Star City Blog

Lincoln Artist Profile: Eric Sewell - etcArts

By Hanna Day-Woodruff

Lincoln artists without gallery space may be at a physical disadvantage, but they are not without a resource that can broadcast their work to the wide webbed world. I'm speaking of Etsy.com, the online marketplace for handmade and artisan-crafted work that has skyrocketed in popularity since its inception in 2005.

Thanks to Etsy, artists can bypass the expense of a personal gallery space and the inconvenience of other galleries, which function as artistic gatekeepers for better or worse. Dozens of artists in Lincoln use Etsy to sell a whole range of items, from clothing and jewelry to soaps and ceramics.

One Lincoln artist whose works seem to leap from the screen is Eric Sewell, a Nebraska Wesleyan-trained ceramics artist who signs his pieces with the moniker “etcArts.” While many of his pieces have a practical function, all are visually captivating with a unique look. The practical and the artistic intermingle – his collection includes shot glasses, cups, goblets, jewelry trees, pendants, vases and any other art object that strikes his whimsy, including his latest creation, three-dimensional wall installations.

'Smart Giving' Program Benefiting Food Bank of Lincoln Set to Begin November 1st

Russ’s Market and Super Saver stores are teaming up with Smart Chicken once again to generate food for the Food Bank of Lincoln this November with the help of Lincoln residents.  Through the Smart Giving program, the Food Bank of Lincoln will receive a substantial donation of nutritious Smart Chicken that will go to feed families in need in the community.
 
The 2009 Smart Giving donation will be made possible through purchases of Smart Chicken products during the month of November at Lincoln Russ’s Market and Super Saver stores.  The program will donate one pound of Smart Chicken to the Food Bank of Lincoln for every ten pounds of chicken sold. Last year, the program raised more than 7,600 pounds of Smart Chicken for the Food Bank of Lincoln.

'Little Nooks From Great Books' Miniature Rooms at Love Library Oct. 31st

"Little Nooks from Great Books," the traveling exhibit of the Kruger Collection of Miniature Furnishings and Decorative Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will be on display at UNL's Love Library, 13th and R streets, Oct. 31-Dec. 17.

The exhibit features scenes from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"; "Little Women"; "Little House on the Prairie"; "Peter Pan and Wendy"; "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "Felicity Learns a Lesson: A School Story." Specific scenes include the cabin interior from "Little House on the Prairie" and the Gryffindor common room from Harry Potter, among others.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

The Kruger Collection is a 1-to-12 scale collection of approximately 20,000 miniatures compiled by Eloise Kruger and donated to the UNL College of Architecture in 1997. For more information, visit http://krugercollection.unl.edu.

Award-Winning Dr. Kevin Bales to Speak on Human Trafficking at Nebraska Student Union Oct 29th

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is hosting the First Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking October 29 – 31, 2009. This interactive conference intends to bring together national and international researchers, experts, and governmental officials to develop a research agenda. They will share their research findings and anti-trafficking efforts and collaboratively discuss funding possibilities and future research objectives.

Dr. Kevin Bales will open the conference with a free public speech at the University of Nebraska City Union at 7:30 pm on Thursday, October 28. Bales teaches sociology at Roehampton University in London and is the president of the international non-profit organization Free the Slaves. In his award-winning book Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy, he reveals the tragic magnitude of modern slavery and provides suggestions on how to battle it.

World-Renowned Paul Taylor Dance Co. at Lied Center November 10th

Called "one of the most exciting, innovative, delightful dance companies in the entire world," by The New York Times, the Paul Taylor Dance Co. has captured the hearts of audience members for 55 years. This enduringly original dance ensemble will grace the stage at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Lied Center for Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10.

From a modest group of five dancers in 1954, the Paul Taylor Dance Co. has grown into one of the world's most heralded dance ensembles, traveling the globe many times over in a half-century of unrivaled creativity. Often referred to as a poet as well as a choreographer, Paul Taylor forces his audiences to think as well as watch and listen. Called "the greatest choreographer in the world" by Vanity Fair and the New York Daily News, Taylor has created the gold standard for modern dance and continues to blaze trails with his inventive works even after over 130 dances.

Support African Children at the African Woodsmoke Evening Fundraiser

By DeMisty Bellinger

If you’re looking for a unique way to spend your evening, experience a night of African culture without leaving Lincoln. On Friday, November 6th, small business Woodsmoke and Chez Hay Catering will host the fundraising event, African Woodsmoke Evening. The event, which will raise money for the children of the African artists featured by Woodsmoke, will take place from 6 to 11 p.m. at Chez Hay (210 N 14th St.).

Attendees will be able to sample boutique wines from small South African vineyards, coffees from Kenya and Ethiopia, and various entrees from all over the African continent prepared by Sean Carmichael of Chez Hay.

Lead drummer Michael Opoku from the Lincoln band Ashanti will provide music. Various arts and crafts from Africa, all of which are available from Woodsmoke, will be on display.

UPDATED: Blog Talk Live: Paul Eisloeffel, Film Archivist

by Dennis Kornbluh

On Tuesday, October 27, my guest will be Paul Eisloeffel, the Head of Audiovisual Technical Services for the Nebraska State Historical Society, has worked in archives for over 25 years, with a variety of archival materials. For the last decade or so, he has specialized in historic audiovisuals, especially moving images.

As the audiovisual archivist for the Nebraska State Historical Society he helped build that institution’s collections into a regional treasure, parts of which are featured in public programs, exhibits and media productions. He established the Society’s audiovisual lab, in which he works with original moving images and sound recordings and transfers them to digital formats. 

The Lux Needs Your Help with the Art Van deLUX Project

What is Art Van deLUX?
Art Van deLUX will take our art classes out to youth and children who are at-risk of social or academic failure as well as low income senior citizens.  We are raising money to purchase a cargo van with which the art center will provide its high quality art classes to those who have transportation, mobility, or income barriers. 

Art Van deLUX will transport art materials, equipment, and teachers to senior living facilities, schools, youth-serving agencies, daycare centers, and rehabilitation centers.

New Work by Artist Ben Swift to be Featured at Screen Ink

Screen Ink is proud to present new work by artist Ben Swift beginning November 6th in their storefront gallery. The exhibit will feature a variety of new artwork by Swift, including paintings, screen-printed posters and fine art prints, watercolor illustrations, and pieces created under the “eyeskull” moniker.
 
In addition to the fine arts on display, on opening night several t-shirt designs will be available for “print-on-demand” application on a variety of ready to wear items, or people may bring their own garments to print on. A limited number of “eyeskull” can koozies, buttons, and free stickers will also be available.

'Searching for the Real Nebraska' Opens Nov. 6 at Great Plains Art Museum

The Great Plains Art Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will present the work of four photographers documenting the economic upheaval in Nebraska caused by the current recession.

An exhibition of photography by UNL photojournalism students Patrick Breen of Omaha, Kyle Bruggeman, Clay Lomneth and associate professor Bruce Thorson depicts the state's residents sharing their trials and successes.

The project was funded by the Center for Great Plains Studies and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at UNL. The resulting exhibition, "Searching for the Real Nebraska: A Photo Essay on the Great Recession" will be shown in two parts at the Great Plains Art Museum, with part one running Nov. 6 through Dec. 13.