Bemis08: Creativity Festival includes three major, ongoing visual arts exhibitions: Midwestern Voices & Visions, a show by seven Joyce Foundation Fellowship award-winners from the Alliance of Artists Communities’ Midwest consortium project, Therman Statom's re-installation of Nascita, and the Bemis Underground show The Nest Egg.
MIDWESTERN VOICES & VISIONS | GALLERY 2
The group exhibition Midwestern Voices & Visions features six artists who each participated in Midwestern artists-in-residence programs over the past year. The artists were selected through a partnership between the Alliance of Artists Communities, a national network... See more
THERMAN STATOM: NASCITA | GALLERY 1 Internationally renowned artist Therman Statom utilizes glass in site-specific installations that are architectural, sculptural and socially engaging. Nascita presents an ambitious visual experience and transforms the gallery into a space of freewheeling wonder. See more
THE NEST EGG | BEMIS UNDERGROUND A chain link fence separates the viewer from the view as the eminently habitable becomes ultimately uninhabitable in The Nest Egg, a video/sound/painting/performance experience brought to the Bemis Underground by curators Bryce Speed and Eric Lopez. See more
SONIC INSTALLATION: JOHN HENRY BLATTER | MAIN ENTRANCE Former artist-in-residence John Henry Blatter, the artist who uses sound to conjure experiential environments, has created a site-specific sound piece that will act as an audio portal for those crossing the threshold of Bemis08: Creativity Festival.
soft cube: MIN | DAY | GALLERY 3 Min | Day's architectural installation soft cube functions as a set of devices that soften Bemis Center's Gallery 3 and creates a flexible and multi-purpose social platform for Bemis08: Creativity Festival and Endless Summer, an ongoing schedule of events that will follow the festival. See more
SEEKERS TENT | LOADING DOCK Learn more about the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, the organizations participating in Bemis08: Creativity Festival, and how you can help build a more vibrant and creative community. Visit the Seekers Tent, your home for membership information, festival merchandise and more.
MEMBERS PARTY: BEMIS08 CREATIVITY FESTIVAL | GALLERY 1
Reception 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Not yet a member of the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts? Join us on the spot to support the Bemis Center. Enjoy Omaha Steaks hamburgers and Upstream Brewing Co. beer at what will surely be the hippest soiree in town.
THERMAN STATOM: RE-INSTALLATION OF NASCITA| GALLERY 1
Opening Reception 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. A work the size and scope of Nascita is the culmination of an unusually ambitious and creative planning cycle. Leave it to internationally acclaimed glass artist Therman Statom to re-shuffle the deck and introduce a re-invented and transformed Nascita just in time for Bemis08. See more
MIDWESTERN VOICES & VISIONS| GALLERY 2
Opening reception 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. The group exhibition Midwestern Voices & Visions features seven artists who participated in Midwestern artists-in-residence programs over the past year. The artists were selected through a partnership between the Alliance of Artists Communities, a national network... See more
THE NEST EGG: BRYCE SPEED
AND ERIC LOPEZ | BEMIS UNDERGROUND
Opening reception 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Descending the 17 steps of a metal staircase will deposit you in the wholly other world of the Bemis Underground, where artist/curators Bryce Speed and Eric Lopez... See more
HEARTLAND COMMUNITY FLUTE CHOIR: OVER THE EDGE | GALLERY 3
Performance 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. The 30-strong ensemble of the Heartland Community Flute Choir features the trills and thrills of c-flutes, piccolos, alto and bass flutes. The choir will perform a series of contemporary pieces... Hear more
UNO PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE | GALLERY 3
Performance 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Directed by faculty member Tomm Roland, the UNO Percussion Ensemble will mix classical works and contemporary masterpieces with world drumming and rock-influenced pieces, all punctuated with occasional explosions... Hear more
EUPHORIA: GENESIS 1E| BEMIS UNDERGROUND
Performance 10:00 p.m. - Midnight Bemis08 will dance its way into the night as the live, organic improvisation of jazz is juxtaposed against the digital drones of house music to become Genesis 1E... Hear more
SCHMOOZE FEST | GALLERY 3 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Enjoy a continental breakfast and mingle with the artists and other participants as Bemis08 settles into a day of compelling conversations and programming.
LEAVING THE FRAY: ARTISTS AS CITIZENS | GALLERY 3 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. Guest speaker Caitlin Strokosch, executive director of the Alliance of Artists Communities, eschews the myth of artists as eccentric outsiders and advocates for their broader integration into civic life with this keynote address
SONIC LECTURE: JOHN HENRY BLATTER | GALLERY 3 11:30 a.m. - Noon Is it an art talk? Is it a performance? Is it something in between? Join former Bemis Center resident John Henry Blatter in his sonic musings. Blatter is the creator... More information
ROBERT KARIMI | GALLERY 3 Noon - 1:00 p.m. A national poetry slam champion and Def Poetry Jam performer, Robert Karimi is an Iranian artist who believes in the power of humor to engage audiences to find the joy within their personal chaos.
(un)HEALTHY? WELLNESS, CREATIVITY AND THE ARTS| GALLERY 3 Panel Discussion 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Artists and medical professionals discuss the link between wellness, science and creativity in the quest to develop healthier communities. The panel is moderated by Thomas Svolos MD... More information
CREATIVE AGE COMMUNITIES | GALLERY 3
Panel Discussion 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. What makes a city great? Artists join community players and institutional leaders to connect the dots between economic development, quality of life, creativity and the arts. Bemis Center executive director Mark Masuoka moderates... More information
ART INCUBATORS:
BUILDING THE CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT | GALLERY 3
Panel Discussion 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Caitlin Strokosch, executive director of the Alliance of Artists Communities, leads a discussion of how artists, residency programs and outreach efforts transform communities... More information
NO NEED FOR AN OCEAN | GALLERY 3
Panel Discussion 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Midwestern Voices & Visions exhibition artists exchange ideas about their work as it relates to their residency experiences at Midwestern artist communities... More information
DOUG HAYKO: PETITION | 12TH STREET
6:00 - 10:00 p.m. The lines between theatre, socio-political commentary and street-level happenings are blurred as actor, writer, director, performance artist and founder of omahaliveartdivision Doug Hayko returns for his third collaboration with the Bemis Center. See more
OPEN STUDIOS | SECOND FLOOR
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Meet our current artists-in-residence John Bissonette, David Bowen, Adam Frelin, Caroline Gore, Janelle Iglesias, Andrea Loefke, Nathalie Miebach and Aili Schmeltz. Get an inside glimpse into the heart and soul of the Bemis Center's mission to support exceptional talent. See more
MODERN DANCE AT THE BEMIS CENTER: OMAHA MODERN DANCE COLLECTIVE & UNO'S THE MOVING COMPANY| GALLERY 1
7:00 - 7:30 p.m. Taffy Howard and Kathy Bass of the OMDC and Josie Metal-Corbin of UNO’s The Moving Company will collaborate in celebrating the power and poetry of the human form in a site-specific... See more
LABYRINTH: AN INTERACTIVE MEDITATION ON CREATIVITY FOR EXILES AND OTHER FELLOW TRAVELERS -
SUSANN SUPRENANT| FIFTH FLOOR 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. A diverse ensemble of artists have created a labyrinth installation exploring themes of exile, ritual... More information
FROM BOOB TUBE TO YOUTUBE: VIDEO REVOLUTIONS
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DAVID MATYSIAK| BEMIS UNDERGROUND 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. David Matysiak, former Bemis musician-in-residence, screens all manner of video blurbs, blips and baubles in making the point that the internet has spawned an egalitarian revolution... More information
MODERN DANCE AT THE BEMIS CENTER: OMAHA MODERN DANCE COLLECTIVE & UNO'S THE MOVING COMPANY| GALLERY 1 7:30 - 8:00 p.m. Taffy Howard and Kathy Bass of the OMDC and Josie Metal-Corbin of UNO’s The Moving Company will collaborate in celebrating the power and poetry of the human form in a site-specific... See more
AMBIENT MUSIC: UNO'S ARTIFICIAL MUSIC INITIATIVE| MAIN LOBBY 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Internationally recognized composer Kenton Bales, the Robert M. Spire professor of music composition, technology and theory at the University of Nebraska at Omaha... More information
LOOM:
WEAVING THE SOCIAL FABRIC THROUGH DANCE| GALLERY 3 10:00 p.m. - 12:00 midnight A high-energy global-soul-salsa-funk-afro-beat dance party erupts when the sun goes down on the second day of Bemis08. Brent Crampton and his loom crew, including host Jay Kline... More information
SCHMOOZE FEST | GALLERY 3 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Enjoy a continental breakfast and mingle with the artists and other participants as Bemis08 powers up for a new day of activities.
NASCITA WORKSHOP: THERMAN STATOM | GALLERY 1 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. An all-ages opportunity to try your hand at creating your very own work on glass inspired by Nascita,Therman Statom's site-specific architectural and sculptural installation. Availability is limited and seats with be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more
O! WHAT A STORY! OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY | GALLERY 3 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon The Omaha Public Library brings to Bemis08 that most ancient of all art forms; storytelling. Organized by library staffers Mary J. Mollner and April Earl, this interactive experience is coordinated by the Omaha Public Library... More information
THE OCTOPUSES GARDEN ART ALLIANCE| LOADING DOCK 11:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m. Every surface represents a blank canvas to the people of Octopuses Garden, the non-profit group that fosters creative self-expression and dignity for all. Grab a piece of chalk and... More information
MICRO THEATRE: SHELTERBELT THEATRE| GALLERY 3 Noon - 1:00 p.m. For fifteen years now, the Shelterbelt Theatre has been producing award-winning new plays by local writers. Scott Working, founder and artistic director of the Shelterbelt, will present... See More
CONSPIRING TEXTS: THE EPICENE FURIES| GALLERY 3 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. The Epicene Furies, a troupe of Omaha poets, playwrights, and scholars, have travelled from coast to coast emphasizing the power of language-driven performance... More information
COVER ME: AUTHORS AND DESIGNERS DISCUSS THE ART OF BOOK COVER DESIGN| GALLERY 3 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Timothy Schaffert, widely known author of Devils in the Sugar Shop and the director/founder of (downtown) omaha lit fest, moderates a conversation on book cover design and the often... More information
LABYRINTH: AN INTERACTIVE MEDITATION ON CREATIVITY FOR EXILES AND OTHER FELLOW TRAVELERS -
SUSANN SUPRENANT| FIFTH FLOOR 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. A diverse ensemble of artists have created a labyrinth installation exploring themes of exile, ritual... More information
TOXIC LITTER: DOUG HAYKO| 12TH STREET 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. The grit and grime of the urban landscape is returned to a pristine state in Doug Hayko's Toxic Litter, a compelling social commentary on the environment and your place... More information
OPEN STUDIOS| SECOND FLOOR 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Meet our current artists-in-residence John Bissonette, David Bowen, Adam Frelin, Caroline Gore, Janelle Iglesias, Andrea Loefke, Nathalie Miebach and Aili Schmeltz. Get an inside glimpse into the heart and soul of the Bemis Center's mission to support exceptional talent. See more
SELECTED READINGS FROM THE NICARAGUAN NOVEL: FRANCISCO ARAGON| GALLERY 3 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. A native of San Francisco and a long-time resident of Spain, Francisco Aragon reads his poetry at Bemis08. Aragon is the author of the poetry collection Puerta del Sol (Bilingual Press)... More information
SHIVER SHIVER| GALLERY 3 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. With a signature style and a sizzling stage presence, Shiver Shiver is rooted in the grandest of glam traditions. Chase Thornburg drums while Jordan Elsberry sings and plays... Hear more
BEAR COUNTRY| GALLERY 3 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. The familiar folk rock mainstays of harmonica, bass, and keyboards give way to layers of happy beat overtones and lyrical diversity to form the distinctive sound of Bear Country... Hear more
COLUMBIA VS. CHALLENGER | GALLERY 3 9:30 - 10:30 p.m. From frenetically fast-paced to soulful and grooving, the synth-pop sound of Columbia vs. Challenger is brought to you by Josh Miller (keyboards, vocals and saxophone)... Hear more
CAPGUN COUP| GALLERY 3 10:30 - 11:30 p.m. The sonic schizophrenia of Capgun Coup has evolved from an earlier homage to avant noise into a full-blown explosion of indie-house-party-punk-pop. The ragged and out-of -control clashes... Hear more
