November 7, 2018 - The final step in creating a welcoming gateway into the downtown arts district is now complete. Today Mayor Tom Henry, local artists and neighborhood leaders cut the ribbon celebrating the completion of the Metaform sculpture and mural located in the 400 block of East Columbia Street, across from Three Rivers Apartments near the Columbia Avenue Bridge.
The sculpture was created by Cary Shafer and includes large, metal, three-dimensional blocks that are painted to complement the 300-foot mural painted last summer by Jerrod and Kara Tobias. Shafer and Jerrod Tobias worked together to design the mural and sculpture, which they named Metaform. The gateway feature was completed by painting the railroad elevation and installing lighting, a sidewalk and landscaping.
This particular feature is meant to welcome visitors and residents from the Northside Neighborhood into the downtown arts campus as well as promote the exceptional artists living and working in Fort Wayne.
“We continue to hear from residents that public art is something they appreciate and want to see more of,” said Mayor Henry. “Public art instills pride in residents and supports economic development, tourism and neighborhood revitalization.”
This elevation project is part of the Front Door Fort Wayne plan, which is a 10-year plan to transform and beautify the City’s primary corridors and gateways. The plan was developed with input from a 14-member citizen advisory committee and was adopted by City Council in June 2012.
Community Development and its Planning & Policy Department managed the project and partnered with the Fort Wayne Public Works Division and the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission in this gateway improvement.