Downtown Mural 1
- Details
- Published: Monday, 03 October 2022 15:26
Mural Location: 520 West Jefferson Boulevard
Theme: Engage, Serve and Advocate for Fort Wayne’s Youth
Subjects: Ephraim Scott Smiley III & Omowalé-Kétu Oladuwa
Artist: Michael Johnson
Ephraim Scott Smiley III
Ephraim was born and raised in Fort Wayne. He is passionate about teaching and empowering young people to dream and to accomplish those dreams with “grit”, character, integrity, and love. One of his tools to achieving this is through the game of basketball. He knows firsthand the life altering benefits he has received from this team sport both on and off the court – life lessons and relationships that have been developed. The loss and trauma Ephraim has personally endured - and that have been inflicted on the Black youth, families, and Fort Wayne’s SE community - ignites the passion in his heart and spirit to be boisterous and weep. Through the game of basketball, he teaches young people not only basketball skills but principles of life and character.
To view Ephraim Scott Smiley III's nomination video click play below:
Omowalé-Kétu Oladuwa
In 1966, Omowalé-Kétu Oladuwa was wrongly accused, tried, and convicted for a murder he did not commit. He spent five years on death row and was released in 1971. After his release, he became an elder of poetry and griot in the Fort Wayne community, bringing people together in a variety of creative venues that have nurtured Fort Wayne residents for decades. Kétu has a BA in Theatre from Fordham University and an MS in Journalism from Northwestern University. He’s taught hundreds of Fort Wayne’s children, teens, adults, elders with Three Rivers Jenbe Ensemble, has been the Artistic Director for Three Rivers Institute of Afrikan Art & Culture (TRIAAC), and taught journalism at IPFW. Additionally, he has been an editor/journalist at the former Frost Newspaper, is a poet and organizing artist for RootFolks Ensemble, and has produced, co-created, and founded numerous organizations including the Identity Counts Cultural Consultant (ICCC), Big Apple Jazz Club Series (bringing NY style jazz sets to Fort Wayne’s Wunderkammer), and, “Death Row Shadows”- (which was founded with his daughter, RasAmen Oladuwa to “[shed] light on mass incarceration through storytelling.”
To view Omowalé-Kétu Oladuwa's nomination video by Curt Chrisler click play below:
To view a video of Omowalé-Kétu Oladuwa discussing his story click play below:
Artist: Michael D. Johnson
Michael D. Johnson is a unique artist. As his persona DJ PupLuv•theARTIST, Johnson brings to life his love of music through songwriting and music production. He started drawing at an early age and spent time in Atlanta, Georgia learning art through trial and error before returning to Fort Wayne to pursue his passion for art and be with his family. At his Concept Seven Art Studio in Fort Wayne, Johnson illustrates his soulful view of the world through a variety of art platforms. Johnson states “I believe that exposing others successes in the right way can ignite a sense of pride, hope and confidence in those that might not even be aware that they need it, such as my younger self.”
https://www.djpupluv-theartist.art/
Faces of the Fort is an initiative of the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission. Visit FortWaynePublicArt.com to learn more about our projects and initiatives!
As an immigrant herself, Raquel has worked since coming to Fort Wayne in 2006 to ensure that the needs and desires of immigrants as well as minorities have equal access to resources, including cultural ones. Her professional focus has been on language equality, coordinating translation and interpretation services for speakers of dozens of languages used in the community. Her work with the arts community has increased access for immigrants and minorities in Fort Wayne to non-English speakers as well.
Thomas Smith is a trailblazing educator that has left an indelible mark on the Fort Wayne community. He is beloved for his commitment to education, developing leaders, serving others and breaking barriers in the process.
Possessing a deep love of world history, the humanities, and an abundance of curiosity – Mitchell Egly is completely dedicated to the craft of communication design through illustration. He prides himself in having respect for each and every project and savors even the smallest detail that can help bring a vision to life. Forming relationships with others in a way he can be of use, his experience has provided him with a range of opportunities to contribute to many forms of corporate/campaign branding, private art works, and public installations. 
William Warfield came to Fort Wayne in 1890 at a time when economic conditions were difficult for most Americans. After joining Fort Wayne’s job market as a waiter, Warfield went on to become the city’s first black real estate mogul, found its first black newspaper- “The Vindicator”- and provide assistance in the way of investor capital and loans to the city’s black residents.
Irene Paxia along with a dedicated team at Amani Family Services work not only for interpretation, but additional family support, victim care, and community support. Without her dedication to this community, immigrants and refugees would likely be overlooked and under supported. Irene Paxia, MBA, MS, grew up in Venice, Italy. She has a master’s degree (Laurea) from the University of Bologna, Italy, in International relations, and an MBA from IPFW.
Kacy Jackson was born September 27,1991. He is the founder of The Art Of Kacy, established 7/13/2017. He is internationally recognized for his creative contributions and charitable donations. Famous for his many styles of art that can be found across the world from small-scale paintings to large-scale murals. His mission is to: Create Impact and Inspire. 
Glynn has fought for justice for underserved communities, with some critics at the table with him, and others, in the community that he has been fighting for. Some Judged him because they didn't understand the connection of layered barriers plauging the community and the lingering effects of systemic racismm and others didn't understand the opposition he faced while advocating for change and challenging old ways of thinking, but Glynn persevered paving the way for change and creating the space for other people of color locally to use thier voice and practice Civic Engagement.
While many people are aware of the dangers that child marriage presents abroad, few realize the dangers that child-marriage poses to youth right here in the United States. As a former child-bride, Genevieve Meyer is all too familiar with the plight facing young people across our nation, and has taken it upon herself to champion – and spread awareness about- the cause of ending child marriage in the state of Indiana and across our nation. As the founder of the Resiliency Foundation, Genevieve works to provide education and legislative training for organizations and support for victims of forced marriage and sexual violence.
Benjamin Swallow Duke was born in Louisville, Kentucky and grew up in Utah. He studied Literature, Philosophy and Art at the University of Utah receiving his BFA in 2002. He received his Master of Fine Arts at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore Hoffberger School of Painting, and has been teaching painting and drawing at Michigan State University since 2006. 
