Get out!

 If you know Robert Hillestad and/or the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery at UNL, you will clear your schedule to attend the biennial fundraiser sale this Saturday, August 18, 9-4 at 1339 N. 37 Street in Lincoln. For more info: 402-466-0951. Jay Rich says, "The entire east campus area has garage sales concurrent." Who can resist that? Fall's coming, kids are in school--get a project going!

 Justine Petsch (justinej2@gmail.com) has an invitation of a different sort: “I'm working on a signature fundraiser for FoodBank for the Heartland -- an Empty Bowls Event on September 20th. I need help painting/glazing 200 bowls. Work will be done at Hot Shops (many thanks to Tim Barry!) -- all supplies furnished.” Justine is hoping for plenty of volunteers on Wednesday nights in August, the 15^th, 22^nd, and 29^th from 6:00 to 8:30.

Shootings like the one that occurred at the Sikh temple are shocking to most of us. They are a terrible incentive to learn more about people or issues that are seen as different/dangerous to some Americans.  It so happens that my husband and i had recently watched Ocean of Pearls (2008), a lovely autobiographical film directed by Sarab Singh Neelam about the challenges of Sikhs living in North America. It is about finding oneself and understanding the past. It is about choices (on many levels). I highly recommend it!

"The True Guru is the ocean of pearls, one attains it according to his Writ. The Sikhs like swans gather together according to the Will of the True Guru. The ocean is full of gems and pearls, the swan eats them, but the ocean always remains full. The Lord wills that the ocean and the swans are not separated. Only that Sikh comes to the Guru, on whose forehead this Writ is recorded from the very beginning. Such a Gursikh not only ferries across the world-ocean, himself, but also saves his family and the whole world." (Guru Arjan, Var Ramkali, pg. 960)

Some Happenings:

This weekend, starting Thursday! —

Talented Sarah Fettin (artist, teacher, Bellows mentor, and daughter of the talented Carol Fettin) has a solo exhibition of mixed media work at the Michael Phipps Gallery in the W. Dale Clark (main) Library.Beyond the Garden is on view August 1-31, with an opening reception August 2, 6-8.

Linda Meigs’ photo series, "The Farm," is on display August 1 through September 2 at Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art in David City. An artist reception is set for August 2, 5-7.
*How about a day trip to David City? Linda would join us and provide background and reminiscences of the photos. As usual, my trips include delightful stops, delicious lunch, a surprise or two, and, of course, le chocolat. Please respond with a comment if you’re interested in a Friday art escape.

August 3rd -- It’s First Friday, 5-8, at Blue Pomegranate, where artists are creating fun animal pieces to help benefit the Nebraska Humane Society.

And First Friday Old Market Click for listings and map.

While the Artists' Cooperative Gallery is hosting a guest exhibition, members are showing work at Hot Shops Hallway Gallery, with an opening reception this Friday from 6-9.
and
Seven sculptors comprise an exhibition called 7 DIMENSIONS, opening Saturday, 7-10, at Hot Shops’ Nicholas Street Gallery and 13th Street Gallery.
See Hot Shops for news.

Cheryll Wallace's incredible drawings are an expression of her gentle and enspirited approach to life. She is having an Art Show this Friday, 6-9, and Saturday, 12-6, at Maud Boutique, 521 N. 33 Street. Come and see her drawing, jewelry, ornaments, textiles, postcards, and her newly-published book, Crafting a Life.
fyi– there’s a great café across the street. Marrakech bills itself as Moroccan Mediterranean fusion. I had a delicious vegetarian tagine recently.

Gallery 72, a contemporary art icon in Omaha, is moving from its longtime address at 2709 Leavenworth. John Rogers is having a “Moving, Staying In Business, Inventory Reduction, and Clean Out the Basement Sale” this month. Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 12-7, Saturdays, 10-2. For further information or appointment, contact Gallery72@Novia.Net, 402-496-4797.

Please comment if you visit any of these weekend events, especially the new businesses on 33^rd Street. Art + small business = creative growth, and your patronage is a necessary part of the equation.

Next Tuesday is my mother’s 88^thbirthday, a day I will celebrate a woman who taught, and still teaches me the importance of caring for one’s family and friends, eating real and delicious food, being real, the importance of justice and responsibility, of resilience and looking forward, embracing the arts, and of truly enjoying life. Merci!

Happy birthday, Mom. I love you.

What do you love?

What do you love?  I thought about this as I deadheaded roses early this morning.  They’re yellow floribunda roses, and they bloom all summer in front of the office at my apartment complex. Last year, as I struggled to relocate (both literally and metaphorically), those beautiful roses greeted me each time I returned to the apartment with another load of boxes. They gave me welcome, serenity, beauty, and encouragement, like a candle in a window. This summer, I have returned the nurturance by deadheading them.  As I work, I talk to them. I thank them, encourage them, or just say “good morning.” You might think it silly, but I believe I am not alone in loving things as well as people.  “What do I love?”  When that question is answered, the next is “How do I show it?”  It’s easy to love people who love us back, to see our joy reflected in their eyes.  We’re challenged to love people who don’t love us, who may, in fact, make us crazy. And we’re conditioned not to love things. But this isn’t about obsessing or ownership, whether of things or people. It’s about recognizing relationship and contributing to the life of the other, while appreciating their contribution to ours. Caring for the roses doesn’t make them mine. But it does enrich their life, and that goes out into the world the same as a breeze, a cry, or an advertising slogan.

What do you love?

Shirley Neary has made a name for herself with her art quilts, and has a gallery in Dundee, 21st Century Quilts. She clearly loves color, texture, and stories.  But now, more and more, she’s expressing those loves with paint. Over the next several months, she’ll be making transitions and will sell the gallery. Keep in touch with Shirley via Facebook.

Thanks to all who posted comments on my blog or sent e-mail.  It’s great to hear from you!  I conducted my first Prize Drawing yesterday evening—old-fashioned names in a hat. And… ta da!  The winner of my brother’s newly published novel, a signed copy of Cotton and Silk, is Linda Meigs.  Congratulations!  You can learn more about the author, Michael J. Smith and his writing here.  I can deliver the book to Linda at her wonderful Farmers Market, every Sunday 11-3 at The Florence Mill.

How do you show your love?

Suzanne

Change

A French philosopher said the only constant in life is change. It’s true. For eight years, i’ve written a column called “HER Art” for HER Magazine, featuring women artists in the metro area. The number and caliber of women artists here is amazingly high—i have a running list of artists i wish to spotlight. However, the current issue’s profile, Marcia Joffe-Bouska, is my last for HER Magazine. The magazine has changed its name to Her Living, and the focus has changed as well.  I’ll continue to freelance for Omaha Publications’ other magazines—i’ve got stories in the next Encounter and Omaha Magazine—and for magazines outside the metro. And I’ve got a few other ideas in my bag of tricks.

This blog is one of them.  I’m new at this, but i hope you’ll stay with me.  I always felt energized when hearing comments to the column.  This forum facilitates that interaction.  The blog will also replace my occasional e-letters from “Suzanne & Co.,” for the same reason. That letter sometimes acted as a clearing house for news on art events. We need to keep that going. And i’d like to reach a broader audience.  My focus is on art and life; it’s what I know. And i know this about change—it’s stimulating, demanding, and hard.

My daughter-in-law, Kristi, told me about cicadas she and her daughters (my “girlies”) had seen on July 4^th. One was working mightily to extricate itself from its shell. “It seemed to be caught on something,” Kristi said. The exoskeleton that had once protected it had become a prison. Although they watched for over an hour, until it was too dark to see, the cicada hadn’t freed itself by the time the girls went inside. Change is hard. I hope the cicada did break free. I hope it flew into adulthood on its glassine wings, singing its song for all to hear.

It’s easy to get caught on something. I’m hopelessly attached to “stuff.” And Roger doesn’t bat an eye when kids-drawn pictures stack up or leaves accumulate in the fall. Actually, i have a good program for leaves. I do collect all the ones i find irresistible, and iron them with waxed paper, the way i learned in kindergarten. Then i use them as table ornaments, coasters, and stationery to write little love notes to the girlies. On a breezy spring day, i take the remaining leaves onto the porch and toss them into the dancing air with thanks and good wishes for the next stage of their lives. I imagine many of them will become mulch for buttercups and iris, and some may line a rabbit’s nest. Change.

Michael J. Smith, my brother, changed.  He was a successful research chemist living in Philadelphia. He made business trips to Europe and pleasure trips to New York. But as his family grew, so did his dissatisfaction with travel and other job expectations. After his wife, Julie, earned her PhD, Mike retired and they moved to Bainbridge Island where he became a stay-at-home dad, volunteer tutor at school, and an author of historical fiction. He’s just brought out his second novel, Cotton and Silk. You can read all about it – and buy a copy - at   http://thewhisperingowl.com/.  But today, in honor of change, I have a signed copy to give away. Look at Mike’s website and tell me what you think.  Two weeks from now, i’ll pick a name at random from these replies and send lucky you the book!

Another person who’s faced change with vigor is Nancy Flaherty, M.S., C.D.P. who used those initials after her name to become a freelance senior consultant. When care of a loved one made office hours impossible, Nancy trusted her wings and began her own business. I met Nancy through a referral in the months prior to a difficult move, and she was a steady beam during a tumultuous time. She is as sensitive and sympathetic as she is realistic and knowledgeable. If you’re experiencing difficulty in the weird world of aging, whether it’s navigating the system or you just want someone to tell you you’re not crazy, get in touch with Nancy: flahertyconsulting@cox.net or (402) 312-9324.

One of the maxims that keeps me going is from Bob Dylan – “He who isn’t busy being born is busy dying.” I want to stay busy being born. A baby sees everything as marvelous, and the fact that she doesn’t know where she’s going doesn’t stop her from crawling. So here is my first posting from the blogosphere. I look forward to hearing from you!

Suzanne