Mayor Sharon Tucker joined Electric Works leaders and international artist Damien Mitchell to dedicate the City of Fort Wayne’s newest and largest mural. The mural, named “Echoes of the Future,” is a 15,000-square-foot work of public art created by Mitchell, with support from three local artist apprentices: Hannah Boersema, Bernadette Fellows and Chrystel Lopez.
An Australian native, Mitchell spoke about the mural and its inspiration, saying, “Echoes of the Future brings oversized elements of the natural world into the built urban landscape. Interlaced with these nature themes are historic patent drawings, actual inventions developed and patented by the innovators who once worked at the General Electric Campus.”
Mayor Sharon Tucker celebrated the progress on the campus, noting, “It’s an honor to join Damien Mitchell in celebrating the newest and largest mural in the City of Fort Wayne, adding to the vibrant tapestry of existing public art throughout our city. ‘Echoes of the Future’ will be enjoyed by many in our community, including the first residents of The Elex. I’m thrilled to see Electric Works continuing to fulfill the vision of being a place where people live, work, play, learn, and innovate.”
Named after the association of women employed by General Electric, The Elex will include 296 apartments, fitness and wellness facilities, and commercial space. The development includes 89 affordable housing units, with 59 of those units restricted to individuals aged 55 and above.
Upon completion of the event, Electric Works leaders provided a hard hat preview tour of The Elex, a mixed-use, mixed-income residential development at the heart of the innovation district. The first building along Broadway is now open, with residents moving in as construction crews work to finish the second building later this year.
Mitchell added, “By connecting historical imagery alongside images of youth who are continuing this legacy of entrepreneurship and innovation, we celebrate the past, present and future of this incredible campus.”