5 minute read
Fort Wayne: Where Art Is
By Michael C. Upton Arts & Leisure Writer
Every turn in Fort Wayne encounters some semblance of artistic expression.
The city of Fort Wayne grew from a frontier outpost into Indiana’s second largest city with the help of industrialization. Today the city mixes its blue-collar work ethic with midwestern charm and hospitality, and the result is a thriving metamodernist scene surging with artistic expression. There is art everywhere. Of course, there are museums, but the city of 265,000 residents has become a canvas in itself. Art is in hotels, breweries, and maker spaces.
Art This Way
An impressive collection of murals throughout the city are part of an initiative by Downtown Fort Wayne called Art This Way. The volunteer-run project commissions murals, sculptures, and activations throughout the city—not just downtown. Activations inspire both artists and residents, often beautifying a forgotten space or bringing to light social issues through art. Some murals, like Shawn Dunwoody’s “Hello, Fort Wayne” and Tim Parsley’s “This Land Was Made for You and Me” have become icons of the city. Many of the permanent Art This Way installations have sight impaired devices so everyone can enjoy the works. Further information and art walk maps can be found at the Visit Fort Wayne welcome center or online at www.artthiswayfw.com.
Art Museum
Arts Campus Fort Wayne houses theatre, dance, fine art, music, festivals, and more, all within one block near downtown. It is home to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. The museum began as an art school in 1888, officially becoming a museum in 1921. A $7.5 million expansion added 10,000 sq. ft. to the building in 2010. Ongoing displays offer whimsical glimpses of classic toys and modern Kaiyodo figurines, but the museum’s famed focus is glass art. From knife rests and perfume bottles to Venetian Cappelin glass the permanent collection includes thousands of pieces. FWMoA is home to the International Glass Invitational held every winter. This event complements the work shown in the museum’s Glass Wing.
Art in The Bradley
The Bradley Hotel is the namesake hotel of American bag designer Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of Vera Bradley. In partnership with Provenance Hotels, the luxury, boutique hotel incorporates the signature Vera Bradley style and a collection of works by local artists. The Bradley partners with the Department of Art and Design at Purdue University to create a hotel gallery with collected works from students, alumni, and faculty. The gallery changes twice per year. The hotel’s lobby, arbor, and restaurants are adorned with art from local artists like Theoplis Smith III (aka Phresh Laundry). Rooms feature print work from Julie Wall at The Hedge. In May, the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is home to the Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale. The five-day ticketed event is a tradition for many and draws thousands of visitors to Fort Wayne hoping to snag an artistic handbag at a discount price.
Art and Brews
Beer can and bottle label art has changed over the years. Local artists get to display their skill to the masses in an unlikely setting: the brewery. Junk Ditch Brewing (named after the stretch of water behind the brewery) uses local artists to create lasting images for beers with names like Spectacular Draculas, Dino Party, and Saint Jerome—this one consists of a well-loved local’s portrait. Junk Ditch also has a stellar food menu and food truck, which can still be spotted roaming local events. Downtown, at the Hoppy Gnome, beer labels get their day as framed works of art in the dining area.
Art in practice
Creative spirit Julie Wall started The Hedge (short for hedgehog) in 2013. Her hands-on print shop combines the mechanical art of printing with today’s technology. She holds special events and private workshops away from her small studio on Broadway in an old laundry shop. Wall’s work echoes her environment, embracing flora, fauna, and the human form with distinct patterns. Apart from the rooms in The Bradley, her art takes the shape of murals in Fort Wayne and throughout the Midwest.
Architecture
Architecture in Fort Wayne blossomed in the 20th century. Listed here are only a handful of structural sights worth beholding. On the edge of Art Deco stands the Lincoln Bank Tower designed by AM Strauss in 1930. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the John D. Haynes House stands on Washington Road, three miles from downtown; the Usonian home was built in 1952 and is the only Wright building in Fort Wayne. From designs by Eero Saarinen to Michael Graves, there are many beautiful examples of mid-century architecture throughout Fort Wayne. Constructed by architect Walter Netsch in 1984, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art is an impressive example of postmodernism; the design creates an airy foyer for large art instillations set off by easily trafficked rooms for permanent and temporary displays.
Michael Upton is freelance writer specializing in arts and leisure and travel writing. Currently residing in New Holland, Pennsylvania, other works may be found at https://www.somebodiesproductions.com/
