Wet Paint: Stain and Stencil
One of the hottest trends in home decor is signage. Whether it’s a quote, a simple word or a personalized motto, signs are what people are looking for to tell their guests more about them and maybe as a reminder to themselves. Another trend is the DIY movement. People are trying all sorts of new crafts and having a great time. Whether it’s an evening with their friends or family or even alone, trying something new and getting creative is fun and relaxing. Stain and Stencil combines both of those trends into one. Their DIY sign workshops are perfect for new and pro crafters alike! You walk in and owner, Rachelle Harkenrider, and staff take care of you every step of the way. They’ll transform you from newbie to pro in just one sign! Once you’re in the shop, you’ll get to pick all of your color and stain options. The staff will teach you how to apply stain or paint and distress your board. Then, you’ll apply your stencil. The staff has lots of tips and guides for making sure you get it on just right. Then, you’ll paint in the stencil with the colors of your choice. Depending on your piece, you may or may not have a few more steps to finish. Rachelle and her team work hard to make sure you’re happy with your piece. To sign up for a workshop, simply go to their website (www.stainandstencil.com) look through their gallery and find a sign you’d like to create. Then find their calendar and an open workshop. If you’d like any customization, you can let them know in the registration process. Have an event or a group you want to create with? Stain and Stencil will set up a private event with your group. As a unique small business owner in town, Rachelle has been eager to help and collaborate with other small businesses wherever possible. From sign projects, to cupcakes for customers, to the wine slushees she includes in your workshop, Rachelle is sharing the business wealth and helping other businesses grow along with hers. You can find Stain and Stencil on Facebook, Instagram and at their website, www.stainandstencil.com. Check out their social media what others have done with their signs, for specials, and upcoming...
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with the Fort Wayne Museum of Art
This is not a Halloween event – it’s a celebration of life that is important to many people in Mexico, other areas of Latin America and the United States. Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is being celebrated in many places, including right here in northeast Indiana at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. “Día de los Muertos is the biggest festival we have in Mexico,” said Fernando Zapari, editor and publisher of Fort Wayne’s locally-owned El Mexicano Newspaper. During Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico, the lives of loved ones are celebrated by families and friends who decorate their grave sites with cempasúchil (marigold-like flowers), food, mementos and other favorite things from their lives. “I love celebrating Día de los Muertos and remembering my loved ones,” said Zapari, who is remembering his own brother this year at this year’s celebration. “It’s important to keep the tradition alive in our own community.” The festival is a national holiday in Mexico and traces its roots to the pre-Colombian era before Spanish colonization. It has been misunderstood at times outside of Mexican culture and is not Mexico’s version of Halloween but a day a remembrance of loved ones. “When I grew up in Mexico, I used to go to the cemetery, clean the graves and just have a day there,” said Palermo Galindo, community liaison for the mayor’s office of the City of Fort Wayne. “There were so many colors of flowers and smells of incense.” Here in Fort Wayne the gallery of the art museum is filled with alter displays remembering deceased loved ones or groups of people who have died for a cause or due to persecution or injustice. Many of these displays feature traditional symbols like sugar skulls, dancing skeletons and other remembrances created by artists, families and community groups in northeast Indiana. “I’m really happy that the Fort Wayne Museum of Art has provided this opportunity to celebrate this important holiday,” Galindo said. Not only does the celebration provide learning opportunities for people unfamiliar with Mexican culture, it also provides a chance for younger Mexican-Americans to reconnect with the culture of their ancestors. “What I’ve personally seen are grandparents or parents bring the young generations and really explain, ‘oh, we used to do this back home,'” Galindo said. “It’s a connection that maybe was missing.” The Fort Wayne celebration is getting bigger and better every year according to Zapari. This year’s family celebration features traditional music, dancing, costumed characters, food and children’s activities. The celebration is from 2:00 to 6:00 pm on Sunday, October 29, 2017. In addition to the one-day celebration, “The Days of the...
#IGersFortWayne: Creating a Community for Imagemakers
A picture is worth a thousand words. Instagram makes it so easy now to see beautiful images taken by photographers of all skill levels. Because of geotags and hashtags, you can see pictures taken around your area. If you’ve seen the hashtag #IGersFortWayne, you can view beautiful images taken by image makers in Fort Wayne. Good morning Fort Wayne! If you didn’t see the sunset last night, check out this incredible photo by @the_kirbster001 of the Fort Wayne skyline last night! Keep using the #IGersFortWayne tag and enjoy the weekend! // @scornfulcow A post shared by IGersFortWayne (@igersfortwayne) on Feb 11, 2017 at 7:23am PST IGersFortWayne’s mission is to curate a creative community of image makers in the Fort Wayne area. Through team members Megan Hevel, Sean O’Leary, Danielle Doepke, and Mollie Shutt, the group is paving the way to a strong community with a big following, image makers and non-image makers alike. Megan said, “It’s an Instagram page that is meant to facilitate community for image makers in the Fort Wayne area. We are seeking to bring like-minded people together, to make connections, inspire one another, and experience Fort Wayne in new ways through photography.” With the redevelopment of Fort Wayne and the ease of access to the images of Instagram, IGersFortWayne is reframing the way people view the city. Everyone who shares an image shares a different perspective, changing how others see Fort Wayne. “It promotes growth, builds a stronger creative community, and seeks to capture the best parts of our ever-evolving city. As we support and encourage one another, we become better and are able to contribute more to the community we love,” said Megan. But you don’t have to consider yourself a professional or even a photographer to submit an image to IGersFortWayne. By using the term imagemaker, the community is welcoming to all kinds of imagery creators, from those pursuing a career in photography to those who shoot photos on their phone. IGersFortWayne is an inclusive community, and the more creativity contributed, the more inspiration ignites. I mean, how could anyone say no to a classic like @fwconeyisland?! 🌭@olivia_eve_ captured this Fort Wayne staple so beautifully, it’s no wonder it was chosen to be featured in a Food Network article! That depth of field, that color and composition 👌🏽 #igersfortwayne + @meganhevel A post shared by IGersFortWayne (@igersfortwayne) on May 16, 2017 at 3:47pm PDT Each of the team members contributes to the group by posting features on the IGersFortWayne Instagram feed during the week. As a team, they collaborate to come up with new ideas...
YLNI Farmers Market – Fawnly Prints
Marie Heimann found a new use for painting: easing anxiety. During a difficult pregnancy, Marie started painting and found that while she was engulfed in creating her art, her physical discomforts melted away. Her aspirations did not stop after her pregnancy, however. Marie’s desire encourage and inspire others grew to the point of starting her own business, Fawnly Prints. With her husband and biggest supporter Cory at her side, Marie disciplined herself enough to learn how to watercolor, and eventually launched her business. Today, Marie offers original watercolor and hand lettered inspirational paintings made into professional prints. Getting started began with a book and the ambition to make life better. Marie transformed her growing skill into a business and Etsy shop in February 2016. Being a stay-at-home mom, Marie gets to care for her 3 boys while working on her artistic passion every day. Though her creations have not always been easy for Marie, she has learned to be confident in her individual voice and continue developing her art. Marie’s advice to anyone thinking of starting a business is to “keep practicing – you WILL get better.” This persistence of Marie has brought her business success, increasing both sales and lives inspired every year. Marie’s greatest achievement has been consistently growing her business, including doing custom thank you cards for a large organization. Come out to the YLNI Farmer’s Market this year and check out Fawnly Prints. Visit their Etsy store online like them on...
At ART MOVES, FWDC Puts Masterpieces in Motion
When it comes to annual fundraisers, the Fort Wayne Dance Collective is known for creating over-the-top experiences that guests anticipate all year long. In years past, that meant choose-your-own-adventure theatrical performances in various Fort Wayne landmarks. But this year, under the leadership of Creative Director John Byrne, the organization is trying something new. As in years past, tomorrow’s ART MOVES event will raise funds for FWDC’s community outreach programs, high school dance programs and dance scholarships. But this year, FWDC eschewed the theatrical theme to celebrate creative expression in all its forms. At 6 pm tomorrow night, September 8th, Wunderkammer Company will serve as the backdrop for various choreographed pop-up performances, each inspired by a different iconic fine art works. The ART MOVES event will also include a silent auction, heavy appetizers and a cash bar provided by Club Soda. Tickets are $25 in advance, available through the FWDC website, or $30 at the door. With the event approaching, I talked to John Byrne to learn more about his artistic vision and inspiration for ART MOVES. B: What sparked the idea ART MOVES? J: Fort Wayne is a city just exploding with art and dance, and FWDC is proud to be in the forefront of this cultural movement. We serve such a diverse range of communities, ages, abilities and interests through dance education, healing and performances – more than 43,000 people annually to be specific! The idea for ART MOVES was simply inspired by the desire to bring awareness to what we do, in a fun, laid-back, party environment. For the artistic concept, I wanted to show who we are at the core by deconstructing dance down to its most pure form – movement. Dancers from 10 years old to 60 years old will take over the space in elegant and simple costumes, with beautiful lighting and sets by artist Diane Gaby. The dancers will represent recognizable iconic art works by emulating the essence of the art works through dance. The performance will be presented in a simply, allowing the movement and personalities of our diverse performers to shine through. B: What kind of art and artists inspired the choreography? J: There are eight choreographers contributing original dance works to ART MOVES. This includes Vicki Gallagher, Mandie Kolkman, Sydney Pacula, Corinne Hobbs, Liz Monnier, Ashley Benninghoff and Allison Brandgard. Choreographers chose iconic art work that inspired them and designed their dance works based on these pieces. At the event, you’ll see artists such as O’Keeffe, Magritte, Kandinsky, Van Gogh and Koons represented. Dancers from all branches of Fort Wayne Dance Collective’s programs will be performing the new dance works. Singer/songwriter Kelsie Murray will also be making a special appearance. What can guests expect at the event? J: Partygoers can expect...
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