American Red Cross experiences shortage

The American Red Cross has a blood and platelet shortage.

In order to incentivize blood donations, the Red Cross is offering $15 Amazon.com gift cards to those who donate between Oct. 1 and 20.

Red Cross blood drives are scheduled for 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at CrownPointe Assisted Living, 745 Patriot Drive, Portland. Schedule an appointment by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross app or calling (800) 733-2767. Other blood drives in the area include 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at First Presbyterian Church, 215 E. Dustman Road, Bluffton; 1 to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at Lehman Park Pavilion, 212 Park Ave., Berne; and noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at South Adams Senior Center, 825 Hendrick St., Berne. 

For more information, visit redcross.org.

Paintings on display

Ball State University’s David Owsley Museum of Art is displaying paintings from New York artist Debbie May through Dec. 21. 

The exhibit will feature more than 50 paintings. The abstract works display an imaginative use of black and white or muted tones over marble dust.

“I invite everyone to discover Debbie Ma’s mesmerizing works, which were first pointed out to me by the museum’s namesake benefactor,” Robert G. La France, director of the David Owsley Museum of Art, said. 

“A man of few words and a decisive collector of action, David T. Owsley instinctively responded to the perfect arrangement of shapes and complex interactions between visual elements in Ma’s marble dust paintings. I think that our visitors will, too.”

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Updating passport

Indiana Destination Development Corporation and Indiana Arts Commission announced recently that they are updating and relaunching the Indiana Arts and Culture Passport.

Those who currently hold passports will need to sign up for a new one at visitindiana.com. The passports encourage visitors to discover new creative places in Indiana.

“From music venues and theaters, to museums and more, communities across Indiana are using art as a way to come together and build a sense of place,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch in a press release. “All of these attractions reflect the values of Hoosiers and create an identity for residents to enjoy and visitors to experience.”