2009 Omaha Summer Arts Festival
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EmailLast year, a severe storm and 70mph winds almost knocked out the festival. In 2009, the artists fight back! If you’re in Omaha June 26th, 27th, or 28th, come down to Farnam Street between 10th and 15th Streets to check out the festivities. Open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (the 26th and 27th) and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday (June 28th), the weather is sure to impress this year – it owes us one.
Nineteen friendly artists from Nebraska and another 119 from 21 other states will be in attendance, selling their work and answering questions. This year’s artists were chosen by a jury of prominent art professionals from a pool of hundreds of applicants, and represent a wide variety of mediums.
Demonstrations
Of course, one of the best things to do at the Summer Art Festival, aside from take home some great art, is to get involved in the demonstrations. Dubbed the ArtSeen, these demonstrations are a chance to pick local artists’ brains for free. Wondering when it’s going down? Look, we made it easy for you:
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Old Market Artists Gallery at 1034 Howard Street
| Friday, June 26 | Artist | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. | Deb Groesser | Oil Painting |
| 1 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. | Dan Kilma | Wood |
| 3 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. | Diane Mattern | Copper, Concrete, Patinas |
| 6 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. | Dede Johnson | Pottery |
| Saturday, June 27 | ||
| 11 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. | Dianne Mattern | Copper, Concrete, Patinas |
| 2 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Dan Kilma | Wood |
| 5 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. | Dede Johnson | Pottery |
| Sunday, June 28 | ||
| 11 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. | Dianne Mattern | Copper, Concrete, Patinas |
| 2 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. | Moonfish | Jewelry |
| 3 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Lisa Maciejewski | Jewelry |
The Passageway Gallery at 417 South 11th Street
| Friday, June 26 | Artist | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. | Paul Nichols | Wheel Thrown Pottery |
| 12 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. | Paul Nichols | Wheel Thrown Pottery |
| 1 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. | Paul Nichols | Wheel Thrown Pottery |
| 2 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. | Paul Nichols | Wheel Thrown Pottery |
| 3 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. | Margie Shanahan | Wheel Thrown Pottery |
| 4 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Carolyn Mason | Scratchboard |
| 5 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. | Carolyn Mason | Scratchboard |
| 6 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. | Dotty Robarge | Painting |
| 7 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. | Dotty Robarge | Painting |
| Saturday, June 27 | ||
| 11 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. | Gerry Klein | Glass |
| 12 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. | Gerry Klein | Glass |
| 1 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. | Dotty Robarge | Painting |
| 2 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. | Dotty Robarge | Painting |
| 3 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. | Sandy Hagen | Lampworking |
| 4 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Sandy Hagen | Lampworking |
| 5 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. | Sandy Hagen | Lampworking |
| 6 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. | Jeri Martinez | Pastel |
| 7 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. | Jeri Martinez | Pastel |
| Sunday, June 28 | ||
| 11 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. | Sandy Hagen | Lampworking |
| 12 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. | Sandy Hagen | Lampworking |
| 1 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. | Bev Valentine | Pastel |
| 2 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. | Dar Vande Voort | Painting |
| 3 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. | Dotty Robarge | Painting |
| 4 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Jeri Martinez | Pastel |
Music
Fine, maybe everyone isn’t a budding artist, but who doesn’t like music? If painting and pottery don’t tickle your fancy, check out this lineup. Acts include the Street Railway Company Jazz Band, Chicago’s Lubriphonic, Luigi Inc., Mexico City’s Los de Abajo, Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band, Chris McCarty, Prairie Cats, Chris Saub Trio, Eric Lindell, Trombone Shorty, and more. As in past years, award-winning band Brulé will offer its take on contemporary Native American music at the Festival, as well. The full schedule is as follows:
| Time | Artist | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, June 26 | ||
| 12 noon | Omaha Musicians Association Jazz All Stars | Local - Jazz |
| 5:00 p.m. | Chris Saub Trio | Local - Acoustic Pop and Jazz |
| 7:00 p.m. | Eric Lindell | National - Rock |
| 9:00 p.m. | Trombone Shorty | National - Funk, Pop and Hip-Hop |
| Saturday, June 27 | ||
| 12:30 p.m. | Street Railway Company Jazz Band | National - Dixieland Jazz |
| 2:00 p.m. | Meet The Brewers Beer Session | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Chris McCarty | National - Acoustic Rock |
| 5:00 p.m. | Prairie Cats | Local - Swing Jazz |
| 7:00 p.m. | Los de Abajo | International - Mestizo Rock, Salsa and Reggae |
| 9:00 p.m. | Lubriphonic | National - Soul, Funk and R&B |
| Sunday, June 28 | ||
| 12:30 p.m. | Inspirations European Duo | Local - European Melody |
| 2:00 p.m. | Luigi Inc. | Local – Jazz |
| 3:30 p.m. | Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band | National - Cajun |
Food and Drink
If art and music aren’t enough to woo you, the Festival is not above appealing to your more feral sensibilities. For example, there’s the Nebraska Craft Brewers Association "Meet the Brewers" Beer Session , held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 27th. Twenty-three beers with hand-crafted flavor from eight Nebraska breweries will be served up in the World Music Pavilion for the Festival’s three days, but during this special hour, you’ll be able to pester the brew masters with as many questions as you can dream up. Other food available includes tasty treats from Paradise Today Coffee Bar, Texas Roadhouse, Marc O’s, Dippin Dots, Mama’s Pizza, Pacific Rim, Kettlecorn Confections, The Parthenon, Made 2 Grill, Old World Almonds and RoRo’s Concessions, and more. Festival cafés include Wine & Jisa, Cheese Café, Hy-Vee, O’Dining & Lounge and Whole Foods. And just so you know, alcoholic beverages will not be sold until after 4 p.m. on Friday and after 12 p.m. on Sunday.
Don’t Forget the Kids!
Near the very center of the Festival, you’ll find the Children’s Fair. There, Little Rembrandts can try dozens of messy activities and art projects for children ages three to 10. The Children’s Fair is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 27th, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 28th. The crafts have a “Green” theme this year, with recycled products and planet-preservation the main message. Some activities, and all the stage entertainment, are free, while others cost between one and five .50 cent tickets each. To check out art created by other children, head to The Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, 405 South 11th Street (for high schoolers), and the Michael Phipps Gallery inside the W. Dale Clark Library, 215 South 15th Street (for upper-elementary and middle school students). Both exhibitions will be shown on Saturday, June 27th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, June 28th, from noon to 5 p.m.
Photo Gallery
( click thumbnails to view slideshow )
An Omaha.net writer since 2008, Jordy freely admits he's waiting for his golden parachute "anxiously." He microblogs @jordyclements + macroblogs jordyclements.com
