Profiles In Courage

PROFILES IN

How female entrepreneurs are changing the art scene in Northeast Indiana

Courage By Mary Jane Bogle Pursuing a career as an artist is certainly not safe, at least if relying on a steady paycheck is important to you. But safe isn’t a word that drives these five area artists to create, inspire and uplift the community. Meet the women who are steadily changing the way Northeast Indiana thinks about art.

Alexandra Hall

“I try to bring some whimsy into the mundane.”

That’s what Alexandra Hall accomplishes with acrylic paintings that feature vibrant colors and storybook themes, inspiring creativity, energy and joy.

In addition to exhibiting and selling her artwork, both locally and nationwide, Hall is an avid art advocate and community supporter, creating pieces for the Riverfront Bench Project, Bust a Move and several nonprofit organizations. She also plans to continue to program public art through mural programs, such as Art This Way. Learn more at alexandrahallart.com.

Lisa Vetter

In response to today’s throw away society, Lisa Vetter is on a mission to help people take inventory of what they see by putting found objects together in unexpected ways.

“I love taking someone’s story and elevating it to a place of honor in their home,” she said.

Vetter and husband Paul Siefert promote this “life is art” philosophy by hosting workshops and a Holiday Pop Up Gallery at their 1860 farmhouse and studio. “When you sit down with an artist to learn something, you gain a whole new appreciation for artwork in general,” she said.

Fun, funky and functional. That’s the best way to describe Teri Marquart’s “outside the frame” artwork. With a background in graphic design, Marquart sees color, texture and patterns everywhere, inspiring her to transform functional pieces into works of art.

A self-proclaimed advocate for local artists, Marquart is the founder of the Fort Wayne Arts Festival and is working on creating artist studios at the new Wood Shack Architectural Antiques location at 1514 St. Joe Boulevard in Fort Wayne.

“I want to give artists a venue to show, sell and promote their work,” she said.

Tricia Cavender

Owner of Rhapsody Art Gallery and Studio, Tricia Cavender is an accomplished oil and acrylic painter who is following her passion to create a fully immersive artistic experience at her studio and throughout Northeast Indiana.

Not only does she serve on the boards of festivals and art committees, but she also helped create Fort Wayne’s HeART of the City, which enables artists to show their art in public venues. Her current passion is a collaborative project with Fort Wayne Oncology and Hematology, bringing patients in contact with local artists and their work.

Learn more at rhapsodyartgallery.com.

Julie Wall

Pulling inspiration from her surroundings, Julie Wall shines a spotlight on nature through her printmaking and three-dimensional pieces, pushing back against our traditional sense of what is valuable.

“I want to draw attention to things we see but forget to really notice,” she said.

Wall hopes to bring more attention to the value of an art scene and what it can do for a community through her extensive volunteer work. You can find her artwork at her studio, The Hedge, or online at thehedgefw.com. a