By Gail A. Townsend—
MUNCIE, Ind.—Public art has come to Muncie Friends Church: A Quaker Meeting, with a series of hand-painted garden poles installed in the Jackson Street parking area of the meeting house, which is the home of the Old West End Neighborhood Association (OWENA).
Designed by local artist Denise King, the posts welcome visitors and depict the Friends’ common values of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community and Equality. King, who is active in OWENA, designed the posts, which were then painted by members of Muncie Friends Church, at 418 W. Adams St.
King is known for her advocacy of public art and for her painting of the bison statue, Neolin, at Tuhey Park. She and her husband, Brad King, who is the city’s historic preservation officer, are active in redevelopment of the historic Old West End neighborhood, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Pastor Michael Sherman believes the new garden posts reflect ideals, understandings and perspectives that our world is clamoring for, as well as making public the values of the Friends community.
Photo by Mike Rhodes
“We are announcing to the world, the community around our building, who we are and what we stand for. We are reaching out and experiencing new growth. These are things which have always been with us, but we are now announcing anew, like the first green shoots of spring: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship,” Sherman said while dedicating and consecrating the poles.
To him, they represent a re-awakening after the COVID pandemic, and a way to show that his meeting, while housed in an old building, espouses modern theology and values.
The 100-year-old meeting house is featured on OWENA’s logo, and the church often partners with OWENA. The two groups will host a neighborhood rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot on June 25.
“We will have a food booth with drinks, hot dogs and chips. So far we have sellers lined up with various rummage items, plants, collectibles, crafts, baked goods and more,” says King.
Items from Friends Preschool Academy, such as toys, tables and chairs, will also be for sale. The preschool, one of the first in Delaware County, was forced to close during the COVID pandemic and could not re-open because it was unable to find teachers to hire with degrees in early childhood education. Friends donated equipment and supplies to other area preschools and daycares, and will put the rest in the rummage.
