Updates and happenings...

So many things are happening in the Omaha arts scene this fall, I barely have time to blog (obviously, since its been more than a month!) You can find other updates on happenings at Week Fifty Two, my other blog, if you're not getting enough art for your appetite.

Onward, then, to the aforementioned happenings.

There aren't many opportunities for straight up networking in the arts community, but the Nebraska Arts Council, the Iowa Arts Council and Iowa West Public Art are taking some initiative with the Public Art Networking Conference Sept. 24 and 24 in Council Bluffs and Omaha.

The conference is for artists, organizations and communities with public art, and for those wanting to learn more about public art. Registration is $25 and can be made online at www.iowatix.com. The conference will begn and end each day at Council Bluffs' Mid America Center. Participants will tour public arts sites in the area, hear panel discusions about public art issues and meet other Iowans and Nebraskans interested and involved in public arts.

Keynote speaker Brower Hatcher will talk about the project he did in the Bluffs' Bayliss Park. There are a number of walking and driving tours during the two-day event, too. The full list of tours is at the end of the blog post.

If you're looking for something to do tonight, check out the Print Symposium and Fair at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. UNO and the Joslyn are co-sponsoring the symposium, called "Why We Collect," that includes Eric Denker, Senior Lecturer at the National Gallery of Art; Robert H. Getscher, Professor Emeritus and author on Whistler and Vasari; and Penelope Smith, Joslyn's Registrar and Assistant Curator of Prints and Drawings. The symposium begins at 7:30 p.m. in the UNO Art Gallery. The second annual Omaha Print Fair takes place Sept. 18-20, also in the UNO Gallery. Fair participants include Thomas French Fine Art and Paul McCarron Fine Prints and Drawings, selling prints from the 15th through the 20th century, including Japanese prints. Part of the proceeds will benefit print activities at Joslyn Art Museum and UNO.

If you're looking for something to do in Lincoln this weekend, the Lux Center for the Arts' Annual Fundraising Dinner and Auction is scheduled for Saturday night, Sept. 21, at Venue Restaurant and Lounge in Lincoln. The evening features the show Friuts of their Labor and includes work from a laundry list of locals who support the center: Santiago Cal, Marcia Laging Cummings, Eddie Dominguez, Robert Hillestad, Aaron Holz, Keith Jacobshagen, Jun Kaneko, Karen Kunc and Therman Statom are among the artists who have donated artwork for this event. Doors open at 6 p.m. and ticket are $75 per person. Funds raised suppor the Lux Center and its projects. Call 402.466.8692 for more information.

If you're looking to save some money but still support the arts, check out New Animations at the Haydon Art Center in Lincoln before it closes Sept. 27. The show features national and international artists who “migrate media” through technology and content, as the impermanence of the moving image invades our memories and time. Handmade drawings, collage, prints, objects are manipulated via the time honored – and laborious - animation process and video stills, yet with new technological ease and accessibility. The renewed interest today in the animated image leads to the possibility of the ubiquitous – and alluring – animation of visual fantasies and our everyday world.

This show intends to lead viewers to an art movement that is a perfect blend of laborious hand work that can reach wide audiences, that is enjoying a revival beyond children’s cartoons, that counters the expectation of computer made animations. These artists invite a lingering engagement.

Enjoy the arts! Until next time...


Full list of Driving/Walking tours as part of the Public Art Networking Conference:

Public Art in Downtown Council Bluffs
A walking tour of public art in downtown Council Bluffs includes the works of Brower Hatcher, Debbie Masuoka and others.

IWPA sites at the Mid-America Center
In the spring of 2004, the Iowa West Foundation began to reenergize Council Bluffs as a place that promotes civic pride, attracts new residents, encourages community revitalization and welcomes new visitors through a high-quality, integrated public art program called Iowa West Public Art. This tour will showcase completed works by William King and works of Jun Kaneko and Jonathan Borofsky in progress.

Kaneko Studios
Visit the studio of Jun Kaneko and see numerous works by the artist.

The Kaneko
The Kaneko is an innovative creativity center and museum being developed in downtown Omaha. Hear about the plans for this exciting center of innovation and creativity.

Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
A 25-year-old artist residency program and contemporary art center in Omaha. Participants will view artwork on display for the 10th Annual Bemis Center Art Auction.

Downtown Omaha Public Art
Downtown Omaha provides an interesting mix of public and corporate interests in a variety of public art that can be viewed from the road. The driving tour will include the Council Bluffs entrance gateway, the pedestrian bridge, Omaha’s Qwest Center projects and several other projects.

First National Sculpture Parks
Participants will be guided through First National’s sculpture parks in downtown Omaha, which include the Spirit of Nebraska’s Wilderness Sculpture Park and the Pioneer Courage Sculpture Park. These First National Bank commissions have transformed a downtown city block into one of the largest installments of bronze sculptures in the world.

The Peter Kiewit Institute
Nebraska has one of the oldest public art laws in the country. Participants will view several key examples by internationally-known artists Alice Aycock and Dale Chihuly that reside in close proximity at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Peter Kiewit Institute.

Vandalism hits Durham Museum

Vandals caused an estimated $10,000 worth of damage to the exterior of downtown Omaha's Durham Museum last weekend. The museum said Thursday that vandals used a lift currently being used by contractors working to refurbish the building to climb onto the roof. The vandals broke roof tiles, damaged the roof of the building housing the museum's historic train collection and poured glue and paint across several surfaces. Museum officials believe the vandalism happened either Friday, Aug. 8 or Saturday, Aug. 9. Those with information about the vandalism are encourage to call the Omaha Police Department at 444-4877.

Design Alliance Omaha: Season Two

Design Alliance Omaha is preparing to begin its second season in less than a month. The group is aiming to increase membership in its second year, and wants to remind potential new members of the benefits of joining, which include:

-- Admission to all four daOMA lectures at Joslyn Art Museum
-- Access to Pecha Kucha Night-Omaha, an internationally known presentation event where 20 presenters give 20 slides for 20 seconds each (the Omaha edition will take place Nov. 13 at Nomad Lounge.)

To get an idea of what you'll take in as a member (or as a non-member, of course.) The first season two lecture is slated for Sept. 18. Fashion designer Linda Loudermilk will lecture on how fashion and sustainable design meet. W Magazine named Loudermilk one of the top 20 innovators in fashion and Elle Magazine called her "the Vivienne Westwood of eco" (which is a huge compliment, p.s.) Loudermilk's main goal in her work is to make sustainability sexy.

The remainder of the season includes Karim Rashid, product designer, who will lecture on Oct. 30; Hani Rashid, architect, who will lecture in partnership with AIA Omaha on March 19, 2009; and Walter Hood, landscape architect, who will lecture in partnership with ASLA on May 14, 2009.

For more information or to join, visit http://www.daoma.org/.

Artist opportunities

I got an email from the Nebraska Arts Council today announcing a bunch of public art project opportunities and other artsy opportunities for artists and those affiliated with the arts. Take a gander:

• The Iowa/Nebraska Public Art Networking Conference is slated for Sept. 24-25. The event only costs $25 and artists, organizations, civic leaders and arts appreciators are all welcome. Events include tours of public art in Council Bluffs and Omaha, panel discusions, and a keynote address from Brower Hatcher on his Bayliss Park project. Register online at http://www.iowatix.com/. For more information visit http://publicartconference.wordpress.com/ or contact Jody Boyer at 712-309-3008/ jboyer@iowawest.com
  
  
• The University of Nebraska at Kearney One Percent for Art project at Bruner Hall of Science application (RFQ) deadline is August 15. Budget is $98,000. Please contact J.D. Hutton at the information listed below if you have any questions.
  
  
• Artists are invited to apply to live in the new Harvester Art Lofts in Council Bluffs. The building, designed with artist residents in mind (high ceilings, wide hallways, ramp, commercial elevator, and more) will contain 1-3 bedroom apartment/work units, community space and retail operations space. Artists which meet the income guideline requirements are eligible to apply for this unique housing opportunity; the retail units would be ideal for creative enterprises. Visit Artspace’s website to learn more: http://www.artspaceusa.org/neighborhood/councilbluffs/. Get the details on the project and application information from Andrew Michaelson at Artspace Projects at (612) 465-0216 or andrewm@artspaceusa.org.
  
  
• The Leavenworth Neighborhood Association announced a plan to commission a mural on the east-facing exterior wall of the handball court at Omaha’s Dewey Park. The mural should cover the entire wall which is 40 feet wide by 20 feet high. Project budget is $12,700 including artist fees, mural design, site preparation, sealant, all necessary materials, scaffolding, etc. The selected artist will be asked to participate in community events to promote the project. Proposals are requested by August 31, 2008 with finalists announced in September and selection of the artist following in October. Completion of the project is expected in spring 2009. For information about the mural project or to view the Call for Artists, visit: http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/departments/mayor/commissions/PAC/pac.htm.
  
  
• If you're in the market for a residency, consider the Corning Centre for the Fine Arts in Corning, Iowa. CFFA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of interdisciplinary arts and has a residency program for emerging, mid-career and established artists. The program is currently looking for new artist residents. Artist residencies range from three to twelve months. CCFA provides artists with a studio space in the arts center, access to a fully equipped pottery studio and a fully furnished apartment for a small monthly fee. CCFA provides artists with the physical space, technical assistance, and support to create new work. For more information visit http://www.corningfinearts.org/ or contact Linda Shearer at lshearer@corning.k12.i.a.us 641-322-4736 or acedc@frontiernet.net 641-322-5229.
  
  
• The Artist-To-Artist I-80 Outreach Relief Project hopes to assist Iowa artists affected by the recent storms and floodwaters, MJ and Bob Lamberson, in coordination with CSPS@Legion Arts, have created a support outreach relief project. On Wednesday, August 20th, they will start at the west end of Interstate 80 and collect donated items for these artists. Cash donations are also accepted; call the contacts below to learn more. The group has identified several Nebraska drop off locations for donations from North Platte to Omaha. The Omaha area drop off location is the Hot Shops Art Center-they will take items on August 22. The group expects to arrive at their destination of Cedar Rapids, IA also on August 22. To learn more about the project, please contact MJ and Bob Lamberson at (308) 226-2543; (308) 750-2588; (308) 750-1889; or (308) 584-3846, or email lambrson@cornhusker.net.
  
  
• The National Endowment for the Arts announced $100,000 in grants and additional resources to support Iowan and Midwestern arts communities affected by this year's historic flooding. An NEA grant of $100,000 to the Iowa Arts Council will help Iowa artists and arts organizations resume their work. In addition, the NEA and the Institute of Museum Library Services are supporting the distribution of a new publication, Guide to Navigating Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration Disaster Aid for Cultural Institutions. Concurrent with these efforts, an NEA-supported Governors' Institute on Community Design recently brought together Iowa leaders to develop strategies for rebuilding the state after one of the worst storm seasons to hit the region.
  

For more information on listed projects and events, contact: JD Hutton, artist services and communications manager at the Nebraska Arts Council, at (800) 341-4067, (402) 595-2142, or at jayne.hutton@nebraska.gov.

Bemis happenings

So it's hardly unsual for me to be writing about the Bemis Center, but the place is constantly doing cool stuff. Two upcoming events are no exception. (And be sure to add this site to your reader of choice or list of favorites: I'll regularly be updating the site with events and happenings that don't make it into the print edition but are definitely worth checking out.)

A new show opens this weekend in the Bemis Underground. vision/re-envision features work by artist-curators Matt Carlson and Phillip Faulkner.

The duo plays with pixellation, variegated videos and the power of technology in the show, which layers digital print and screen media with the element of time. Faulkner uses painting and new media to create a "new genre" of art, while Carlson's series of pixel paintings (one is pictured above) takes abstraction and moves it toward the digital world. This is Carlson's third appearance in a Bemis Underground show, and he recently graduated from UNO with a BFA in painting. He also won the Nebraska Young Artist Award in 2002. Faulkner graduated from Denver University earlier this year with an MFA in electronic media. He graduated from UNO with his BFA in 2005. He's also previously shown work in the Underground. The show opens Friday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m.

The day after the Underground opening, be sure to go back to Bemis for a kid-friendly, all ages art and music event. Whoop De Doo, part of Bemis' Endless Summer Series, will be a truly one-of-a-kind arts event. Artists Jaimie Warren and Matt Roche, along with lots of collaborators, will film a faux public access television show from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The show will be filmed with a live studio audience and will include lots of performances. The Kansas City based artists describe the show as "part Japanese game show, part Hee Haw and part high school talent show." Scheduled artists at the Omaha taping include gospel group Angels of Faith, dulcimer artist Phyllis Dunne, the Omaha Pug Club, a performance from Omaha band Tilly and the Wall, the barbershop quartet Heartland Harmonizers, a performance from Carnal Torpor, West African dancing and drumming from the African Culture Connection, drill team dancing from the Salem Stepping Saints and more. The artists will live and work in the Bemis in the days leading up to the show and will take a break to talk about the experience on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m.

photography above: top, Pixel Painting, Matt Carlson, 2008; bottom, Way Up There, Phillip Faulkner, 2008

Welcome to the Mixed Media Blog

Hello, Mixed Media readers!

Welcome to the online presence of my twice-monthly column, Mixed Media. I'm excited to have an online presence because, as I've learned, two columns a month aren't nearly enough to cover all the artsy news and happenings in Omaha.

I'll be using this space for lots of different stuff: announcements of all kinds, capsule-sized reviews of shows and of course, general musings.

I encourage you to also check out my personal blog: www.weekfiftytwo.blogspot.com, where I talk about art on a more national level as well as things I see and do (that are mostly art related) both in Omaha and when I'm traveling.

As always, please leave comments. I want to know what you think. If you'd rather email me, you can find me at mixedmedia@thereader.com.

Signing off.