Please join us for lunch on Wednesday, May 22nd during our special Omaha Gives! edition of kith. We will be serving up slices of wood fired pizza between noon and 2pm. You’re welcome to swing by anytime during the event — all that we ask is that you bring a beverage to share.

The Union for Contemporary Art is thrilled to be participating in Omaha Gives! – a 24 hour charitable challenge organized by the Omaha Community Foundation. The online giving holiday will take place May 22nd from midnight to midnight. The more money we raise, the larger percentage of the match pool we will receive. The more donors we get to give to us, the more likely we are to win prize money. On the 22nd, we’ll have computers set up in case you’d like to make a donation during your visit — any support that you’re able to provide is GREATLY appreciated!

>> PLEASE NOTE: this kith event is free and open to the public — you don’t need a ticket to attend, but we would truly appreciate it if you could take a moment to RSVP via our EventBrite page so that we can get a count of how many people will be joining us.

Questions? Please feel free to reach out to The Union’s Executive Director, Brigitte McQueen Shew at brigitte@u-ca.org or by calling (402) 933-3161.

The Union for Contemporary Art is pleased to share a little initiative that we’re calling kith: monthly events designed to bring folks together to celebrate the arts and streghten our community. Each month, we’ll host a gathering — it might be a dinner, brunch or cocktail party; picnic, game night or communal art project — aimed at bringing artists and the community together in hopes of inspiring great conversations and new connections.

Our next event will be a potluck brunch on Saturday, April 27th at 11am. Bring a dish to share with the group… we’ll provide juice and coffee, but if you’d like to bring a beverage along, that would be great.

Total Bonus — Joey Lynch will be making magic happen on the waffle irons! We can’t wait!

>> PLEASE NOTE: Seating for this event is limited to 40 guests. You won’t need to bring a ticket, but you must reserve your spot via Eventrite. This event is free and open to everyone — families with children are absolutely welcome. Please click here to reserve your seat(s) at the table.

Questions? Please feel free to reach out to The Union’s Executive Director, Brigitte McQueen Shew at brigitte@u-ca.org or by calling (402) 933-3161.

Hope to see you on the 27th, or at a kith happening in the future…

Please join us on February 7th at 6pm for Money Matters| tax and investment tips for artists. Led by Ali Maloy and Drew Weitz, this informational session will focus on tax and investment issues that most artists will need to tackle at some point during their professional career, including:

• dealing with donations
• how to handle sales tax
• an overview of investment options, including socially responsible investing

Please be aware that neither Ali nor Drew will be able to provide personal advice for tax or investment issues you might be experiencing. If you have a general question, or topic you’d like to have addressed, please submit it in advance to info@u-ca.org so that we can taylor the content of the evening to include information that will be of the most use to you.

This event is free and open to the public, but we ask that you please take a moment to RSVP so that we can provide ample seating for everyone interested in participating. Click here to reserve your seat(s).

OUR SPEAKERS >>

Ali Maloy
Ali Maloy is a CPA with over 11 years of accounting and tax experience. She started Maloy Accounting in 2006; her firm focuses on providing accounting and bookkeeping solutions to small businesses.

Drew Weitz
Drew Weitz joined the Weitz Funds in December 2008 and serves as a research analyst and co-portfolio manager, and is a member of the Board of Directors of The Union for Contemporary Art. Prior to joining Weitz, Drew spent four years in various roles, including research analyst, at Ariel Investments in Chicago.

Here’s the gist: I’m looking to compile as many blocks as possible from individuals to create this quilt. The blocks can be anywhere from 8- 20 inches in any direction. They should be made of fabric (new or recycled textiles, or any scraps you have at home), but exceptions are made for other sewable material, such as paper, if it is durable. The content of the block is very open – it should reflect something about your community in the past, present, or future, and be appropriate for public viewing. You can draw or write on the fabric with marker or paint, stitch the fabric, glue fabric together, print photos, embroider, use found objects – basically, you can do whatever suites you.

For ease of putting the quilt blocks together, please try to have them already cut with right angles (a square or rectangle), and leave a ½ inch border around your imagery or text to allow for the seams.

If you would like to participate, but are lacking materials or tools — or have any questions about the project, please contact me at sheanatorx@gmail.com.

This call for entry is open until March 31, 2013. It is free to participate and all quilt blocks are considered valid and will be included as long as they are appropriate for the general public. To the left is an example of a sample block

Please send finished blocks to:
The Union for Contemporary Art | Attn: Community Quilt
2417 Burdette Street | Omaha, Nebraska 68111

The Union for Contemporary Art is pleased to share a little initiative that we’re calling kith: monthly events designed to bring folks together to celebrate the arts and streghten our community. Each month, we’ll host a gathering — it might be a dinner, brunch or cocktail party; picnic, game night or communal art project — aimed at bringing artists and the community together in hopes of inspiring great conversations and new connections.

Our first event will be a potluck supper, held at our building in North Omaha on Saturday, January 26th at 5pm. Bring a dish to share with the group… we’ll provide wine, water and coffee, but if you’d like to bring a beverage along, that would be great. If you haven’t been by to visit yet, coming fo dinner will provide an oppportunity for you to see our space, learn a bit about our programs and get to meet some of our amazing Studio Fellows.

>> PLEASE NOTE: Seating for this event is limited to 30 guests. You will not need to bring a ticket, but you will have to reserve your spot via Eventrite. This event is free and open to everyone — families with children are absolutely welcome. Please click here to reserve your seat(s) at the table.

Questions? Please feel free to reach out to The Union’s Executive Director, Brigitte McQueen Shew at brigitte@u-ca.org or by calling (402) 933-3161.

Hope to see you on the 26th, or at a kith happening in the future…

The Union for Contemporary Art is committed to strengthening the creative culture of the greater Omaha area by providing direct support to artists and increasing the visibility of the arts in our community. We are committed to uniting artists and the community to inspire positive social change. The organization was founded on the belief that the arts can be a vehicle for social justice and greater civic engagement. In all of our endeavors, we will strive to utilize contemporary art as a bridge to connect our diverse community in innovative and meaningful ways.

Our Studio Fellowship Program was developed to combine our mission and vision, creating an experience for artists that not only supports their creative process, but also provides them with an opportunity to support our community. Twice a year, artists from the greater Omaha area will be selected through juried process to serve as Fellows. Once selected, the artists receive the following benefits in exchange for their commitment to “pay it forward” through community service

• A studio space for six months, at no cost to the artist
• $600 stipend for the purchase of art supplies and materials
• Professional development opportunities and critique
• Participation in a group exhibition at the completion of the fellowship

The Union was established in January 2011 in response to needs expressed by artists and those who saw the arts as an unexpendable resource to the greater Omaha community. Despite its vibrant, creative environment, Omaha continues to lose many of its artists and members of it’s creative community. Without a Masters-level education program in our city, opportunities for exhibition and critical reviews for emerging artists are severely limited. Few forums currently exist to bring national arts leaders to Omaha in ways which allow for meaningful interaction with the community. Additionally, many artists lack access to affordable studio space and the equipment necessary to support their creative process.

Beyond the challenges faced by our arts community – Omaha remains a city divided along racial and socio-economic lines. The North Omaha community has been designated by the City of Omaha to be an Area of Low-Income Concentration and an Area of Minority Concentration. The area contains some of Omaha’s most physically, economically and socially distressed neighborhoods.

Our vision for Omaha is to create an environment where the arts are cultivated and respected. We envision a city where artists are supported and where their talents and contributions to our cultural identity are celebrated. We strive to strengthen our community by rising above the lines that divide us — racially, socially, and economically — so that we may become a more unified and culturally vibrant city. We are committed to using the arts to create an open city where everyone feels welcome and engaged.

By providing our services through a facility located in North Omaha, we will to create a bridge between this under-served neighborhood and the greater Omaha community. The artists we assist through our programs are required to give back to the community through volunteer service in North Omaha – creating a cyclical process of supporting the arts while building community.

The Union for Contemporary Art strives to:

• Engage a broad and diverse audience to create an inclusive arts community and act as an institution dedicated to the contemplation, exploration, and discussion of contemporary art and culture.
• Provide dynamic, innovative arts education to Omaha’s youth, through access to the arts and opportunities for creativity regardless of socio-economic background.
• Cultivate the creative process and provide opportunities to advance the professional careers of emerging and mid-career artists in the region through educational programs, access to studios and workspace and financial support.
• Present contemporary visual and performing arts, through exhibitions and programs that are dynamic, thought provoking, engaging and experimental. The Union curates opportunities that provide context, develop appreciation, and add meaning to contemporary art and culture.
• Embrace the ethical ideology of social responsibility. In all practices, The Union is respectful of all members of our community and mindful of our environment. The organization strives for inclusivity in all endeavors and utilizes the arts as a catalyst for social justice.
• Build relationships with national artists, art organizations and art professionals to create an ongoing cultural exchange of work and ideas.

The Union for Contemporary Art and the Werner Institute at Creighton University invite you to participate in an engaging conversational experience to explore the state of the arts in Omaha.

As part of the Omaha Creative Week program, The Werner Institute will facilitate this conversation at the Union for Contemporary Art to draw out the insights and visions of local artists to explore various models of what a creative community entails, discuss the support that is required to foster a creative community, and envision what an appropriate model for Omaha may look like. This conversation will be the beginning of what is hoped to be an engaging process to further establish the role The Union for Contemporary Art can play as a dynamic contributor to the creative community envisioned for Omaha.

Come out on Thursday, September 6th at The Union for Contemporary Art from 5:30pm – 6:30pm to participate in this vibrant conversation. This event is free and open to the public – whether you’re an artists, patron, or someone interested in creating a more creative Omaha – your voice is an essential part of the conversation… please join us!

For more information on The Werner Institute or Omaha Creative Week, please visit:
The Werner Institute: http://www.creighton.edu/werner
Omaha Creative Week: http://www.omahacreativeweek.com

Our Studio Fellowship Program was developed to combine our mission and vision, creating an experience for artists that not only supports their creative process, but also provides them with an opportunity to support the greater community.

The Union is currently accepting applications for our Summer 2013 Fellowship Program. Selected artists will receive the following support from The Union for Contemporary Art:

A studio space for six months, at no cost to the artist
$600 stipend for the purchase of art supplies and materials
Professional development and mentorship
Exhibition opportunities

The Summer 2013 Fellowships will begin on June 1st and run through early December. Participating artists are required to complete 60 hours of community service during the course of their fellowship. Applicants will be asked to propose a project or volunteer effort that they would like to dedicate themselves to for six months.

There are endless ways in which this commitment to the community can be fulfilled: artists can volunteer for a non-profit doing work they support or the can create after school programs for children in the community. They can also create something with a long-term impact, for example The North Omaha Tool Library or Truck Farm Omaha — both are example of continuing service projects developed by Union Fellows. It is our belief that encouraging artists to support the community will lead to a greater understanding and support of the arts throughout our city.

• eligibility

Artists working in any contemporary art genre are eligible for fellowship; including the visual arts, creative writing, performing arts and design. Eligible artists should reside in the greater Omaha area. Please note, our Studio Fellowship Program provides workspace for artists, it is not a live/work situation.

• application 

Please click here to download a copy of the application form. If you would like to have a copy of the application mailed to you, just send your request to info@u-ca.org.

• deadline

A hard copy of the application, including supporting materials, should be mailed to the following address: The Union for Contemporary Art | Studio Fellowship Program | 2417 Burdette Street | Omaha, Nebraska 68111. All eligible applications must be postmarked by May 3rd 2013.
PLEASE NOTE: The Union is not accepting applications via email at this time.

• selection process

Fellows will be selected based on submitted materials, which includes a project proposal and work samples. A jury consisting of members of The Union’s Board of Directors and local art professionals will review complete submissions and select the artists who will participate in the program.

• more info 

Please visit our fellowship FAQ page for more information on the program. Questions not addressed there can be sent to Brigitte at brigitte@u-ca.org. Please click here for information on our current group of Fellows.

Garth Johnson lives and works in Eureka, California, where he is an assistant professor of art at College of the Redwoods. Garth has written for magazines like CRAFT, Readymade, FiberArts and Hand/Eye. His first book, 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse was published by Quarry in November, 2009. He has also contributed to books like Handmade Nation, Craftivity, Craft Corps and World of Geekcraft. His work has been exhibited internationally, as well as featured in magazines such as The Observer, Ceramics Monthly, American Craft, Metropolis and The Artist’s Magazine. Garth’s weblog, ExtremeCraft.com is a “Compendium of Art Masquerading as Craft, Craft Masquerading as Art and Craft Extending Its Middle Finger”.

Garth’s presentation will address his work in the MATERIAL MATTERS exhibition, as well as a short version of his “Extreme Craft Roadshow” presentation.

When: Tuesday, June 12th | reception at 6:30pm | lecture begins at 7pm
Where: Peerless Gallery & Worksite | 3157 Farnam Suite 7108 in Midtown Crossing (FREE parking)

The Extreme Craft lecture will feature many of the artists that Garth has written about on ExtremeCraft.com over the past seven years. Craft is a website devoted to the exploration of the increasingly blurry line between art and craft. Astounding acts of creation seem to be hard-wired into human consciousness, and Extreme Craft is there to record it all. In the 21st Century, academically trained artists are increasingly expressing themselves through common “craft” materials, and traditionally trained craftspeople are making stunningly conceptual work. Craft is a living, breathing concept with a meaning that changes and evolves from one minute to the next.

The Extreme Craft Roadshow is a slide presentation showing some of the “greatest hits” of the website that aims to change the way you think about art and craft. You’ll see a giant pink bunny on a Swiss mountaintop, exciting works of prison craft, knitted graffiti and much much more. You’ll find out about the risks that Polish grannies face just for practicing their craft. You’ll learn how craft can be used as a weapon to combat Nigerian email scammers, and you’ll even find out how craft can save the lives of Tasmanian penguins.

Craft means different things to different people—it’s about tradition, materials, hands, hearts and stories. Craft is an incredible Trojan horse that can be used to sneak ideas and concepts into objects that will shatter the expectations of the viewer. The Extreme Craft Roadshow will expose you to craft that is by turns witty, mind-blowing, provocative, rude, and of course…extreme.

This program is funded in part by
The Nebraska Humanities Council
& The Nebraska Cultural Endowment