WBOI Artcentric

Summit City Songwriter Showcase, now known as Trubble Troubadours, was founded a little less than three years ago by Fort Wayne musician, Adam Baker, to provide support and a performance platform for local and regional songwriters. To learn how this adventure has taken shape, and where it's heading next, WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with Baker to discuss the groups purpose, its dedicated venue, and the community connections being made along the way. 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 Juan Williams, a barber with purpose and a strong dedication to his

community, has combined forces with seventeen other shop owners to provide hope for at risk members of the population through an organization he founded and heads up aptly called We Fam. Besides the grooming services, which are distributed in the form of unique vouchers, the group hosts regular meetings for its young members called Barbershop Conversations. For insight on his beliefs and the scope of his commitment to the cause, WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with Williams to learn his motivation for establishing the program, how it works and what it means to those being served. 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 St. Nicholas Orthodox Church will be celebrating Christmas in an especially meaningful way this year, thanks to the completion of phase one of its new icon project. For a first-hand look at the results, WBOI's Julia Meek visited the church and talked with parish priest, Father Andrew Jarmus, about the scope of the artwork, the meaning behind it, and its impact on the congregation. 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.

EmpowerYou Podcast founder and host, Kibwe Cooper takes his title of "Podcast Guru" quite seriously, and will be presenting the city's first ever boot camp class for individuals and nonprofit organizations looking to gain introductory skills in podcasting Saturday, October 16th. Venue host for the all day session, Come As You Are Community Church on South Anthony Boulevard, is led by Pastor Anthony Payton, who has been a key supporter of Cooper's project since its inception, and is proud to host the community's 1st bootcamp of this kind. For a sneak peek at what's in store, WBOI's Julia Meek invited Cooper into the studio to discuss the importance of storytelling and his passion for his craft as well as for sharing it with the community he serves. 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.

2018 proved to be another arts-driven year for Fort Wayne, and according to Arts United's president, Susan Mendenhall, the city's cultural skyline has never been more vibrant. The wide range of activity comes from every corner of the arts community, and seemingly, no medium, organization or area of interest is left behind. With the New Year rapidly approaching, WBOI's Julia Meek invited Mendenhall, and vice president of Community Development, Dan Ross into the studio to reflect on some of the notable events that contributed to this distinction. 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.

Artlink's inaugural Art Auction begins Thursday, October 14th with a celebratory "Bash," a ticketed event that includes a preview of the work and "buy now" options. Artlink exists to support artists through exhibition, education and community engagement and the opening Bash will kick-off a three day online bidding period, running from Friday, October 15th through midnight on Sunday, October 17th. The exhibition, with more than seventy pieces of original art on display, represents longtime members, including former director, Betty Fishman, and young, emerging local artists alike. WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with Lynette Scott and Ellen Mensch, Artlink's Executive Director and Exhibition Coordinator, respectively, to learn the significance of the endeavor,what it will look like and how the organization continues to engage the community in artcentric conversation. 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.

As the First Presbyterian Theater heads toward its fiftieth anniversary celebration in April, this season’s line up is a strong one, and the group is kicking off the new year in a particularly thoughtful way with a big-little play about faith, called The Christians.

Meanwhile, theater fans and friends can enjoy blasts from the past fifty years of productions, thanks to the Digital Archive Project now underway. Still photographs from all of the plays are being gathered, sorted and electronically reproduced, and may be viewed on the First Presbyterian Theater Facebook page. With all of this dramatic activity underway, WBOI's Julia Meek caught up with director, Thom Hofrichter over the holidays, to talk about the impact and message of the upcoming presentation, the photo archive project, and his own reflections on the meaning of this auspicious anniversary. 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 journalist Sara Fiedelholtz is realizing two long-time professional goals this fall with a Happiness Exhibit at the Allen County Public Library's Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery and the launch of HUB 260, a weekly multimedia property focused on the Fort Wayne area. Known for her weekly television show and podcast/radio program, "And Good Company," Sara is proud of her ability to see things a little differently, while uncovering stories that need to be told in our community and voices that need to be heard. For a preview of what to expect from her latest endeavors, WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with Fiedelholtz to discuss the development of both projects and what drives the passion behind them. 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 resident, Lili Carroll, is a multi-lingual counselor who draws from her own experiences to offer others support through difficult life transitions and the grief, anxiety, and depression that can follow. Lili's energy in these endeavors is tireless, and an international upbringing, as well as a familiarity with being an immigrant in her own teen years, provides a range of understanding that is unique and invaluable in both her private and group practices. As she notes, "It's all about trust." For a look at the scope of Lili's work, and a bit of timely advice on grief management, WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with her to talk about the nature of loss, the forms it can take, and the passion Lili has for her profession. 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 particularly seasonal celebration, Fort Wayne's 46th annual Johnny Appleseed Festival may be what you're looking for. After a year's delay due to COVID-19, this family friendly event will take place Saturday and Sunday, September 18th & 19th at Johnny Appleseed/Archer Park. For a look at the staying power of this beloved festival, WBOI's Julia Meek invited JAF committee member John O'Rourke into the studio to discuss the myriad traditional activities it offers, its namesake, John Chapman and the place it has made for itself in the hearts of the 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.