“Art This Way feels like a world-class art gallery that is open 24 hours a day,” says Michael Galbraith, President & CEO of the Fort Wayne Downtown Improvement District, in regard to all of the public art available to enjoy throughout Downtown Fort Wayne.
Art This Way operates under the umbrella of the Fort Wayne Downtown Improvement District. Art This Way Manager Alexandra Hall has helped bring Art This Way to life through alley activations. Art This Way works to raise funds and act as the liaison between property owners and artists to bring large scale professional art installations to Fort Wayne.
Get to know the “Double Plus” in Downtown Fort Wayne. The Double Plus weaves between residential areas, local shops and restaurants, and is home to numerous pieces of art, light installations, and family-friendly areas to hang out. When viewed from above, the alleys align to make two “plus” signs within the busy downtown streets.
The Double Plus can be found in the alleyways between W. Berry Street, E. Wayne Street, and W. Washington Street (that run east and west) and S. Calhoun Street and S. Harrison Street (that run north and south).
The south area of the Double Plus is home to numerous works of art including pieces by Alex Mendez, Alexandra Hall, Diane Groenert, Terry Ratliff, and Theoplis Smith placed between 2016 and 2017. There are also Art This Way murals from 1010, Matthew Plett, Arlin Graff, and Bryan Ballinger as well as a Clean Drains Fort Wayne mural by Julie Wall.
In the north area of the Double Plus, there are Art This Way murals by Shawn Dunwoody, Tammy Davis, Tim Parsley, and JUURI. The north area is also home to the 77 Steps light sculpture, the Porch Off Calhoun, and a Bryan Ballinger mural on the side of the City Center Garage adjacent to the Porch Off Calhoun.
String lights as well as furniture pieces to relax or dine at can be found throughout both the north and south areas of the Double Plus during warmer months of the year. Whether you are taking family photos during the day, or exploring the lights in the evening after grabbing a slice of pizza from 816 Pint & Slice or Big Apple Pizza, the Double Plus is accessible, colorful, and open to the public every single day.
Alexandra Hall says, “The Double Plus is always evolving. If you visit Downtown Fort Wayne, you may find new murals being created throughout the summer. What started as an art project has grown into an all-inclusive downtown experience and public space that is welcome and safe for everyone.”
by Stephen J. Bailey on behalf of the Downtown Improvement District














