Everyone loves Bob Ross. His calming voice and famous permed hairdo have been welcomed into American homes for decades. His “happy little trees” and other beloved catchphrases have entered the pop culture lexicon, solidifying his place in art history—not necessarily as a great artist, but as a great educator and advocate for the arts. Ross’s popularity recently resurged during the COVID-19 era when streaming services introduced a whole new generation to his show, The Joy of Painting, for viewers stuck at home looking for new hobbies during lockdown.8 The Bob Ross Experience, an interactive exhibition which opened in the fall of 2020 at the Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie, Indiana, is thus a timely and refreshingly imaginative examination of the legacy of this pop culture icon.
Muncie is a small rural city and yet has several claims to fame. In addition to Bob Ross, the iconic Ball...
University of California Press