Art Venues in Lincoln Expand

Experience the excitement, beauty and serenity of art.

 by Judy Shutts

Sheldon Museum of Art

Sheldon houses a major collection of American art in a breath-taking building designed by American architect Philip Johnson located on the downtown UNL campus. Their collection includes works by such artists as John Singer Sargent, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol.

In addition, visitors to the UNL campus can now experience a new public art corridor. Superstructure on 4 by David Smith, has been moved from the west side of the museum to the east side where it marks the first part of the corridor.

The corridor begins at 12th and Q Streets, where Torn Notebook, by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, sits on the east side of the street. The Sheldon has commissioned a tall sculpture from Richard Hunt, an internationally-known sculptor, to be installed at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, across from the Torn Notebook.

The corridor runs north onto the UNL campus, with Smith’s piece corresponding with Jacques Lipchitz’s Bather (Baigneuse) that sits immediately in front of Sheldon. Other new pieces will join the sculptures already on campus to complete the art corridor.

The International Quilt Study Center  and Museum Expands

Building upon the success of the Quilt House and the generosity of the Robert and Ardis James Foundation, a 13,000 square feet addition is underway at the IQSC at 33rd and Holdrege. The $7 million addition will include more gallery space and almost double the storage space for quilt collections.

Carolyn Ducey, curator of collections, said visitors not only want to see more traditional quilts, but a variety of quilts and textiles. Along with an increase in the gallery space and quilt storage, storage will be modified to accommodate more clothing, other textiles and ephemera. “Textiles tend to be kept at home and unappreciated,” she said.

The additional space will help the Quilt House accomplish its mission as an international museum by allowing more international collecting and research. The international exhibits have become more popular, Ducey said. “Immigrants appreciate seeing something familiar.”

Laura Chapman, communications director, said the way people experience museums has changed in the last five years. The digital gallery will be updated and revamped to reflect those changes. The digital gallery will enhance the museum experience for on-site visitors as well as those viewing quilts online.

June 2015 will be the opening date of “Ambiquity and Enigma: Recent Quilts by Michael James, an internationally known quilt artist.

Michael James has spent 40 years traveling, writing, and actively creating quilts, Ducey said. “He prints fabrics using a digital printer, so he not only creates fabric works of art, he designs and creates the fabric itself.”

“With the expansion and new director, you will be able to see the focus of the museum. It’s an exciting time,” Ducey said.

Keichel Fine Art Expands Its Gallery Space

Keichel Fine Art at 1208 O Street in downtown Lincoln is undergoing a $1.344 million renovation. The building will be highlighted by colored LED uplights that focus on the four-story building. A projector in the awning will project images of paintings or special events on the sidewalk in front of the gallery.

Buck Keichel, gallery owner, said, “The changes will welcome people in.”

And once visitors enter, the changes in the gallery will be evident. The renovation includes the third and fourth floors for more gallery space plus a rooftop art and sculpture garden. The private garden will be open periodically to the public. The first floor features modern art and the second floor features mid-century artists active in Middle America. Works on paper will be displayed on the third floor.

Keichel said the lighting tastefully illuminates the building. It’s all part of the plan to improve his world-class gallery, he said. “And having more space means we can have several shows that offer a taste of everything.”

New Darger HQ gallery showcases contemporary art

Darger HQ is a new contemporary art gallery in the Parrish Studios on the second floor at 14th and O Streets. Gallery owner Launa Bacon moved back to Nebraska from Los Angeles where she managed Darger HG as an online gallery. “I saw what was going on here and I wanted to bring true, contemporary international and U.S. art to Lincoln,” Bacon said. “I also wanted to provide an incubator space for emerging local artists.”

Darger HQ distinguishes itself from other galleries by exhibiting true contemporary art, instead of more traditional art. An artist herself, Bacon shows her collages and oil paintings in the gallery. She also creates videos, installations and sculpture.

The gallery draws people in on First Fridays, a popular monthly event that showcases art exhibits in Lincoln. The gallery also brings people in for the Wednesday evening lectures, as well as workshops and classes. Classes offer instruction in a variety of media such as photography, drawing, oil painting, street art or installation work.

Darger HG sells online and in the gallery. Bacon said contemporary art is not just for rich people, with art pieces ranging from $20 to $200,000. “If you see a piece you like, you can order it online,” she said. But Darger HQ is not like other online galleries. “We are not a supermarket, we are a grass-roots gallery of international contemporary art.”

More information about exhibits, lectures, classes and workshops can be found at dargerhq.com.

Burkholder Project

One of the city’s first Haymarket galleries, the Burkholder Project is owned and directed by Anne Burkholder. She shares her gallery studios with local artists whose artwork includes paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media, dolls and jewelry.

The gallery, which features a new show monthly, is at 710 P Street in the Haymarket District. For details, visit the website at www.BurkholderProject.com

Parrish Studios

Parrish Studios feature studio spaces for small galleries and businesses. The studios’ intent is to foster the creative community. It is home to several art galleries, art studios, photographers, and apparel shops.

A popular destination on First Fridays, Parrish Studios host 600-800 people the first Friday of every month. The Parrish Studios are on the second floor at 14th and O Street.

The Eisentrager Howard Gallery

The Eisentrager Howard Gallery features the art of faculty and students in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

It is located in Richards Hall on Stadium Drive and T Street. For more information call 502-472-3550.

The Kruger Collection

The Kruger Collection of Miniature Furnishings and Decorative Arts is located in the College of Architecture at UNL and features four centuries of miniatures in one space. The collection is made up of 20,000 art miniatures. Admission is free to see this collection that is entertaining for all ages. Call 402-472-3560 for more information.

Rotunda Gallery

This small gallery is in the Nebraska Union at 12th and R Streets and holds exhibitions throughout the year. Call 402-472-9749 for more information.

Robert Hillestad Textile Gallery

This gallery is devoted to textiles from art and apparel, from East to West. Their collection spans many centuries and features the work of a variety of famous and emerging designers. Call 402-472-2911 for details on exhibitions.

Lux Center for the Arts

Exhibits at the Lux Center feature artwork of local, regional, and national artists. You can explore your creativity by taking classes in pottery, printmaking, jewelry, glass or fiber. Classes are held for children and adults. The gallery participates in the First Friday Artwalk and is located in the Historic University Place at 2601 North 48th Street. For more information, visit luxcenter.org.

Noyes Art Gallery

A mainstay in the art community, Noyes represents up to 50 artists who show a variety of original painting, photos, pottery, clothing and jewelry.

Noyes Gallery has a new show each month, and a reception on the first Friday evening of every month. It is located at 119 South 9th Street. Call 402-475-1061 for more information.

Live Yes Studio and Gallery

Live Yes is an alternative arts-based day program for adults with developmental disabilities at 330 S. 13th Street. The gallery is open for First Fridays offering music, food, art and good company. Call 402-904-4218 for more information.

Great Plains Art Gallery

A sculpture of prairie pioneers greets visitors as they enter the Great Plains Art Gallery located at the corner of 12th and Q Streets near the UNL campus. The Museum houses the Christlieb Collection of western art that, among others, includes works by Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. It also hosts exhibits of art, video, and photography as well as First Friday events.

Exhibits cover a wide range of topics relating to the Great Plains. The exhibit, “Cinematic Framing of the West,” brings together western artwork and cinema. The Western was one of the popular genres of silent film at the beginning of the 20th century. It developed into the classic westerns of the 40s to contemporary westerns of the 60s and 70s. The exhibit showcases the five elements of a western film shown through the lens of the permanent collection.

For a complete list of exhibits or gallery hours call 402-472-6220 or visit www.unl.edu/plains/. 

Iron Tail Gallery

Iron Tail Gallery features a new artist each month with openings on First Fridays. Iron Tail also does custom framing, commissioned artwork, hand-painted signs and in-home curation. Located at 2120 Winthrop Road, next to Henrys on South, the gallery particiates in First Fridays with live music, food and drink.

For more details, call 402-580-0333 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/irontailgallery. 

Gallery 9 Professional Artists Affiliation

Gallery 9 celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2014 by inviting past members to show artwork and attend a First Friday opening. Known as a contemporary art and fine crafts gallery, the gallery showcases paintings, ceramics, metal sculpture, glass and jewelry.

During the holiday season, shoppers can choose from a variety of gifts on display at the gallery. In July, the gallery features a group invitational show.

Gallery 9 is located in the historic Mission Arts Building at 124 South 9th Street.

For details, call 402-477-2822 or visit the website at gallerynine.wordpress.com/.

Michael Forsberg Gallery

Forsberg is a well-known wildlife and conservation photographer who works primarily in the Great Plains. The gallery is located in the 100+year-old Armour Building in the Historic Haymarket.

For hours and upcoming events, call 402-444-5030 or contact@michaelforsberg.com.