In Conversation: The Artwork of Susette "Bright Eyes" La Flesche Tibbles and Sarah Rowe
2024-04-25 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Joslyn Castle, 3902 Davenport St, Omaha, NE, 68131, United States
In Conversation:
The Artwork of Susette “Bright Eyes” La Flesche Tibbles and Sarah Rowe
Where: Joslyn Castle & Gardens
When: Friday, 26 April 2024
5:00pm to 8:00pm
Admission: FREE and all-ages
Art-talk scheduled for 7pm with Artist Sarah Rowe and Elizabeth Lovejoy Brown, Executive Director of the Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center
About the Artists:
• Susette “Bright Eyes” La Flesche Tibbles (1854-1903), a citizen of the Umoⁿhoⁿ Nation, is perhaps best known for her service as a court translator to Ponca Chief Standing Bear during his trial challenging the removal of the Ponca Tribe to Oklahoma, and for her lifelong campaign for Native American rights. In addition to her tireless service as a civil rights activist, Susette is also recognized for her writing and journalism – including her investigation of the Battle of Wounded Knee, a series of events that resulted in the death of 250-300 First-Nations People. Susette was also a gifted artist and is largely considered to be the first mass-media published Native American artist, graphic designer, and writer.
• Sarah Rowe is a multimedia artist whose collective body of work includes painting, printmaking, fiber arts, performance, and Native American ceremony. Sarah’s work re-imagines traditional Native American symbology to fit the narrative of today’s global landscape and she projects her vision of contemporary Indigenous experience into the mix with an offbeat enchantment. Sarah’s most recent public work is Starseeds—a mural that spans 15 silos at Ardent Mills (visible from Highway 75 near F Street in South Omaha). Sarah is of Lakota and Ponca descent.
Note: While this is a standalone show, “In Conversation” is exhibited as part of the Castle and Cathedral Creative District and is a collaborative-district event with the Cathedral Arts Project’s Standing Bear Cantata –a cantata for baritone and strings written by Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (Chickasaw), an award-winning composer and pianist. The Standing Bear Cantata tells the story, through music, of Ponca Chief Standing Bear’s journey back to his native homeland to bury his son. It is an intimate reflection of the nature of relationships and their connections to homelands. The Standing Bear Cantata will be held at Saint Cecilia Cathedral (701 N. 40th Omaha, NE 68131) on Sunday, 28 April. The event is free and open to the public.

Trimming on the Wheel
2024-04-25 17:30 - 19:30 | The Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 North 24th Street, Omaha, NE, 68110, United States
Learn the basics of ceramic trimming on the pottery wheel! Each participant will be provided with premade clay forms and will learn the basics of trimming a cylinder and a bowl!
$25 Workshop Fee
Instructor: Emily Luna
Participants must be 18 and older.
To learn about COVID precautions at The Union, please CLICK HERE.
To learn more about our building, including a 3D tour of the space, CLICK HERE.

Basics of Watercolor Painting
2024-04-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE, 68108, United States
Explore the world of watercolor and learn basic techniques to create beautiful and colorful works of art. This course, led by instructor Sydney Sehi, will focus on the fundamentals of watercolor painitng, including techniques, materials, tools, color, value, and rendering in watercolor. No experience is necessary! All supplies are provided.$55, $45 for garden members. Pre-registration is required.

Larry Roots “Abstractions and Other Narratives”
2024-04-25 18:00 - 20:00, 2024-04-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Garden of the Zodiac Gallery, 1042 Howard Street, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Garden of the Zodiac Gallery, Old Omaha Association
Omaha, Nebraska presents: Larry Roots, “Abstractions and Other Narratives”
Roots’ recent paintings provide a unique catalogue of his approach to working with acrylics. The artworks coalesce a multiplicity of crosscurrents into each composition: they are at once painterly and restrained, opaque and translucent, freeform and gridded, raw and delicate. Roots’ abstractions here are improvisational and lyrical, pushing and pulling the eye across their atmospheric surfaces and into depths of color, shape and line. Context is also provided for the evolution of Roots’ style with a selection of older personal favorites, paintings that encapsulate his forays into merging calligraphy with gestural abstraction.
Also new in this exhibition are Roots’ sculptural reliefs. These provide insight to the artist’s approach to pictorial space as inherently dimensional, creating illusions of deep perspective within the confined space of a diorama. As if designing art installations in miniature, Roots populates these architectural spaces with a variety of objects in miniature, many of them repurposed from his maquettes and “boneyard of ideas” for sculptures over the years.

Chicken & Biscuits
2024-04-25 19:30, 2024-04-26 19:30 | Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass Street, Omaha, NE, 68132
Who knew a funeral could be so fun? Laughter and love seep from this uproarious new family comedy. When the Jenkins family comes together to celebrate the life of their patriarch, skeletons in the closet are revealed. Family members at odds are challenged to accept each other for who they are—the good, the bad, the ugly and the hilarious. Love and commitment to family is at the heart of Chicken & Biscuits.
Disclaimer: Contains mild adult language.

"Constructs & Contours" Exhibition
2024-04-26 11:00 - 22:00, 2024-04-27 11:00 - 22:00 | Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, 405 S 11th St, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Kevin McClay – Using wood as my primary medium, I explore the texture and topography of this natural material when placed in unnatural structured relationships. My aesthetic is informed by life-long interests in architecture, geography and geology.
In addition to wood, I often use metal, glass and stone to advance the main themes of my work which seek to illuminate the contrast between sterile and weathered, and the tension between organic and manufactured environments.
I often reference geologic principles as I create the shapes and elevations in my work which point to the relationships between our built environment, aerial views of the urban footprint and natural landforms.
Frank Daharsh – Since the first gather of glass from the furnace in 1999, I have had a passion for glass blowing. With the intensity of working with a molten medium that can quickly take form to a solid state, there is an urgency to create in that moment of time that requires both patience, absolute concentration and spontaneity as the glass is heated, blown and sculpted into its final form. The luminescent qualities of glass, texture, and layering of multiple colors and patterns appeal to me as it responds to light. I am drawn to the potential of a material that can vary from a translucent to an opaque medium in a brilliant range of colors and gradations. I am driven by a passion for the process as well as the untapped potential of creating with a beautiful and seductive material.
A degree in industrial and graphic design from the Kansas City Art Institute has facilitated Frank in his glassblowing techniques and concepts. He has designed products ranging from jet interiors, industrial and construction equipment, computers, medical products, and signage as well as designing food labels, illustrations, corporate logos and 3D renderings.
We hope you’ll join us at an opening reception on Friday, April 5, 6-9 at the ACG.
Our hours are Tuesday – Thursday 11am-5pm, Friday-Saturday from 11am-10pm, and Sundays 11am-5pm.

Frida y Diego Community Art Show Opening
2024-04-26 16:00 - 21:00, 2024-04-27 16:00 - 21:00 | Joslyn Castle, 3902 Davenport St, Omaha, NE, 68131, United States
This captivating exhibition seeks to bring another layer of excitement, awareness and engagement to Opera Omaha’s production of the beautiful opera El último sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego), a new opera by Gabriela Lena Frank and Nilo Cruz.For this show artists were encouraged to seek inspiration from the opera’s story as well as commemorate the passionate and tumultuous relationship between these two iconic artists, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.Artists from all backgrounds to submited their visual art of any medium influenced by the fascinating love story of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, in a unique opportunity to express their interpretation of the icons’ passionate bond, their artistic endeavors, and their profound influence on each other’s work, the fascinating and beautiful story depicted in The Last Dream of Frida and Diego, and Día de los MuertosThis art show is being produced in collaboration with Opera Omaha, Joslyn Castle, and The Castle and Cathedral Creative District.Frida and DiegoDates: April 12-May 23rdLocation: Carriage House Gallery, Joslyn Castle, Omaha NebraskaOpening Reception: Friday April 12th, 4-9pmClosing Reception: Thursday May 23rd, details TBAA small selection of art from this exhibition will be chosen to be featured at the Orpheum Theater during Opera Omaha’s performances of El último sueño de Frida y Diego.

Icons in Transformation
2024-04-26 17:00 - 19:00, 2024-04-27 12:00 - 16:00 | All Saints Episcopal Church, 9302 Blondo St, Omaha, NE, 68134, United States
All Saint Episcopal Church will host “Icons in Transformation,” a dramatic 100-piece art exhibition featuring the contemporary work of internationally acclaimed Swedish-Ukrainian abstract expressionist Ludmila Pawlowska. This must-see exhibit will introduce her work to a broader audience and shed new light on this highly prolific and influential artist. It presents traditional icons as a source of inspiration for contemporary art. As such, the exhibit includes 15 traditional icons painted at the workshop of the Vassilevsky Monastery.
The exhibition will run from April 14 to June 9
Fridays 5pm to 7pm
Saturdays 12pm to 4pm
Sundays 11:30pm to 2:30pm

Benson Film Festival
2024-04-26 17:00 - 2024-04-28 18:00 | Benson Theatre, 6054 Maple St, Omaha, NE, 68104, United States
The Benson Film Festival celebrates film, art, and community. The vision of this festival is to incorporate neighborhood artists and businesses, highlight filmmakers, and create an immersive and connective experience for the community. The Benson Film Festival aims to bring local, national, and international artists & filmmakers together right here in the Benson Creative District!
The festival is presented by Aksarben Creative in collaboration with the Benson Theatre.

Etienne Charles - Earth Tones
2024-04-26 19:30 - 21:30 | Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Etienne Charles is the Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Michigan State University. Hailed by New York Times as “an auteur” and by Jazz Times as “A daring improviser who delivers with heart wrenching lyricism.” According to Downbeat Magazine “Charles delivers his ebullient improvisations with the elegance of a world-class ballet dancer.” Etienne has received critical acclaim for his exciting performances, thrilling compositions and knack for connecting with audiences worldwide. In June 2012, Etienne was written into the US Congressional Record for his musical contributions to Trinidad & Tobago and the World.Perhaps more than any other musician of his generation or Eastern Caribbean origin, Etienne brings a careful study of myriad rhythms from the French, Spanish, English and Dutch speaking Caribbean to the table. Crucially, as a soloist, he fully understands the New Orleans trumpet tradition (which is readily discernible in his trademark instrumental swagger) and what famed Crescent City Pianist, Jelly Roll Morton so succinctly captured in the now immortal phrase, ‘The Spanish Tinge’.His latest recording, Creole Soul has received critical acclaim worldwide for it’s fusion of root grooves from the Afro-Caribbean. His previous release, Kaiso (Culture Shock Music 2011), features his arrangements and interpretations of the music of calypso legends Lord Kitchener, Mighty Sparrow & Roaring Lion.As a sideman he has performed and or recorded with Monty Alexander, Roberta Flack, Frank Foster, Ralph MacDonald, Johnny Mandel, Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Maria Schneider, Count Basie Orchestra, Eric Reed, Lord Blakie, David Rudder and many others. He holds a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.About the preshow Curtain WarmerTicketholders are invited to join us at 6:40 PM in the Orpheum Theater lobby for a preshow activity. Local band Parfait will bring their eclectic style and sound to the Holland Center before audiences experience Etienne Charles.

Full Moon Hikes
2024-04-26 20:00 - 22:00 | Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd, North Bellevue, NE, 68005, United States
Have you ever hiked under a full moon? Or wondered what comes out after dark in the Forest? Find out on our guided Full Moon Hikes!
Hikes will begin no later than 30 minutes after the event start time, so be sure to arrive on time. All hikes will include an educational discussion of the nocturnal animals around the Forest and a brief talk into the lore of full moons. The event will include a bonfire and s’mores.
DATE AND TIME: Dates listed below. Event Time varies per event based on sunset.
LOCATION: Fontenelle Forest Nature Center
MINIMUM CAPACITY: 5
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 35
PROGRAM FEE: $15 for members; $25 for non-members.
MEMBERS MUST SIGN IN TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT.

Jitterbugs' Night Out
2024-04-26 20:00 - 23:59 | Eagles Ballroom, 201 S 24th St, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Jitterbugs’ Night Out, or as we like to call it, JNO, has been home to Omaha Jitterbugs’ since 2001.
On average 130 people come to JNO each week, and it’s one of Omaha’s longest-running weekly events.
Masks are optional at JNO.
You don’t need to bring a partner. The weekly beginning dance lesson is from 8:15 – 9:00 and you can choose to rotate partners throughout the lesson or stick with the partner you came with. Then the DJ plays swingin’ tunes for social dancing from 9 p.m. until midnight, so ask people to dance! Check our calendar for nights with live music. Our instructors and DJs are volunteers with JIVE who have completed training.
Dressing sharp is encouraged! But you’ll see people in t-shirts, jeans, dresses, and suits. For special events and live music nights, people tend to dress nicer.
We’ve created a diverse and welcoming community: smoke-free, drug-free, and all ages are welcome. Children younger than 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Most nights more than 100 people attend. While the highest percentage of people attending are aged 19–39, dancers range from middle and high school students to retirees in their 70s and above. Check out our Code of Conduct.
You can bring in your own food and bottle for water. We provide free water because you WILL get thirsty. A full bar is available downstairs.
Join us for the Birthday Jam! After the announcements, around 10:15 pm, we gather in a circle on the dance floor and those who have a birthday (or graduation, or are newly engaged, or any special occasion!) stand in the middle. A song is played and different partners jump in to dance with you for a bit.
If you’d like to have a party during JNO, you are welcome! We suggest showing up at 8:00 pm if you need to set up a table for your party.
No party fees are charged.
For discounted entrance, learn about volunteering with JIVE!

Fight!: A Standup Show
2024-04-26 20:30 - 21:30 | Blackstone Theater, 3624 Farnam St, Omaha, NE, 68131, United States
Comics fight over wild and silly topics while the real winner is the audience! This hour-long show that combines stand up comedy with debate will start your weekend with giggles.

Birdability Hike with the Audubon Society of Omaha
2024-04-27 09:00 - 19:00 | Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE, 68108, United States
Join us for a leisurely birding experience during the peak of spring migration at Lauritzen Gardens! This will be an inclusive and accessible bird outing for all skill levels and for those with mobility or health concerns. Led by the president of the Audubon Society of Omaha, Christine Jacobsen, the route will be approximately 1.5 miles in total and will be exclusively on asphalt and concrete, with several benches and stops along the way. Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms will be available at the start and end of the tour inside of the visitor and education center. Pre-registration is required. $20, $10 members.

Abstract Nature Drawing
2024-04-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Trudy’s, 2814 N 60th St, Omaha, NE, 68104, United States
Sign up for April’s class “Abstract Nature Drawing” with Erin Blayney! Explore nature and experiment with pastels in this three week course! All materials provided!
Classes held April 13th, 20th and 27th at Trudy’s (2814 N. 60th St.). Classes are for teens and adults!

Doggy Barket 2024
2024-04-27 11:00 - 14:00 | Dewey Dog Park, 550 Turner Blvd, Omaha, NE, 68105, United States
Take a road trip with your best furr-iend to Omaha for a doggy barket that’s got so much to woof … er, love. Peruse items from local vendors, share a delectable snack or two and dance to music like you’re unleashed. Parking will be available at Midtown Crossing.

Earth Day Omaha
2024-04-27 11:00 - 18:00 | Elmwood Park, 802 S 60th St, Omaha, NE, 68106, United States
One of America’s oldest, continually running environmental events, Earth Day Omaha will celebrate its 35th consecutive year on Saturday, April 27th, 2024. This year’s event will build on a long history of success as the region’s premier environmental event, reaching a local consumer base most interested in the environment and sustainability. Hosted in the center of the city at Elmwood Park, the event is free to the public and provides entertainment for all ages. Earth Day Omaha is a longstanding spring tradition featuring over 100 green exhibitors, a multitude of family-friendly activities, hands-on demonstrations, educational displays, food & drink, and live music from top local bands.

Needle Felting
2024-04-27 12:00 - 16:00 | Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE, 68108, United States
Join Rhonda Berman of Zipply Art to create an art piece adding a new twist to needle felting. In this class, participants will create a zipper rose. An outline design is made when a zipper is sewn onto wool felt. Wool roving is added using the technique of needle felting. Then the piece is adorned with embellishments as desired. Students will learn also how to prepare a zipper, apply a pattern, embellishment tips and finishing options. Pre-registration is required. $40, $30 for garden members.
Rose Heart (2/3/24)
Zipper Butterfly (3/16/24)
Zipper Iris (4/27/24)
Zipper Rose (5/18/24)

Emerging Artists Series
2024-04-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Samuel Bak Museum, 2289 S 67th St, Omaha, NE, 68106, United States
Emerging Artists Series is a free workshop led by regional emerging artists that takes place at Samuel Bak Museum: the Learning Center. The workshop, which runs from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M., will begin with a tour of the current exhibition followed by an art-making session. RSVP required. Free to the public.
Aspen Monet Laboy is an interdisciplinary artist from Omaha, Nebraska working in poetry, glass sculpting, installation, and film photography. Exploring concepts of environmentalism, internal identity, and cultural heritage, they are influenced by nature, science, and philosophy. Their main focus is sculpting with words and fragments to express moments in time.
Aspen M. Laboy will lead a workshop on identity and memory. Participants will explore how they form their concept of self individually and collectively through writing and the act of creation. You will explore through making mosaics the process of creating a visual memory of who you are. (20 participants max)

PACE | Youth Ceramics
2024-04-27 13:00 - 2024-04-28 15:30 | Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 South 6th Street, Council Bluffs, IA, United States
Does your child dream of turning a lump of clay into a magical mug or a funky figurine? In this our youth ceramics classes, your imagination will take center stage as you explore the wonderful world of clay!
What They Will Learn:

The clay basics: Kneading, pinching, coiling, and sculpting – master these techniques to transform clay into anything you can dream up.
Hand-building magic: Create bowls, animals, monsters, or whatever your heart desires using hand-building techniques.
Spin it to win it: Get a taste of the potter’s wheel and learn how to center, throw, and shape clay on this exciting spinning machine.
Glazing galore: Choose from a rainbow of glazes to add color, shine, and personality to your creations.

More Than Just Clay:

Develop your creativity and problem-solving skills as you bring your ideas to life.
Learn about different ceramics styles and techniques from around the world.
Discover the joy of working with your hands and creating something special from scratch.
Make new friends and share your artistic journey with other clay enthusiasts.

Take home:

Your very own ceramic creations, proudly made by you!
A newfound appreciation for the art of ceramics and the magic of clay.
Memories of a fun and rewarding learning experience.

Habitat Hikes
2024-04-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd, North Bellevue, NE, 68005, United States
Explore Nebraska’s prairies, wetlands and forests at Fontenelle Forest’s Habitat Hikes! Join our naturalist educators on a guided hike through these different habitats and learn about each of these unique ecosystems!
Habitat Hikes will be held monthly, as we visit different locations and discover habitat changes each season.
The guided hike will be from 2:00-4:00 PM, traversing easy to moderate terrain.
DATES: Dates listed below.
TIME: 2:00 – 4:00 P.M.
LOCATION: Locations vary – locations Listed below each date. Click here for exact addresses.
MINIMUM CAPACITY: 5
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 20
PROGRAM FEE: Free for members; $15 for non-members. MEMBERS MUST SIGN IN TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT.

PACE | Youth Painting
2024-04-27 14:30 - 16:00 | Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 South 6th Street, Council Bluffs, IA, United States
Calling all budding Picassos and Monets! Dive into a world of vibrant colors and endless possibilities in our youth painting classes designed specifically for young artists.
What They’ll Explore:

Mastering the brush: Learn different brushstrokes and techniques to create textures, patterns, and stunning effects on your canvas.
Color magic: Discover the joy of mixing colors and creating their own unique palettes.
From abstract to realistic: Explore different painting styles, from abstract expressionism to still life realism, and find their own artistic voice.
Acrylic adventures: Experiment with acrylic paints, a versatile medium perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike.

More Than Just Painting:

Develop your creativity and imagination as you translate your ideas and emotions onto canvas.
Learn about famous artists and their techniques, and draw inspiration from their masterpieces.
Discover the power of color and how it can evoke different moods and feelings.
Make new friends and share your artistic journey with other young painters.

Take home:

Your own beautiful paintings, each a unique expression of your creativity.
A newfound confidence in your artistic abilities and a love for painting.
Memories of a fun and inspiring learning experience.

Our Turn Sensory Concert
2024-04-27 15:00 - 16:30 | KANEKO, 1111 Jones St, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Experience the Omaha Symphony during a 1-hour, sensory friendly small concert for individuals on the spetcrum and their families.

PACE | Youth Tech Art
2024-04-27 16:00 - 2024-04-28 17:00 | Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 South 6th Street, Council Bluffs, IA, United States
Calling all curious minds and creative problem-solvers! Get ready to unleash your inner inventor in Maker’s Lab, a unique program where art and science collide in a whirlwind of exciting challenges and hands-on activities.
What You’ll Do:

Become a mini-MacGyver: Use everyday materials and your ingenuity to build robots, design circuits, and create amazing inventions that solve real-world problems.
Code your way to creativity: Learn the basics of coding and program your creations to move, light up, and even make sounds!
Think like an engineer: Explore principles of mechanics, electricity, and magnetism through fun and engaging projects.
Get artsy with science: Design bridges that stand tall, build rockets that soar, and create art installations that blend technology and imagination.

More Than Just STEM:

Develop your critical thinking and problem-solving skills as you tackle different challenges.
Learn to collaborate and work in a team to achieve your goals.
Discover the connections between art and science, and see how creativity can fuel innovation.
Make new friends and share your inventions and discoveries with other curious minds.

Build Your Own Moss Terrarium
2024-04-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE, 68108, United States
Bring a little nature into your life, while tapping into your creativity by making a moss terrarium with Moss Hunters. We hand pick all of our own moss, shells, and rocks for our terrariums, and would love to show you all how to make them too! We will provide all the materials needed, just bring yourself and be ready to learn and have a good time while doing it! This is a two-hour class and you will leave with one hand made terrarium of your very own. There’s nothing more enjoyable than creating your own little world and watching it thrive. We look forward to getting our hands dirty and creating with you all!$55, $45 for garden members.Pre-registration is required one week in advance of the course.
