The Arts United Lifetime Achievement Award is granted to individuals who have continued to make significant contributions through arts and culture throughout their career or lifetime. This year’s award was bestowed posthumously to Jody Hemphill Smith, who passed away in October.
Along with being a successful artist more than 50 years, Smith’s 17-year teaching career included her becoming the first female chair of Valparaiso University’s art department and serving in local schools like New Haven High School and Sunnymead Elementary School.
In 1995, she and their husband, Mark Paul Smith, bought a building in the West Central Neighborhood that was the original site of Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Together, they developed the building at 1202 W. Wayne St. into Castle Gallery Fine Art. The gallery has been open to the public, free of charge, nearly 30 years.
Along with displaying her own expressionist paintings, Smith used this space, her time, and talents to help other artists develop their career trajectories, including local creatives Terry Ratliff and Cary Shafer.
For more information about the Arts United Awards, which will be distributed during a ceremony Wednesday, March 20, go to artsunited.org/advocacy/awards.
Violins of Hope founder dies, 84
Violins of Hope founder Amnon Weinstein died March 5.
Violins of Hope is a project of concerts based on a private collection of violins, violas, and cellos collected since the end of World War II, many of which belong to Jews before and during the war.
The project was hosted by Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the local Jewish Foundation and was involved with more than 25 community organizations in 2019.
Green Thumb Garden Tour at Promenade Park
As we start thinking of spring, Riverfront Fort Wayne will host a free Green Thumb Garden Tour on Sunday, March 17, from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at Promenade Park downtown.
The event will feature multiple workshops, activities, and displays from local organizations like the Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District and Save the Maumee Grassroots Organization. A plant giveaway will take place during the Plant Walk and at 1 p.m., a speaker will talk about planning your own native garden and prepare yourself for a year of gardening and planting.
Pictures with Easter Bunny
KB Photo will be holding several opportunities for kids to take photos with bunnies. Pictures are $25 for prints and digital images.
Once Upon a Child, 5315A Coldwater Road, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m., on Friday, March 15 and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, March 16.
YMCA Renaissance Pointe, 2323 Bowser Ave., from 4-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19.
Island Club, 2302 E. Wallen Road, from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20.
Community theater in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Civic Theatre presents Six Degrees of Separation, a dramatic comedy about a con artist in New York claiming to be the son of Sidney Poitier.
The show opens Friday, March 15, at PPG ArtsLab, and runs through the following weekend.
News and Venues covers Northeast Indiana’s music and arts organizations, venues, and colleges, from large to small. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.
