WBOI Artcentric

Fort Wayne’s art scene flourished nicely in 2021 as it continued to reinvent and energize itself amid continuing Covid-related challenges. The community welcomed the return of live, in-person seasons and programs as well as an explosion of public art. Cultural District designations were awarded by both the City Council and the State of Indiana while plans for the Arts United Center are being firmed up to make it fully accessible, technologically equipped and functional for the 21st century. For highlights of these decidedly artcentric accomplishments, WBOI’s Julia Meek spoke with Susan Mendenhall & Dan Ross of Arts United. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

The Garrett Museum of Art is getting ready to host a monumental exhibit of historic work by American photographer Edward Curtis. The collection, on loan from a private collection in California, features over 70 of his original photos of the native American people in their surroundings. In 1900, Curtis, then 32, gave up his portrait photography business to pursue what he called his “Great Idea,” which was to capture on film the very last of Native American ways & customs before their lifestyle was destroyed. Here WBOI’s Julia Meek talks with the museum’s director, Jim Gabbard about the collection’s scope and impact. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne’s Unity Performing Arts Foundation is celebrating its 20th season this coming year as it develops plans to go forward with former students now in key leadership positions. What began as a dream for its founder & CEO, Marshall White, in the early 1990’s became a platform for area youth who were underexposed to the arts to be able to enjoy the music of their time. This quickly evolved, he explains, “into a full blown character and leadership development concept, connecting them to one another, as well as the arts, creating bonds, fellowships & friendships for life.” WBOI’s Julia Meek discussed the legacy and its evolution with White and early alumni Aspen Hill & Jordan Applegate. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

The East Wayne Street Center has focused on providing self-sufficiency for underserved populations in Fort Wayne for 56 years. The Center focuses on improving the overall living conditions of impoverished households by stabilizing the home environment, addressing the environmental impediments, and paving the pathway to self-sufficiency with education. BrightPoint Head Start, the city’s 1st head start facility is also housed at the Center, along with the EWSC Food Bank. WBOI’s Julia Meek met with the organization’s Executive Director, Reppard Horne, to discuss its focus and mission, as well as the critical role it plays in our community. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Purdue Fort Wayne is addressing the increase in music therapy needs and uses as well as populations being served with impactful community-focused projects and a new masters of music therapy program. With forty years in the profession, PFW’s clinical instructor, Eileen Garwood is quick to point out that projects designed to promote healing of all sorts, including recovery from addiction, will support those in need as well as their families and impart hope and acceptance along the journey. For a glimmer of what this sounds like, WBOI’s Julia Meek discusses the possibilities this affords with Garwood and her student, Charlene Delaney. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne Youth Theatre is ready to spread the holiday cheer with its premiere of the classic movie-turned-musical, Elf Junior, which opens this Friday at First Pres Theatre.

The engaging production boasts a cast of forty young talents, the company’s largest musical cast to date, and as the latest addition to its permanent repertoire, promises to make new Christmas memories for the whole family, according to director Christopher Murphy. For a sneak peek at what’s in store, WBOI’S Julia Meek talked with Murphy and the show’s lead actor, Josiah Beights, about the intricacies of bringing such an iconic tale to life. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne trial attorney Mark Paul Smith has published a new autobiographical novel, this time chronicling his life as a young reporter at the Journal Gazette in the 1970's. His book, aptly called "The Reporter," provides a walk down memory lane for Boomers, and an entertaining insight into that era for younger generations and non-native residents. So much of the action takes place in the iconic downtown restaurant, Henry's, that Mark considers it to be a main character in the story. For insight on that slice of local history, WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with Smith to talk about his adventures on that city beat. You can connect with the author and his books at www.markpaulsmith.com WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne native Cassie Beer has been busy directing the city's newly formed Women's Fund since August. From this position, Beer has been excited to tackle the major endeavors unearthed in an eighteen month, county-wide comprehensive study. For an update on the organization's ongoing plans and progress, WBOI's Julia Meek invited Cassie into the studio to discuss the major initiatives underway, the connections being formed and what that means for the entire community. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

If you're in the mood for a live theatrical performance that's decidedly not holiday fare, Shakespearemachine's Macbeth opens, promising a new and creative take on one of the Bard's most popular tragedies. For a sneak peek at what's in store for theater goers, WBOI's Julia Meek talked with artistic director, Nick Tash, and Chance Parker, the play's lead actor, about the niche the company is filling in the community, this particular choice of offerings, and the fine points of their production. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

With Halloween on the near horizon, there's nothing like an iconic scary movie to spooktacularly enhance that holiday mood. But since cinematic offerings, even horror titles, come in all shapes and sizes and span more than a century of development, it may be frightfully difficult to separate the tricks from the treats when deciding just how terrorific one's film picks should be. For some offbeat suggestions, Arts reporter Julia Meek sat down with the hosts of the Storytelling Breakdown podcast, Caleb Meyer, Stephen Stachofsky and WBOI's own Ben Clemmer, to discuss the advantages of that social platform as a means of promoting the genre from their uniquely pop culture perspective. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.