A nearby museum full of treasures

This week we want to introduce you to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art and everything it has to offer. Fort Wayne is not considered a large metropolitan area, but the art museum has provided permanent and special exhibits for the community to enjoy that rival museums in much larger cities.

The museum has impressed me through the years with special exhibitions, its growing permanent collection and the effort made to reach out to the community and artists in northern Indiana.

Artists often struggle to reach a broader audience for their work, so it was a welcome surprise a few years ago when the museum offered local artists the opportunity to have their work displayed in a special exhibition.

The event begins with the works being juried (judged) to be selected for the exhibit. Local artists like me were thrilled to see our work accepted and on display. As an artist, it is always an honor to be selected to show my art in a prestigious museum like the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

I have visited the museum on several occasions and always enjoy the vast permanent collection along with special exhibitions.

In 2013, the museum announced a special exhibition to show the exquisite work of Dale Chihuly and his extraordinary glass creations. It was a privilege for the museum to procure this exhibition, especially since Chihuly’s exhibits were normally reserved for much larger art museums.

I spread the word about the exhibition through this column and through word of mouth to as many artists and art lovers as possible and excitedly anticipated the very special exhibition.

Chihuly is a unique craftsman who uses molten glass to create his interpretation of a world often hidden. This exhibition, “The Secret Garden,” was full of color and light and I was immediately entranced when I entered the exhibition and came face to face with a colorful installation of a pond with glass reeds growing at the edge and glass water lilies appearing to float on the pond.

The reeds were easily 6 feet tall and were illuminated by the natural light and appeared to sway back and forth with the breeze. I was so affected by his work, I decided I wanted to experiment with bringing that same appreciation of nature to the forefront in my own two-dimensional work.

I was inspired to create something that encompassed the beauty of nature using both natural light and illumination in a new way. Visiting the Chihuly exhibition was an experience I will carry with me and refer to for inspiration for many years to come.

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art dates to 1888 and encompasses 50,000 square feet of gallery space. The museum is open noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. On Thursday admission is free from 5-8 p.m.

Regular admission is $10 with discounts for students and seniors. For families, the Knight Learning Center in the museum offers artmaking activities and hands-on engagement stations that teach the elements of art. The five special exhibitions available now are:

• Indiana Waterways: The art of conservation.

• Garden Party: Outdoor sculptures by Dorothy Gillespie.

• Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Classic toys and Americana.

• Kaiyodo: Mini artworks for the modern age.

• The glass wing.

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art is a hidden gem in northern Indiana. It is well worth your time to visit and enjoy.

Events new driveway.

• Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery: Local artist Deana Harvey will be displaying her artwork through the end of March. If you have already been to her exhibit, make sure to stop by again, as she has switched out her artwork to provide a fresh showing.

To exhibit at Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery, contact Darla McCammon, curator, at (574) 527-4044 (leave a message) or mcdar7@ gmail.com.

If you would like to offer someone a free email subscription to this weekly column, send a request including the email address to mcdar7@gmail.com.

The chili supper will be held 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Price is a freewill donation. Dine in or carry out will be available.

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Boys & Girls Clubs visit Indy for day of advocacy

Teens from all four Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County spent Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Indiana Statehouse. They were there as part of a “Day of Advocacy.” The five members met with lawmakers on behalf of the club.

“This was an amazing opportunity for our future leaders to learn about advocacy and how funding can impact their club experience,” said Chief Advancement Officer Matt Fischer.

One of the missions of club is to expose members to opportunities outside the clubhouse and show them potential career paths. While in Indianapolis, the members were able to speak with local State Representative Joanna King and local State Senator Ryan Mishler. King took the teens on a tour of the house chamber and posed with them for photos.

“She was very understanding and was interested in hearing what the club is doing,” said Josh Polasky from the Goshen Club. “She also gave us the opportunity

Moving to every other week

The Good Neighbors column will now be published every other week. The next column will be published Feb. 22 and alternating weeks thereafter.

Readers are encouraged to continue mailing, faxing or emailing their friendly advice and ask or answer questions.

To mail questions, send to Good Neighbors, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542; fax (800) 886-3796; or email abias@the-papers.com. Please, no phone calls.

to be the first people to take a picture with her in the house chamber this year.”

Elkhart Club member Justice Thompson talked with Mishler about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County. “It was so nice to talk with someone who could contribute to kids in our community,” she said. The teens all said they were impressed by the experience.

“It was pretty cool to meet with the state lawmakers,” said Kelsey Hamsher from the Nappanee Club. “Everyone we met — and especially the building itself — was amazing. It’s so impressive to see what all the people who work inside do,” Polasky said.

“It was a nice experience. We got to see what a lawmaker’s job is like,” said Noah Klotz from the Middlebury Club.

In addition to meeting with lawmakers, the teens toured the statehouse and the Supreme

Court chambers. They also talked with members of other clubs around the state.

“I forgot how big the club organization is. So, to see all the people from other clubs in the state was awesome,” said Kristina Petkova from the Goshen Club.

All of the teens said they would love to take part in the experience again in the future. The day was coordinated by the Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County began operations in 1956. The clubs offer programming and service opportunities for children and teens to reach their full potential within the community. Each day, the clubs provide powerful relationships with the youth they serve and open avenues of opportunity for young people across their community by offering safe places where young people can learn, grow and succeed.