Friends of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art are sharing their cherished stories with us! These Museum Memories come from community members recalling experiences at the FWMoA that made a positive impact. From inspiring exhibits to meaningful events, these moments remind us of our own transformative museum experiences. Today we hear from Bob Cross and his experiences with FWMoA.
B: I grew up in Goshen, my parents met while studying at the Fort Wayne School of Art during the post-war 1940s. After attending several art schools myself and a tenure with a fine art publishing company in New York, I found myself back in the Midwest.
Sometime around 2012, I had the good fortune to find representation with Sharon Eisbart Corporate Art. My first visit to the museum began one day when Sharon suggested that I also work with Abby Leon, the director of Paradigm Gallery. After voicing my concerns about having two art dealers in one market, she calmly wrote directions to the museum on the back of an envelope, passed it my way, then told me to go meet Abby—NOW! Best day ever. Abby is amazing, Paradigm Gallery is amazing, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art is amazing!
But it gets even better. In 2018 I created the first of two shows for the museum, Stream of Consciousness—a solo exhibition of my work—followed by 2021’s exhibition A Sense of Place—Abstract Art of Northern Indiana, a show that traveled to the Indiana State Museum in 2024.
I visit a lot of museums, and in my estimation, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art is the best in its class. It’s the best because over time leading patrons have had the good sense to invest in our cultural identity and then select a visionary director, Charles Shepard, to grow the facility to its regional fine art prominence. Our museum is a real treasure. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.
Bob’s work is on view in the FWMoA atrium, and his work for sale is in the Paradigm Gallery. Check it out when you visit!