Over five years, photographer Michael July approached a variety of individuals and asked them to participate as subject models for a volume he was creating to chronicle the evolution of the Afro in America. He was able to capture the best Afros as worn by people of virtually every shade, ethnicity, country and age group.

FWMoA unveils its most recent curator collaboration on May 11 with Brilliant Optics: A Spectrum of Mediums and Color, curated by Fort Wayne artist Josef Zimmerman. The exhibition features work by contemporary artists from across the country who use color in their work as a tool to communicate with the viewer. In short, vibrancy is the key to this show.

One of Dale Chihuly's most daring innovations was to challenge the notion that glass was best displayed on a pedestal by creating pieces intended to interact with architecture and the natural environment. This exhibit, in collaboration with the Franklin Park Conservatory, exemplifies that concept by showcasing several of Chihuly's most beloved series such as Macchia, Fiori, and Niijima Floats.

This exhibition, organized by Habatat Galleries, is the oldest and largest annual contemporary glass exhibition in the country. Selected from an array of glass masters, this exhibition features 26 of the best studio glass artists in the world. In its 41st year, the invitational presents contemporary glass sculpture in the greater context of international influence with unconventional forms and processes.

Chalk Walk entertains, engages, and educates the 22,000 viewers who flock to see the spectacle unfold. The event is based on an Italian tradition of street painting that dates to the 16th century, known as i madonnari (street painters). Using pastels, artists may choose to reproduce existing artworks or create their own in their designated square. Held in conjunction with the Three Rivers Festival, Chalk Walk is truly a community event and will draw on the amazing talents of area, regional and national artists. Individuals and families with no training in art especially encouraged to participate.