art Garcia Collage and paintings
Felix Maldonado Selected paintings
2024 Community Show Artists from Gary, Connected to Gary, that have not been exhibited in our gallery

Past events

Cookie Decorating Easter Edition
Life Drawing Open Studio
Fools and Dreamers Garden Film Shorts Festival
The Black Experience Martin Luther King and Beyond A Spoken Word Event
Blooming Out of Trauma Artist Talk
All In Jest Trivia
VAGINA MONOLOGUES Written by Eve Ensler, Directed by Patti Shaffner
Miller Garden Club Movie
Blooming Out of Trauma Private Event for Donors
Blooming Out of Trauma Opening Reception
Blooming Out of Trauma The Intersection of Upholstery and Activist Art
Open Studio Drawing
Free Community Yoga
Recycled Printmaking
All In Jest Trivia
Open Studio Life Drawing
Miller Garden Club Movie Beatrix Farrand’s American Landscapes
Digitally Correct Meta-Troubadours
Free Community Yoga
Patti Shaffner & BP3 Jazz Trio
Holiday Cookie Decorating Royal Icing Demystified!
Drepung Gomang Northwest Indiana Sacred Arts Tour
Holiday Printmaking Create cards, papers, decor for your holiday!!!
Our Community Wonderland Artists from Gary, Connected to Gary, that have not been exhibited in our gallery
Artopia Therapeutic Meditative Art Calming, Relaxing, Creative
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, A Readers Theatre Version Miller Community Theatre presents
SPOTLIGHT: An Evening of Poets, Storytellers, and Yarnspinners Miller Community Theatre presents Join us for a candlelit evening of entertainment as we delight in the art of spoken word. Bring a friend, grab a drink and unwind, as your friends and neighbors dazzle you with their prose.
Recycled Printmaking Learn to make beautiful prints using Tetrapak Make “etchings'' using household items and ordinary packaging materials instead of chemicals and copper plates! In this class, you will learn traditional printing techniques while exploring various methods of creating line, tone, and texture using recycled Tetrapak cartons.
SPOTLIGHT: An Evening of Poets, Storytellers, and Yarnspinners Miller Community Theatre presents Join us for a candlelit evening of entertainment as we delight in the art of spoken word. Bring a friend, grab a drink and unwind, as your friends and neighbors dazzle you with their prose.
2023 Halloween Bash Lake Street's First Costume Dance Party!
Saturday Morning Art Class MENDING CLINIC Save your pennies! Save your favorite stuff! Learn to repair, reinforce, ornament, alter, or re-make clothes.
ALL IN JEST TRIVIA S3G2 Friday October 20, 2023 -- 7 PM
Saturday Morning Art Class PRINTMAKING w/Catherine Sollman Try your hand at a simple, fun, printing method using colorful acrylic paints on paper. Create and take home your own work of art.
Doug Davis
Fest in the First
At That Moment Photography by Anne Evans
Kevin Blake Artist Talk Let's meet and discuss "Living Like Larry"
Opening Reception Kevin Blake "Living Like Larry"
The Rocky Horror Show (7/30) MILLER COMMUNITY THEATRE 2023
The Rocky Horror Show (7/29) MILLER COMMUNITY THEATRE 2023
The Rocky Horror Show (7/28) MILLER COMMUNITY THEATRE 2023
The Rocky Horror Show (7/22) MILLER COMMUNITY THEATRE 2023
The Rocky Horror Show (7/21) MILLER COMMUNITY THEATRE 2023
Kevin Blake Opening Reception Friday August 4th
Artists’ Talk – Buckmaster+Anderson Celebrating the Beauty of the Indiana Dunes
Celebrating The Beauty of the Indiana Dunes
Sue Reyman & Ginny Takacs Floral photography and paintings
Tough Love
SO FAR — Artist Talk and Book Signing Nancy Hejna discusses her artwork, poetry and prose
MAKE, DO, MEND! Saturday Morning Art Class offers a Mending Clinic
Water Safety Social Fundraiser Featuring Jamrose
Art & Craft Supply Swap Clean out your closets and join our swap to raise funds for future art classes the MBACD
SO FAR – Opening Reception Join us for the First Friday event on Lake Street
Pasta Palooza Parade 3rd annual Parade moves to the Spring because September was just too hot!
Drawing with Chris Toepfer Saturday Morning Art Class
All In Jest Trivia The Final Challenge ....until next autumn.....
So Far Nancy Hejna artwork in Exhibit
Sunday Morning Pilates Class Pilates on Sunday Mornings at the MJG
Climate Follies A Collection of Short Plays by Jim Poyser
Drawing with Chris Toepfer Saturday Morning Art Class
Nick Danger Trio — Live On Lake Street All the cool kids will be there.... Sponsored by Pettit Accounting - Thank you Wendy!
Message from the Soul Of Our City Jamika Smith returns to the Gardner Center to create the 'Miller Chair' RSVP required.
Message from the Soul Of Our City Jamika Smith returns to the Gardner Center to create the Miller Chair. RSVP required.
Sunday Morning Pilates Pilates on Sunday Mornings at the MJG
Sunday Morning Yoga Yoga Sunday Morning at the MJG
Drawing with Chris Toepfer Saturday Morning Art Class
FIRST FRIDAY LAKE STREET FEARSOME FABLE - TOLERABLE TRUTH exhibit by Tom Torluemke continues.
Sunday Morning Pilates Class Pilates on Sunday Mornings at the MJG
Sunday Morning Yoga Yoga Sunday Morning at the MJG
GELLI PLATE MONOTYPE PRINTING CLASS Saturday morning art class
All In Jest Trivia Season 2 Game 7
Live On Lake Street – CXPITAL Cxpital is a 3-piece Indie/Alternative Rock band from Northwest Indiana.
Dare To Be Wild – Hygge Movie Sunday Miller Garden Club Hygge Movie Series
Fearsome Fable – Tolerable Truth Tom Torluemke returns to the Gardner Center
Artists’ Talk – Black History Is History Meet the exceptional talents that came together for this exhibit
Sunday Pilates Join Angie Reens for an awesome stretch to start the week
Sunday Morning Yoga Beginner's Yoga with Anna Martinez
Saturday Morning Art Class Gelli Plate Monotype Printing
Documentary Movie – “Leontyne Price Sings”
Saturday Art Classes Join us on Lake St on Saturday Mornings
All In Jest Trivia Join us for the best trivia game in the Region!
COLD WAX, HOT ART Patty Roberts returns with art instruction in the use of cold wax and oil paint to create abstract artwork
Patti Shaffner Live On Lake Street
Black History Is History Curated by Angel Knight
All In Jest Trivia Season 2 Game 5
The Gardener Miller Garden Club Film Series
Nick Danger Trio Live on Lake Street
Akeelah and the Bee Movie Night @ MBACD
Community Vision Board Event Free and Open to the Public
D.C.M.T. LIVE First Friday January
ALL IN JEST TRIVIA — Game 4 The fun continues.....
Holiday Movie Night! — ELF Join us for a modern-day movie classic
ARTIST TALK — Community Show 2022 Random Acts of Creativity
MILLER COMMUNITY THEATER — Fundraiser See select performances from Madwomens Late Nite Cabaret
Cookie Walk First Friday December • FIRST FRIDAY COOKIE WALK – December 2nd – This event is part of The Shops on Lake Street First Friday Celebration – Buy cookie boxes and get a map of participating businesses at Vibrations, Ayers Realty, Lake Street Gallery, and Indie Indie Bang Bang for $10 each in ADVANCE of this event as supplies are limited!
HOLIDAY MOVIE NIGHT — ELF Come enjoy a seasonal favorite and support the Marshall J Gardner Center for the Arts!
Everglades of the North & Shifting Sands History, environmental perspective, and a National Park.
OPENING RECEPTION – “In The Company of Nature” Meet the Artists -- Angela Saxon and Royce Deans
The Csicsko Kid — ARTIST TALK – October 7th, 6 – 8 pm An Affection for the Calumet Region and the City of Chicago
All In Jest Trivia Night Season 2 Premiere
TEDxGary
Take an Art Class! Creating Abstract Art Using Oil and Cold Wax Technique with Instructor Patty Roberts
Artist Talk With Raymar Brunson & Terra Cooks
Jamrose Live On Lake Street
Take an Art Class! Creating Abstract Art Using Oil and Cold Wax Technique with Instructor Patty Roberts
Art of Business Workshop
Mad Women’s Late Nite Cabaret
Opening Reception Photography by Raymar Brunson & Terra Cooks
Local Visions Photography by Raymar Brunson & Terra Cooks
Farm-to-Table Dinner Experience with Chef Lucero Martinez-Donato
Hurricane Reggae Band Live on Lake Street Summer Music Series
Juneteenth on Lake Street NWIBCC 3rd annual Freedom Day Celebration
5 + 3 = ∞ Work by Ish Muhammad
Open Auditions Mad Women’s Late Nite Cabaret
Family Yoga Miller Movement Classes, first Saturday of every month.
Movie Night! Empire Records
What’s Your Name, Who’s Your Daddy? A Play By Jeanette Yoffe
Quilts! By Chris Sass, featuring Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry
Indiana Humanities Waterways Film Tour
80’s Trivia Night Game V: The Season Finale
Chicago Blues All-Stars First Public Performance in over 2 years!
Artist Talk – Searching for Balance in Chaos
Opening Reception – Searching for Balance in Chaos
Trivia Night! Game IV
Searching For Balance In Chaos Explore the works of Teresina Pavel and Patty Roberts
Meet The Artists Celebrating Black Heritage
Movie Night! Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Four for February Celebrating Black Heritage
Four for February Celebrating Black Heritage
TEDx Gary Watch Party Celebrate Women's History Month
Trivia Night Every last Thursday of the month
Trivia Night Every last Thursday of the month
Movie Night Some Like It Hot
MLK Day The 15th Annual MBTP Martin Luther King Community Summit
Anti-Racism Mural Project South Shore Arts Student Artwork
Movie Night Join us for a special showing of Elf (2003)
What Now? Join us for TEDx Gary Women!
Community Art Show
Holistic Life Foundation
Monologues for this Moment Experience the 11th Annual Al Boswell Playfest
Kristin Hersh Meet the author
Artists’ Talk The Decay Devils discuss their 2019 trip to Pripyat, Ukraine
Chernobyl & Chicken
Opening Reception & Book Release Party
Chernobyl Experience With The Decay Devils
Layers Layered paintings by L. Lee Ligocki
I Know I Am But Who Are You? Paintings by Sara Peak Convery, Randy Buvala, Tony Lipka, and Gary Price
A Cultural Bridge Lillian Porter Attinasi Artist Retrospective
Plein Air Competition Novice and Experienced Categories
Art Still Lives fundraiser Art sale and cocktail party
Art From Excess II Artist Talk II by Chris Toepfer
Art From Excess II 2D and 3D paintings and sculptures from found objects by Chris Toepfer
Artist Talk Unapologetically Noir
Community Photos Apologetically Noir
Round Table Talk
Unapologetically Noir Tyrell Anderson
Haiku Workshop
Artist Talk
Opening Reception Suzy Vance's Uncharted Territory
Unchartered Territory Fibre Art Exhibit
Constance Volk
Book Signing Medley of Art: The Richness of Living in Community
Medley of Art The Richness of Living in Community
Painters Printing: Miller Edition Monotype Printing by Angela Saxon, Anne Corlett, Royce Deans
Joe Rauen Live Music With Handmade Instruments
Industrial Sights Photographs by Matthew Kaplan and Robin Michals
Mid-Century Living Acrylic paintings by Dan Nelson
Lake Effekt Mural Art Festival
Living Mid-Century An Exhibit of paintings by Daniel Nelson
Dance, Song, & Soul Food Celebrate Black History Month
Smooth Willie Fultz band! Live on Lake Street
Chair Yoga With Dave
Yoga With Dave
Anatomy of Artists Group Art Exhibit
Artist Talk with Marty Bohn About "Definitive Moments"
On the Table Community Discussion
Marisol Miranda salsa band Live on Lake Street
Definitive Moments Photography Exhibit
Rebecca & Co! Live on Lake Street
The JEGS Live on Lake Street
In Her Own Style Art exhibit
One Mic Youth music and spoken word performances
Haunts Urban Exploration Photography Exhibit
What Do You Want To See? A Community Discussion
Kevin Firme Solo Exhibit
Holiday Bazaar
Five Foot Two A documentary film about Lady Gaga
Community Meeting about Ming Ling Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson—Lake Street Development
Artist Talk: Larry Lapidus Portrait Exhibit
Shoreline Committee meeting (Miller Citizens Corporation)
Larry Lapidus Portrait Exhibit
Plein Air Event and art sale/reception
Reconnect An exhibition of landscape paintings
Shoreline Committee meeting Miller Citizens Corporation
Hometown Gems Through the Eyes of Jim Wilson, Della Schaller, Dale Fleming
Shoreline Committee meeting Miller Citizens Corporation
Copper Guilding Artist Demonstration with Kei Constantinov
Artists’ Journey Group art exhibit
Summer Artisan Fair
The Great Pretender A documentary film about Freddie Mercury
Dual Insights Carole Stodder and Tom Brand Paintings
Just US Roosevelt High School student art exhibit
Farmers Market Fundraiser Chili cookoff, dancing, silent auction and more!
Time Ghost Gregg Hertzlieb
Mocha Flavored Clouds
Rosenwald Documentary Film
Paint It Black Art Exhibit
CommUNITY Station exhibit
Joy Rides A documentary film about outsider artist Wesley Willis
Holiday Artisan Fair 2017
Show Off People Who Collect
Night of the Living Dead
Closing Ceremony
Mani Stone Painting Workshop Part of the Sacred Arts Tour
Butter Sculpture Workshop Part of the Sacred Arts Tour
World Peace Sand Mandala Construction
Opening Ceremony
Gallery of Horrors
American Ballet Theatre A documentary film
Scary Stuff! Watch it Grow!
On the Table Community Discussion and Meal
Miller Citizens Corporation Shoreline Committee Meeting
The Pain’t in My Life Art exhibit by Parris Gill, Sr.
Not Fade Away Music Photography by Bobby Talamine
Me, Myself & I Jesse Johnson art exhibit
Black Ice Corky Gray art exhibit
Drum Circle for First Fridays!!!
Bette Midler A documentary film
Lake Effekt 2017!
Art Extravanganza From Lighthouse Charter Schools
Conflict Prints, Sculptures and Assemblage
Open Mic Poetry Readings
Gary Poetry Project workshop
Get Surreal With The Paintings Of Doug Davis
April Artisan Fair
The Art Within Rebuilding Through Preservation
Fats Domino A documentary film
Vanguards II Hope, Disappointment and Future History
Calumet Heritage Partnership meeting Open to the public
Poetry Reading
Heroes’ Quest The Indiana Dunes State Park Radio Play and Puppet Show
Annual Holiday Artisan Fair
Althea Documentary Film
Jeff Manes Book Signing
South Shore Soup Microfunding dinner
Reframing Histories
Cinema and Cocktails Gary International Black Film Festival Eve
Objectified Mathias 'Spider' Schergen's solos art from found objects exhibit and workshop
South Shore train double track project – meeting with NICTD
Cut From a Different Cloth Reception and art exhibit featuring Corky Gray
Access 4 All Film Premier
Home Tour Lake Michigan Modern
Lake Michigan Modern Miller Beach Exhibit
Jeff Manes Book Signing
Music/Movement Workshop – African Expressions for Kids (6-12 years)
Nelson Algren Photography Exhibit By Art Shay
Nelson Algren Festival
Music/Movement Workshop African Expressions for Kids (6-12 years)
Amy Winehouse Documentary Film with introduction by Larry Lapidus.
Intro to Manga Japanese comic drawing art class (12—Adult)
Yoga for kids Ages 6—12 years
June Pop Up Artisan Fair
Sand and Steel Iron Sculpture Exhibit
Bead Town is BACK!!!
Lighthouse Charter School Student art showcase and silent auction
Intermediate Drawing For Adults
Intermediate Drawing Ages 8-10
Poetry, Films and Popcorn Celebrating National Poetry Month with live readings and films
Soup and Screen Film, soup and silent auction to benefit the Miller Beach Farmers Market
Spring Pop Up – Artisan Fair and cafe
Community Conversation With Save the Dunes / National Lakeshore
Beginning Drawing classes For Adults
Beginning Drawing classes – ages 8-10
Jeff Manes Book Signing
Straight Shooters Photography Exhibit featuring Bob Palmieri and Larry Lapidus
What Happened, Miss Simone? Documentary Film
Turning Trash into Treasure Found Art Workshop
Vanguards Moving 'Out Here' to Miller
Finding Lucy Documentary film about Lucille Ball
Zentangle Adult drawing classes
Exhibit and Silent Auction For Miller Doors
Miller Doors Painting Workshop
Footsteps in the Dunes A radio play spotlighting 3 ecologists: Diana, Cowles and Douglas
All Worth Their Salt Book signing and live storytelling with Jeff Manes
Richard Pociask Art Exhibit
Calumet River Project
Watercolor and More Art class, ages 16 and up
Calumet River Project
The Unwonted
If These Walls Could Tell Storytelling Event
Collective Perspectives Photo Exhibit
Action Group Workshop Organized by Miller Spotlight
Tibetan Monks Sand Mandala Opening Ceremony And Initial Viewing
When You’re Strange A Film About The Doors
Saving The Dunes Artist Path Exhibit
I Am Divine A Documentary Film
Love: Lost & Found Organized by Tim Petrites
Holiday Bazaar Pop-Up Arts & Crafts
Bead Town Art Exhibit and Workshops
Motown Christmas Concert Live Band
The Power of Song A documentary about Pete Seeger
The Maestro A film about Arturo Toscanini
Aggregate Valparaiso University Art Faculty Exhibit
Everglades of the North An award-winning film
Dual Nature Art Exhibit
The Dream Continues Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
Line Drawing Hannah Barnes Exhibit
Sacred Arts Tour Tibetan Monk Sand Madala Painting
Classic Auto Show & Pop Up Art
Where’s the Magician When You Need Him? Tom Torluemke
Exit Through the Gift Shop Lecture/Movie
Wirt Emerson Visual & Performing Arts Art, Music, & Dance Performance
The Concert Years Lecture/Movie about Judy Garland
FDR Ed Asner Performance
Outsider Art Lecture with John Cain / Susanne Craig
Denny Davis Retrospective Art Exhibit
Leontyne Price Sings Lecture/Movie
Father of Modern Photography Lecture/movie about Alfred Steiglitz
In an Indescribable Vessel And Moving Rapidly Toward An Indistinct Shore
To Be Designed SAIC Graduates
La Davina The Life & Career of Maria Callas
Michael Jackson Visions Exhibit & Films
Emerging Perspectives Ball State Graduate Artists
Craig Smith Galleries Exhibit & Pop Up

Upcoming events

March

22nd
Work In Progress Calling all visual artists.
23rd
Linocut Printmaking Workshop
23rd
Silver Screen Filmmakers Club Spring Showcase
24th
I Love Lucy Documentary
28th
Life Drawing Open Studio
29th
All in Jest Trivia
30th
Mending Clinic With Jane Whedbee

April

5th
Allison Svoboda Confluence: Nature as Medium
5th
Opening Reception Mixed media
6th
Orizomegami Workshop by Allison Svoboda

May

5th
Artist’s talk by Allison Svoboda
5th
Mudballs Workshop by Allison Svoboda

July

19th
Rashelle Roos & Joe Agati Paintings and sculpture

August

30th
Cydney Lewis & Art Garcia Collage and paintings

October

11th
Felix Maldonado Selected paintings

November

15th
Gallery break Our gallery will be closed in late January while we prepare for our 2024 community show.

December

6th
2024 Community Show Artists from Gary, Connected to Gary, that have not been exhibited in our gallery
View past events

Miller Beach Arts & Creative District

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 2405, Gary, IN 46403
219-885-9114
MBACDarts@gmail.com

Gallery Location:

Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts
540 S. Lake Street, Gary, IN 46403
Open Friday and Saturday, 6—8pm, and Sunday 2—4. Find us on , , and Instagram.