December 30, 2022
Contact: April McCampbell
P: 260-427-6024
C: 260-241-1932
Manager of Communications
Fort Wayne, Ind. –The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory at 1100 South Calhoun Street presents the following events and programs this month.
Featuring:
California Dreamin’ Showcase Exhibit
January 14-April 16, 2023, public hours
Calling all mamas and papas—find your inner beach bum at the Botanical Conservatory. Bring on the good vibes and hang loose at the botanical boardwalk accented with sun-loving tropical plants and vivid waves of color. Let the kiddos spring into the spirit of surf, sand and sun! Be sure to experience this Cali-cool winter exhibit. Sponsored by the English Bonter Mitchell Foundation and the Waterfield Foundation.
Winterval at the Conservatory
January 28, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Celebrate the coolest season with the Fort Wayne Parks Department and its Winterval partners! Festivities at the Botanical Conservatory include a live ice carving being sculpted outdoors and on display near the main entrance. Regular admission fees apply to indoor festivities and include a Cali-cool craft, plant giveaway and exploration of the California Dreamin’ Showcase Exhibit. Guests are also welcome to come in and enjoy the warmth of Conjure Coffee and the Conservatory Shop.
Bee the Change/$1 Thursdays
Thursday, January 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
On the first Thursday of the month a special Bee the Change activity offers a positive reflection of self-worth and the potential for positive impact in the community beginning at 5:30 p.m. The January Bee the Change theme is “Botanical Fireworks”. No registration is required. The Conservatory admission is just $1 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. every Thursday. Civic Center Garage parking is validated for free.
Art Display
Kerstin Glaess: “Seascapes”
January 14-April 15
Kerstin Glaess is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist working primarily in oil, collage and photography. She is best known for her paintings based on photographs and memories from her worldwide military adventures as a child. Kerstin continues to be inspired by a nature collection of flora, fauna and landscapes from her various homes across two continents, two countries, eleven states, one U.S. Territory and counting! Her diverse collections of collages and drawings focus on the shared human experience teasing the borders between dreamscapes and reality. Seascapes is fittingly on display during the California Dreamin’ Showcase Exhibit at the Botanical Conservatory.
Also Happening:
T’ai Chi for Relaxation
Tuesdays, January 31-February 28
Quiet the mind and relax with the ancient Chinese practice of T’ai Chi. Through user-friendly Qigong exercises, participants will discover harmony and flow in movement with Liz Monnier, a Feldenkrais® Practitioner and Bones for Life® Certified Instructor. Sessions are available from 9:30-10:30 a.m. or 5:00-6:00 p.m. Please bring a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes. Individual garden admission is included. Sessions are designed for ages 18+. Register online at www.fortwayneparks.org or by phone at 260-427-6000 by January 24.
Happy Smallidays Showcase Garden Exhibit
Until January 8, 2023, public hours
Little Mouse sneaks into the Conservatory looking to cozy up for the smallidays. However, there is so much commotion that he keeps getting nudged to the side by the hurry and scurry of holiday decorating. He wants nothing more than for everyone to slow down and find joy in the little things. Follow Little Mouse in this endearing holiday story and be inspired by the heartfelt lesson he has to share. Sponsored by the English Bonter Mitchell Foundation, Waterfield Foundation, PBS Fort Wayne and Majic 95.1.
Art Display
Meghan Wilhelm: “Presence” Until January 5
Meghan Wilhelm is an artist and illustrator from Fort Wayne, IN. While she participates in various local art initiatives, her artwork has also been exhibited at a national level. Wilhelm’s display Presence at the Botanical Conservatory collects the body of work created as her senior thesis project. Since her graduation from the Herron School of Art and Design, these animal-themed pieces are exhibited together for the first time! The sole concept behind the collection is to explore the impact and the presence that animals invoke on the environments in which they live. Each piece melds an interest in the natural and fantastical and brings light to the importance of several notable endangered species.
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