Give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair…

Although those lyrics are from a song in the 1960s, our obsession with hair has not faded with the ages. One hairstyle in particular–the afro–has gained much attention for its social and cultural association.

Locally, Fort Wayne Museum of Art’s exhibit Afros: A Celebration of Natural Hair chronicles this trend in American culture.  The story behind the exhibit is perhaps as interesting as the art itself. Over five years, photographer Michael July approached a variety of individuals and asked them to participate as subject models for a volume he was creating to chronicle the evolution of the Afro in America. He was able to capture the “creme de la creme” of Afros as worn by people of virtually every shade, ethnicity, country and age group. This exhibition shows pictorially the power, beauty and glorious nature of the ‘Fro and tells the deeper “hairstory” of each of its models. This exhibition, inspired by the original book, captures the spirit and essence of the Afro today and pays homage to the historic significance of natural hair iconic voyagers.

Michael July’s book AFROS: A Celebration of Natural Hair is  for sale in the FWMoA’s Paradigm Gallery  for $44.95.

You can catch this exhibit at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art until June 9th. Gallery hours are: Sunday, 12 – 5 pm; Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6pm, and Thursday 10am – 8 pm. The galleries are closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students, and $12 for families. Insider’s Tip: Enjoy free admission every Thursday from 5-8pm and Sunday from noon to 5pm.

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The unofficial kick off of summer, Memorial Day weekend, is right around the corner.  You’re planning to enjoy a little time away from work, celebrating what it means to be an American.  Bring on the brats, beverages, and burgers! In between those cookouts we have some great events for you to check out that weekend.

Start your holiday weekend a little early with these events on Friday:

“Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles” at Foellinger Outdoor Theater.  You’ll be singing along with your favorite hits like “Get over it”, “Take it Easy” and “Hotel California”.  Tickets are just $13.

Tincaps take on South Bend Silver Hawks.  Go for the game and stay for the fireworks that light up the downtown sky. The first pitch will be thrown at 7:05 at Parkview Field.  Tickets start at $5.

“Wild Minds: What Animals Really Think” will give you and your kids insight into what your pets are thinking. This exhibit takes place at Science Central and runs from April 19 – September 8.  Admission starts at $7.

Enjoy the first day of your long weekend with these events on Saturday:

Fort4Fitness CycleFest provides a family-friendly environment for bicycle riders to enjoy the sights of Fort Wayne. Events will start from One Summit Square and will offer 3 different distances for riders to choose from.  Cost is $30 for adults and $15 for children ages 7-12.

Take in the arts with exhibits at various museums and galleries around Fort Wayne.  The 33^rd Annual National Print Exhibition and the HALO Project and Ceramic Wall Work exhibit will both take place at Artlink Contemporary Art Gallery.  Additional exhibits include Live2Love at Northside Galleries and Afros: A Celebration of Natural Hair by Michael July at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

Honor our troops and veterans at the Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day (ARMAD) “A Tribute to Those Who Serve” at Parkview Memorial Regional Hospital Park.  The event will take place from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.  The public is welcome

If you’re not exhausted from Friday and Saturday, check out these events on Sunday:

Butterflies with an African Beat is at the Botanical Conservatory.  This event runs from April 13-June 7 and is sure to mesmerize visitors.  Admission starts at $3

And of course, be sure to celebrate Memorial Day with a Parade on Monday.

The Memorial Day parade and Ceremony will begin at the corner of State and Parnell at approximately 11 a.m. and end at the Coliseum.  Enjoy this great parade and honor those who have served our great country.

For information on these events, and many more, please check out our detailed Calendar of Events online!

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Have you ever sat back and realized how important seeds are? It may seem trite at first, but without plants and the oxygen they bring we would not be breathing right now! Artist Jerrod Tobias takes a closer look at agriculture, seeds and the importance of nature in his latest exhibit “Seeds of Symbiosis” on display now at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

According to Tobias, “This body of work continues an inquiry into agrarian traditions. Through a variety of drawing and painting processes, I strive to reveal rhythms and patterns found in nature.  These harmonies with natural living systems offer a glimpse into a symbiotic relationship between man and nature. These ‘seeds of symbiosis’ seek to preserve the wisdom of the past while searching for economic and agricultural sustainability in the present.”

Get in touch with the natural world and visit this amazing display today!

“Seeds of Symbiosis” is on display now through May 12. Check the art museum’s website for information on hours of operation or call 260.422.6467. Admission to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art is $7 for adults, $5 for students and $12 for families. The museum is located in downtown Fort Wayne at 311 E. Main St.

Insider Tip: Admission is free on Thursdays and Sundays.

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What do dogs really want when they’re whining and barking? Are chimpanzees as smart as humans? How are birds so resourceful?

Starting April 19, Science Central will try to answer all of these burning questions and more with their new exhibit, Wild Minds: What Animals Really Think. This traveling exhibit will shed light on some of the cognitive skills many species demonstrate, that have long been thought to be unique to humans. Using a variety of videos, games and displays, Wild Minds will show visitors how different animal environments have shaped thinking abilities and explore evolutionary links between humans and animals.

This great exhibit is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and developed in cooperation with Science Central and the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, as well as four other zoo and science center partnerships from around the country. These include some pretty big, and well known, places including the New York Hall of Science and the Staten Island Zoo; Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the Oregon Zoo, California Science Center and the Santa Barbara Zoo; COSI (Center of Science and Industry) and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. We are lucky to have Wild Minds coming to Science Central!

Learn all about the way animals think!

The exhibit will feature the opportunity to use your own brain power to look into the minds of some of your favorite animals. You can examine brains from a parrot, dog, chimpanzee, dolphin and human to compare animal brains and human brains by thought and complexity. Put on your thinking cap to think about how you would get a peanut out of a tube, and then watch a video comparing how children and apes did when faced with the same problem. If you’ve always wondered what your furry friend really wants when they’re barking, listen to a variety of different dog barks and try to determine what the dog is really communicating.

The fun doesn’t end there! There will be a number of other stations where parents and kids alike can look into the minds of some of the worlds smartest animals, and see just what happens when the wheels start turning.

What do octopi really think about?

Wild Minds will be featured at Science Central from April 19 until September 8 – a great time to take the kids to the zoo, then head to Science Central to learn more about the animals they just saw!

Science Central is open Wednesday through Friday 10-4, Saturday from 10-5 and Sunday 12-5 until June 11 when summer hours kick in. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (65+), free for children 2 and under and free for members.

For more information, go to Visit Fort Wayne or the Science Central website.

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Fort Wayne helps celebrate the rich history of Mexican folk art at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art now through the end of April through their latest special exhibit “El Caballo: The Horse in Mexican Folk Art.”

This display contains 22 examples of this popular figure, El Caballo, known in English as “the horse.” Displays include ceramics, paintings, paper art, sculpture and metalwork. The horse was first introduced by the Spanish and continues to maintain special prominence in art and Mexican culture. Today many recognize Mexicans as the world’s best equestrians. Figures in Mexican history were known along with their horses, including Zapata, a leader in the Mexican Revolution, Santiago and Apostle St. James.

This exhibit is part of a national tour and will only be in Fort Wayne for a short time. Visit the Fort Wayne Museum of Art today and learn about Mexican culture and why El Caballo holds such importance. The exhibit can be viewed during normal gallery hours.

“El Caballo: The Horse in Mexican Folk Art” is on display now through April 28. Check the art museum’s website for information on hours of operation or call 260.422.6467. Admission to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art is $7 for adults, $5 for students and $12 for families. The museum is located in downtown Fort Wayne at 311 E. Main St.

Insider Tip: Admission is free on Thursdays and Sundays.

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