Art Abounds in Lincoln

by Judy Shutts

Art galleries and museums in Lincoln are sure to please both newcomers as well as veterans to the art scene. A myriad of Lincoln galleries and museums make it fun to explore. The galleries participate in First Fridays, also know as the Friday Art Walk, which showcases new exhibits along with a social time that includes refreshments and music. And many of the galleries offer classes in various artistic mediums and host special events.

Sheldon Art Museum

Many changes in Sheldon resulted from the 50th anniversary of the Philip Johnson designed building and the 12th anniversary of the Sheldon Art Association in 2013.

“Painting-From the Collection of the Sheldon Museum of Art” is an exhibit that features some of the museum’s most beloved and iconic paintings. Artists include John Singer Sargent, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol.

Visitors to the UNL campus will soon be treated to 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 will begin at 12th and Q streets, where the 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-know sculptor, to be installed at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, across from the Torn Notebook.

The corridor will run 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.

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 painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, dolls and jewelry.

Gallery Alley

New on the horizon is “Gallery Alley.” Anne Burkholder consulted with Urban Development to transform the alley west of the Burkholder project into “Gallery Alley.” A pedestrian walkway will lead from the parking garage under the viaduct, directly into the Haymarket. Updates include resurfacing the ally and adding new artwork and lighting.

1914 Woods Brothers Companies Building

The year 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the building that has been home to the Burkholder Project since 1987. The building has housed several Woods Brothers companies over the years. There is much that is new in the Haymarket and it seems fitting to celebrate its anniversary. A special celebration will pay tribute to the building’s role in the history of the Haymarket area.

Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. –2 p.m. Look for the blue awning at 710 P Street in the Haymarket District. www.BurkholderProject.com

International Quilt Study Center and Museum expands gallery space

Art and quilt enthusiasts will be able to view even more exhibits with the completion of a 12,400 square foot expansion to International Quilt Study Center and Museum. The Robert and Ardis James Foundation gave a $7 million gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation’s current Campaign for Nebraska for expansion of Quilt House on the UNL East Campus.

“This is an exciting time for the Quilt House,” Laura Chapman, communications coordinator for the IQSCM said. “The exhibition space will double, so there will be even more opportunity to showcase our collections and acquire more quilts.”

In addition to gallery space for exhibitions, there will be added room for quilt collection storage and care, education and museum operations.

The IQSCM will conduct business as usual during the construction in 2014 with several new exhibits:

The Whole Story

Focusing on quilts made of whole cloth, which have no piecing, this exhibit has an added twist. Using a technique she developed for digitally tracing quilting lines, guest curator Linda Baumgarten highlights the quilting stitch. Visitors can view the stitching design displayed alongside each quilt.

New Acquisitions I

Quilts that are new to the IQSCM’s collection are on display in this display of antique and contemporary art quilts of Western origins. Traditional designs as well as studio art quilts make up the exhibit.

Design Dynamics of Log Cabin Quilts

As a result of the Industrial Revolution, a variety of fabrics were available to American women during the last half of the 19th century. Quilts in this exhibit feature more than 100 different cotton prints and the Log Cabin pattern is expressed in many different designs.

New Acquisitions II

New international arrivals, which depict unique styles from China and SE Asia, are highlighted in this exhibition. 

Some of these quilts have been featured in the online Quilt of the Month. To receive the Quilt of the Month, visit the website at www.quiltstudy.org

In addition to the exhibits, the International Quilt Study Center and Museum invites the public to participate in a variety of events. National Quilting Day celebrates the Lincoln Quilters Guild, and hosts speakers along with demonstrations and special programs.

Tuesday Talk, held the 4th Tuesday of each month, is open to anyone, as is the Quilt Identification Day, which occurs four times a year.

For details about exhibits or programs at the IQSCM, visit the website at www.quiltstudy.org

Parrish Studios

Parrish Studios features artists’ studios and space for small businesses. Jim Stevens and Carrie Masters created the studio spaces on the second floor at 14th and O Street to foster the creative community. It is home to Tugboat Gallery, photographers, a graphic designer and a poet as well as some clothing shops.

A popular destination on First Fridays, Parrish Studios hosts from 600-800 visitors the first Friday of each month.

Noyes Gallery

Noyes Gallery celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2013 with a special event that is just one of many that visitors and patrons can enjoy. Exhibits, events and art classes are on the Noyes calendar. Artist members at Noyes Gallery show paintings, photos, pottery and jewelry. A new show is featured each month. A mainstay at the First Friday Art Walk, the gallery at 119 South 9th Street holds a reception from 6:30–9:00 p.m. The gallery is also open 10:00 a.m.–5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. To find out more, call 402-475-1061 or visit the Facebook page.

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 or find them on Facebook.

Great Plains Art Gallery

Prairie grasses adorning the window and new logos give Hewitt Place a fresh look. That’s where visitors will find the Great Plains Art Gallery, home to the Christlieb Collection of American West and Great Plains art, including sculptures, paintings and drawings.

Featured in 2014 is the exhibit, “Contemporary Indigeneity,” which consists of Native American art, both traditional and contemporary. Also appearing in 2014 is “Maximilian-Bodmer Expedition: Travels in the Interior of North America, which depicts reflections of landscapes, wildlife, frontier settlements, and Native Americans.

The gallery at 1155 Q Street is open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10–5 p.m. or Sunday at 1:30–5:00 p.m. 
Or view the exhibits on First Fridays of each month. For dates of exhibits call 402-472-6220, visit www.unl.edu/plains/gallery/gallery.shtml

Iron Tail Gallery

Iron Tail Gallery is Lincoln’s newest art space. Owned by Anthony Slattery and Marie Kisling, both artists, the gallery will feature a variety of art mediums.

The exhibitions will change each month and will include paintings, pottery, beadwork, comic book art and jewelry. A recent exhibition featured old woven Navajo rugs, but they had a modern look. “The way we hang the artwork is cutting edge, different from most galleries,” Kisling said.

Iron Tail is at 2120 Winthrop Road, connecting to Henry’s on South Street. The gallery will be hosting a First Friday opening each month. The openings, which will go until 10:00 p.m., will feature live folk, blues or jazz music, along with food and drink.

Visit the website at www.Iron-Tail.com or call 402-580-0333.

Gallery 9

An independent gallery in the historic Mission Arts Building at 124 South 9th Street, it features more than 25 professional artists who work in a variety of media.

The gallery is open from Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and on Sundays from 12 noon –5 p.m. There is free parking on nights and weekends in the lot behind the gallery.

For upcoming shows, visit the website at www.gallerynine.wordpress.com. or follow them on Facebook.

Michael Forsberg Gallery

Forsberg is a well-know 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 District.

Contact the gallery for hours and upcoming events: 402-477-5030 or 888-812-3790 or contact@michaelforsberg.com

The Eisentrager Howard Gallery

The Eisentrager provides the public with opportunities to discuss contemporary artwork, from both national and international sources. It is the gallery for the Department of Art and Art History and is located in Richards Hall at Stadium Drive and T Street. For information call 402-472-3560.

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. One of the most impressive miniature collections in the country, it consists of 20,000 contemporary art miniatures.

Admission is free. This amazing collection is fun for all ages and interests. Call 402-472-3560 for more information.

Rotunda Gallery

This small gallery is located in the Nebraska Union at 14th and R Streets and holds exhibitions throughout the year. Call 402-472-9749 for more information.

State Museum of Natural History

This museum is located on UNL’s campus in Morrill Hall, locally known as “Elephant Hall.” It’s the largest museum in the state, and home to beautiful Lakota Sioux items and an exclusive African Art collection, the only one of its kind in Nebraska. For details, call 402-427-2642 or visit the website at www.museum.unl.edu.

Robert Hillestad Textile Gallery

Located at UNL’s Home Economics Building on East Campus, the gallery is devoted to textiles from art and apparel, from east to west. The collection spans many centuries and features the work of a variety of famous and emerging designers. Call 402-472-2911 or check the website at www.textilegallery.unl.edu for dates and upcoming exhibitions.

Kiechel Fine Art

Kiechel Fine Art offers an extensive inventory of art, specializing in contemporary and 20th century regional art. The gallery is an excellent source for work by Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood. Visit www.kiechelart.com or call 402-42-9553 for details.

Against the Wall Gallery

Against The Wall Gallery and Framing is owned by John O’Hare. The gallery features works of local painters, photographers, sculptors and potters. Find them in the Purbaugh building in the Havelock District at 6220 Havelock Ave. or at www.againstthewallgallery.com

Lux Center for the Arts

Exhibits feature artwork of local, regional and national artists. You can explore your creativity by taking classes in pottery, printmaking, painting, jewelry, glass or fiber.

The Lux Center participates in First Friday Artwalks with one or two new exhibits each month. The gallery is located in the Historic University Place at 2601 N. 48th Street. For more information, visit luxcenter.org.

Other galleries in town:

Elder Gallery
Nebraska Wesleyan University
5000 Saint Paul Ave.

McClelland Art Gallery
Union College
3800 S. 48th St.