Press release from Arts United:
Arts United 2010 Fund Drive starts with unveiling of Community Mosaic
(January 19, 2010) For the next two mornings volunteer Charlie Shirmeyer, of Northide Galleries, will be busy installing dozens of three feet square paintings on a large lobby wall at the Arts United Center. He’ll be hanging paintings between 8 and 10 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The artworks have been created and loaned by diverse local artists, students and children for this public art project.
An opening reception for the exhibit and kickoff of the Arts United fund drive take place Thursday, January 28th from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Arts United Center, 303 E. Main Street, downtown Fort Wayne. The reception is open to the public. Club Soda is catering light appetizers with a cash bar available. The Kevin Piekarski Jazz Trio will provide live music members also perform with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic..
This is the second year for the Community Mosaic project and twice as many area artists have volunteered to make paintings depicting the theme “Arts unite us.” Another different aspect of the 2010 exhibit is participation by home schooled students, whose parents see this as an opportunity for their children to feel the excitement from exhibiting art in public. These works will be interspersed with works from both amateur and professional adult artists representing the diverse interests and skills in our greater Fort Wayne community.
The Community Mosaic will be on display until mid-April. Anyone visiting the Arts United Center between now and then can see the exhibit and vote for their favorite panel. The artists with the most votes will win prizes.
“This was a great idea and a perfect opportunity for my general education students to work with their special education partners,” says Bernadette Weller of New Haven Middle School. “They learned so much more than art.” Three groups from Weller’s classes submitted paintings for the Community Mosaic project.
Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne is starting the public portion of the 2010 Fund Drive with the exhibit party. At the reception, Arts United will announce their 2010 goal as $1,000,000. Early workplace campaigns and donations have been encouraging for the goal that is slightly higher than last year’s result.
“Fort Wayne has always been a generous community. The arts are a vital part of the community and as one of our shining community assets have received loyal and passionate support,” says Executive Director Jim Sparrow. “We are confident and optimistic that the goal of $1 million is not only one we can achieve but exceed.”
About Arts United
Incorporated in 1955, Arts United is the third oldest united arts fund in the United States and the second largest arts council in the State of Indiana. As the umbrella organization for nonprofit arts groups in northeast Indiana, Arts United provides leadership to the local arts community and is the largest single source of financial support for the arts in the region. Arts United is the entity that brings the arts community together to address their key issues and questions. Through Arts United, the many arts groups in the region can plot a common direction and speak with a common voice.Arts unite us. Everyone. Everyday. Everywhere.
Related Images:
