Artlink Stories
Photo provided by Artist | Stephanie McDairmant at 45th Annual Members’ Showcase
Photo provided by Artist | Stephanie McDairmant at the 2023 Artlink BASH
"Artlink supports artists, and as an artist panel member, I've seen firsthand how hard they work toward that goal. Artlink was a lifeline when I needed it most. Drowning in grief, I started painting. I heard about the Artlink Member's Showcase and brought in one of my first paintings. I was terrified. The warm welcome I received set the tone for my adventures in the art world and encouraged me to continue. Six years later, my art has taken me all over the US, India, and recently, France. Canary Artwork has been featured as part of the Hoosier Salon in the Indiana State Museum, at New York Fashion Week, on wine bottles, in the Indiana State Capital, and on HGTV. I've made lifelong friends, invented my way of painting (with my breath), and found a way to share that grief safely. Artlink not only helped me heal but also thrive in my creative pursuits. I wholeheartedly recommend Artlink to any artist seeking support and guidance in their creative journey.
Photo by Ellen Mensch | Second Daughters Opening Reception | Artlink
Photo by Ellen Mensch | Kate Gibson viewing Consilience | Artlink
Artist, Educator & Artlink Solo Exhibition Artist
The day after the opening for my show Second Daughters and Mille Guldbeck’s show Consilience, I sat in the passenger seat of our car, looking at the fields as my husband drove us back to Cincinnati from Fort Wayne. My husband looked over and said, “That couldn’t have gone any better.” Pleasantly satisfied, I just smiled and nodded in agreement. Every step of the way, from the application process through retrieving my work, the staff at Artlink was delightful, professional, and kind. Ellen Mensch patiently answered my every question and patiently waited as I answered hers. This was my first solo show after the Covid shutdown. It felt like a celebration, and I am deeply grateful for the experience.
Photo by Jen Brown | Artlink
Photo by Ellen Mensch | Artlink
Tracy Scott
Artist, Artlink Figure Drawing Group, & Artlink Member
“For me drawing is the most primary part of visual creation. Painting, sculpture, printmaking all follow from drawing. Drawing is something that must be practiced or you lose the skill. The drawing sessions at artlink help me to improve my ability to draw. The Artlink drawing group inspires me. We have casual artists, dedicated artists, and people who have never drawn before show up to do the work. The group welcomes every good-natured artist. In each session, we all draw from the same model but at the end everyone’s work is completely unique. More than all the analytical reasons, though, the most important thing is…drawing is fun.”
Photo by Bambi Guthrie |@bambiguthriephoto | Artlink
Photo by Bambi Guthrie |@bambiguthriephoto| Artlink
Little Bird & Co. Artist / Owner & Artlink Market Vendor
“As an artist I have greatly enjoyed aligning myself with Artlink! All of the Artlink events that I have participated in have been lively, well attended by the community and also a wonderful way to meet and network with other artists and likeminded individuals! I love the venues, both indoor and outdoor, the staff are amazing and the mission is one I wholeheartedly support!”
Photo by Ellen Mensch | Long-Stitch Journal Workshop | Artlink
Photo by Ellen Mensch | Book Cover Collage | Artlink
Rema Addrayie
Artist, Workshop Participant & Artlink Member
“I have lost count as to the number of workshops I have attended at Artlink and have enjoyed every single one of them. I like that I can take a few hours on a Saturday to learn a new skill with the great teachers that are brought in. I've had the opportunity to learn new skills that I can add to my own art practice. If I hadn't taken the workshops I would have never known that I enjoy cyanotype, bookbinding, journal making, and collage. I also would not have taken all the various skills I've learned and used them all together in my own artwork. That is the best thing that has happened for me, it has allowed me to find ways to be creative again after a time in my life when it felt like my creativity went away. I've gotten that back now, as well as the joy of creating.”
Photo by Ellen Mensch | Handprinted Wrapping Paper Workshop
Photo provided by Artist | Blake Sanders
Solo Exhibition Artist, Art & Printmaking Educator, & Artlink Workshop Instructor
“I was honored that my solo print and fibers show, “Keep Up/Keep Out” was selected by the jury and debuted at Artlink in October 2023. Artlink’s Annual National Print Exhibition has for many years been a staple of my professional calendar as one of the best juried printmaking shows in the country, so it was a priority to show a larger body of work at such a well-respected institution. The Artlink team was friendly and supportive in the lead-up to the show, allowing me to develop the body of work that would populate the gallery. The variety of media and installation methods required for the exhibition made it necessary for me to travel with the work to Fort Wayne to install the show. The Artlink team were outstanding hosts, welcoming me into the space and helping as needed. I was bowled over by the commitment to the arts evident in downtown Fort Wayne, from the breadth and depth of institutions in the arts district to the ubiquity of murals on every surface, so to be able to exhibit in the gorgeous, street-facing gallery at Artlink felt like a particular pride of place. Exchange with the community is crucial to my process and wellbeing as an artist so I was happy to give back a bit to Artlink by teaching a wrapping paper relief pattern workshop during their Winter Market. It was so much fun to work with the engaged workshop attendees, who were coming to the class with very different levels of art experience. Their willingness to jump in and create into the process, on the fly, reflects the openness and joy Artlink emphasizes in all their programming. I was thrilled with my experience and have already encouraged art peers to apply to show in the gallery and build a relationship with the space.”
Photo by Jen Brown | Artlink
Photo by Ellen Mensch | Artlink
My name is Luiza Caetano, I'm from Brazil, and I recently graduated from Purdue Fort Wayne with a BFA in Printmaking. Artlink has allowed me to grow not only as a member and appreciator of the arts here in Fort Wayne, but also as a contributor to its’ wonderful gallery. As an exhibition assistant, I've learned high standards for gallery practices and experienced successful turnout and engagement from our community. As an exhibiting artist, I felt proud and honored to showcase my work alongside other incredible artists from the Midwest. I'm extremely lucky to have had this opportunity and to be a part of this amazing team.
Exhibiting Artist & Artlink Exhibition Assistant
Photo by Bambi Guthrie for Artlink | @bambiguthriephoto
Photo by Ellen Mensch | Long-Stitch Journal Workshop
I moved to Fort Wayne in late November 2022. One of the first local events I attended was the Winter Market at Artlink. While enjoying all the local vendor offerings, I also took time to learn about the organization and how it connected to the community in a variety of ways - including classes. As someone new to Fort Wayne, knowing no one, taking art classes would be a great way to get to know people! I was hooked after the cyanotype class I took with Erin Patton McFarren. Shortly after that, I became a member - eventually joining their board.
Art is for everyone, and everyone can create art. Many of us get told when we are young, we don’t have what it takes. I’m not sure what “it” is, and I’m pretty sure I cannot make a living being an artist, but it really feels good to spend time at my dining room table creating. I hope to one day submit some of the art I’m making to the member showcase exhibit in the summer - I’ve been experimenting with cyanotype, making things with paper, and using watercolors. If I can help other people see the possibilities and freedom that comes along with creating, I’ll be happy. Artlink helped me find a path and home in my new city of Fort Wayne - I look forward to contributing what I can to the organization and the city. I’ll be forever grateful for the people I have met, the experiences I have had, and the skills I have learned through Artlink.
Artlink Board Member, Volunteer, & Workshop Participant
Photo provided by Artist | Franco Trintinaglia
Photo by Bambi Guthrie for Artlink | @bambiguthriephoto
My father, his expertise area was music, and it was magical to see grown-ups forgetting about their jobs and being parents or whatever and enjoying life at the same level as kids. All that longing and craving to do something creative was very mysterious to me. And when I do art, I still have that feeling. I think it is something for me, that is sacred. For me, every medium is an invitation to play. It brings me back to that moment where you feel alive. And you create something that is going to be alive in an artistic way. Without the public, art is nothing. The public is feedback, constant feedback.
The first time we came to Artlink for the peer-to-peer group was in April 2022*. The group is very straightforward, honest, and very warm. They know about art, and just as in my case, they breathe art. Sometimes, the critiques - if you don’t take them too personally - make you grow up. They open your work to another kind of experience. They told us that if you have some of your works framed already, you can exhibit once a year. It had been a while since I had exhibited my work. It was the first time in the USA. I had amazing feedback and I am expecting to do it every year. Artlink is a house of creative people, making it irresistible to me. I moved to Fort Wayne two years ago with my wife, she’s an art teacher. It was only a matter of time that I would be here (at Artlink). The doors were open, I saw the light, and I came in. Every time I come here for a different exhibition. It’s powerful. It’s where I want to be. It’s a community thing, and I feel comfortable. I feel welcome.
Artist, Artlink Artist Panel Member & Peer-to-Peer Critique Attendee
This story was compiled from an in-person interview with Franco conducted on Feb. 22, 2024.
*Correction - year originally reported as 2020 is actually 2022
Artist, Artlink Artist Panel Member & Artlink Member