Don’t
let the name fool you. The Happy Little Fest, hosted by Ball State PBS on Oct. 29, is going to
be a BIG deal.
Ball
State PBS—which brought Bob Ross’ The Joy of Painting to the world for
many years—will be celebrating the 80th birthday of the beloved painter and
instructor. And the station is also celebrating its 50th year on the air.
“As the home to Bob Ross’ The Joy of Painting
show, Ball State PBS is thrilled to commemorate Bob’s iconic work,” said Dr. Phil Hoffman,
general manager of Ball State Public Media and assistant
dean of Media at Ball State’s College of Communication, Information,
and Media (CCIM). “We’re
marking Bob’s birthday with a big bash that’s really a celebration of
creativity and joy, an example of the work Ball State PBS does every day to
bring light and creativity to the world.”
Happy
Little Fest is scheduled for 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Ball State’s LaFollette
Field and
will include painting workshops with Certified Ross Instructors®; a Bob Ross
look-alike contest, trivia and bingo; Bob Ross merchandise for sale, and a
toast to the painter with birthday cupcakes at 1 p.m. in the big tent.
The
main event will be a 300-person painting workshop led by Certified Ross
Instructors®—including special guest instructor, actor David Arquette
(“Scream”)—under a big tent on LaFollette Field from 1-4 p.m.
“I fell in love with Bob
Ross and his painting technique like many people did watching him when I was
younger creating incredible works of art right before my eyes,” Mr. Arquette
said. “His effortless calm, his masterful skill and general angelic nature drew
me to him and his work in a way that made me want to create art like him and
inspire others to do the same.”
While on campus, Mr. Arquette
will lead two workshops exclusively for Ball State’s media students and acting
students. These workshops, part of the David Letterman Distinguished
Professional Lecture and Workshop Series at Ball State University,
are being hosted by CCIM and the College of Fine Arts.
Fest
attendees will be able to relax to the sound of Bob Ross’ voice in a sensory
studio—his actual painting studio—and see 24 of his original paintings at the
nearby Ball State PBS / WIPB Studios in the E.F.
Ball Communication Building.
There will also be free Bob
Ross for Kids
painting sessions led by Certified Ross Instructor®, Chris Taylor.
Panel
discussions will take place at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m.,
and 4:30 p.m. on
Oct. 29 in the large studio at Ball State PBS / WIPB Studios in the E.F. Ball
Communication Building. Panelists will include former WIPB General Manager Jim Needham, who worked with Bob Ross; Jessica Jenkins, historian
at The Bob Ross Experience; Rob Scalzo, podcaster; Nic Hankins, vice president
and creative director of Bob Ross, Inc.; and Joan Kowalski, president of Bob
Ross, Inc.
Bob Ross
said of WIPB while he was filming the show here: “They’re a super group of
people. There’s as much talent there as you find at some of the big stations.”
For
tickets and additional information, visit HappyLittleFest.com.
Happy Little Fest is being presented by Ball
State PBS and Bob Ross, Inc. National Streaming Sponsor is Janson Media.
Ball State’s on-campus partners for the festival
are the University’s College of Communication, Information, and Media; College
of Fine Arts; Digital
Corps; and the R.
Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning.
Local support is being provided by Dillman’s
Furniture; Chris Taylor, artist; Wilhoite Family Dental; LifeStream Services;
Parker Electrical Service; Muncie Visitors Bureau; Courtyard by Marriott at
Horizon Convention Center; Windmill Marketing; and Donahue Gas.