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The newest addition to the Fort Wayne arts scene is the Wunderkammer Company’s downtown gallery.

Wunderkammer Company is a nonprofit organization led by Dan Swartz, a Fort Wayne native and independent curator. Dan has been described by some as an “art instigator,” and that may be true, but at his core he is a driven and dynamic force of nature. You cannot be in Dan’s presence and not be inspired to do or create something. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that the mission for his project is grand and important: to revitalize communities through contemporary art. So far, he is succeeding. The gallery opened in January 2013 and has hosted a number of shows, including Fort Wayne Fringe featuring dance and other performance art.

Wunderkammer Company’s next trifecta of exhibitions includes, “Three Ladies”, “Texted Riot”, and “Not Tara Donovan.”

“Three Ladies” is a historic and educational exhibition honoring the lives and accomplishments of Margaret Ann Keegan, Helene Foellinger, and Madolon “Madge” Rothschild. These three women made crucial and lasting positive contributions the Fort Wayne community during their lives and through their continued charitable spirit once passed.

“Texted Riot” is a group exhibition featuring five artists focusing on text, or written language, in art and “Not Tara Donovan” is as described in the gallery’s release “an installation produced by W< questioning the validity of an art piece when the audience is immediately queued into the processes which took place to create it.” The public is encouraged to contribute to the installation, and is “let in” on the “inside jokes within the contemporary art world.”

Wunderkammer Company is an extraordinary member of the Fort Wayne art community; it will challenge, entertain, and educate all who are open to it. Check out these shows or visit Wunderkammer Company’s Facebook page and learn more.

These three exhibitions opened on Saturday, April 20th, and will continue through May 19th (Texted Riot until May 26th). Wunderkammer is located at 3402 Fairfield Avenue in Fort Wayne. Suggested donation is $2.00.

ACT NOW!
AS OF PRESS TIME, ONLY A FEW SINGLE SEATS REMAIN FOR THIS SOON-TO-BE SOLD OUT SHOW!

Fort Wayne’s War Memorial Coliseum continues to feature the best that popular country music has to offer. If you missed Jason Aldean or Zac Brown you can make up for it by catching country music star Carrie Underwood. On April 14, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. the coliseum will be rocking to the sounds of five-time Grammy winner. Ms. Underwood is touring in support of her fourth studio album, Blown Away.

Blown Away features fourteen new songs ranging from the rocking anthem “Good Girl” to the message piece “Blown Away,” as well as tropical tunes such as “One Way Ticket.” This album is characterized the singer’s most “ambitious.”

Ms. Underwood has sold more than 15 million albums and is known for her talented vocals and high energy performances. Her awards are many and include three Country Music Association female vocalists awards, the two Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year trophies, and she is a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

The tour also features Hunter Hayes whose tune “Somebody’s Heartbreak” is moving up the Billboard Hot 100 country music chart. Mr. Hayes was the Country Music Associations’ best new artist in 2012.

Get your tickets and cowboy boots ready for an evening of country music at its best! Visit www.ticketmaster.com to snag one of those few remaining seats!

Paula’s on Main, located at 1732 West Main Street, is a Fort Wayne restaurant institution.  If someone says seafood in Fort Wayne you will hear the name Paula’a shortly thereafter.

Paula’s is on the slow end of Main Street in downtown Fort Wayne. It occupies two store fronts and includes a fully stocked fish market, two bars, two downstairs dining areas and one loft dining area.  The dining spaces are airy and the lighting is thoughtful.  The walls are covered with paintings in various themes and sizes and the ladies’ restroom is filled with random vintage hats.

Paula’s is famous for its clam chowder and crab cakes. This acclaim is for good reason, both are super tasty.  If you are planning for a special dinner at home or just aren’t feeling social, you can buy Paula’s crab cakes at the fish market in the restaurant lobby. Speaking of the fish market, if you didn’t know it was there you would never detect it. The staff does a great job of keeping any “fishiness” out of the market and the dining room. It is a top notch operation.

In addition to clam chowder and crab cakes, Paula’s offers a diverse menu of options, from fried walleye to seabass to salad. If you can’t decide, there is, of course, a combo platter. The restaurant also offers daily specials written up on the chalkboard as you enter – there you can always find interesting options whether it be sushi or a nice piece of swordfish.

If you are in the market for delicious seafood, a great menu, and solid service in Fort Wayne then Paula’s on Main should be your next stop.

Have you met HOLGA? Diana?

No? Well, here is your chance to enter the interesting, unique, and colorful world of the toy camera.

Plastic cameras first appeared on the photography scene in the 1960s, bringing photography to the masses. Now these cameras have developed a cult following and are producing award-winning photographs.

One of Artlink’s current shows is Plastic Fantastic: A Toy Camera Extravaganza. This show features the work of artists Cara Lee Wade, Daniel Dienelt, Jason Swisher, Theresa Winans Thompson, Bambi Guthrie, Lilliana Hoag, Holly Clabaugh, Nicole Croy, and Josef Zimmerman. The curator of this show, Cara Lee Wade, describes the show as “a photography exhibition featuring local artists who revel in analog ‘toy’ cameras and the unique images that these low-fi vessels create.” The photography ranges from experimental, Daniel Dienelt actually takes his camera apart, to more traditional and Americana style work by Cara Lee Wade, Jason Swisher and Theresa Winans Thompson.

One of the most interesting features of this show is the opportunity to learn about the cameras. The exhibit features a display of plastic cameras used by these artists in the show. Each camera is accompanied by the artists’ descriptions of how and why they use the camera. Some might consider the cameras themselves as art.

The show opened at the Artlink Gallery at 300 East Main Street in downtown Fort Wayne on January 25, 2013, and closes on February 27, 2013. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Saturday 12:00 noon-6:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00 noon-5:00 p.m.

Are you looking for a fun evening to spend with the girls? If so, a local Fort Wayne artist has the answer for you! Angela at ArtsyStrokes & Spirits offers an evening of fun with art.

How does it work? You get a gang together and Angela will walk your group through painting a piece of art of your choice; you can see the choices of artwork to paint on the website. The event I attended including a group of fourteen girls, friends of friends, colleagues, and wives of colleagues, that convened at Pint & Slice for some pre-holiday artistry. We had time for a snack, visiting, and enjoying a drink before the art got started.

Are you worried that you aren’t artistically inclined? Do not worry. I have no artistic talent. I appreciate art, I don’t make it. I can safely say that this was the attitude of the majority of the participants at our party. There were many jokes, giggling, and commentary on how awful each of our paintings would end up. Angela calmly reassured each of us that all the pieces would look great and similar to the model piece. Miraculously, she was right!

Angela moved slowly, worked in breaks, and provided help with the occasional disaster, She also provided some background music to add a little more fun and a party feeling to the event. What is better to paint to than Michael Jackson, Tory Amos, and Lady Gaga? At the end of the evening it was far easier than expected, thanks to the great instruction and laid back environment.

Here is how our evening went . . .

Step 1: The background (mine was not near as half-moonish as the model).

Step 2: The highlights (putting white paint on anything is scary and potentially hideous).

Step 3: The trees (imperfection is happily required – trees have bumps).

Step 4: The birds (I required teacher assistance so mine would not look like stunted black snowmen).

Step 6: The Reveal. Not bad.

The event took a little under three hours at a cost of $32.00 per person (not including food and drinks). The cost does cover the canvas, brushes, paint, and other painting necessities. All you have to bring is yourself!

It was a great time and a perfect girls’ night activity. You can contact Angela through the ArtsyStrokes website to schedule an event. Enjoy!