News

Gala News

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Category: News

Published: Sun. Mar 14, 2021

The gala will be upon us before we know it. Tickets will be coming soon. October 2, 2021 Save the date!

There are many exciting events going on that evening but we could use your help.

We need: 

• 1 person for Ticket Sales
• 1 person to man the Ticket/Raffle table
• 1 person for a "Music thru 75 years" display
• 1 person for a "75 year Timeline for Omaha Artists"
• 2 people to man the Silent Auction and get the donations for it.
• 2 people for the Vendor team.
• Help to set up and run sales.

We are also looking for talented vendors to display and sell their work. Nothing will be more fun than shopping on our special night out. If you are interested please click here to get an application to fill out below. Our team will make the selection as we only have 12 spots available.

Send to: Patricia Kounkel. See March newsletter for postal mailing address.

We Need Your Recipes!

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Category: News

Published: Sun. Mar 14, 2021

Omaha Artists Inc. is including the cookbook page in this newsletter. We still need a few more recipes to make this the greatest cookbook. Thank you all in advance.

Submit your recipes.

Your cookbook committee,
Jo Anne Nielsen, Susan Stevens and Katie Johnson.

Member Spotlight: Laurie Taylor

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Category: Spotlighted Members

Published: Sun. Mar 14, 2021

Tell us about you!!!

I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. I grew up in the Keystone neighborhood where we rode bikes to Keystone Pool and had horses as neighbors. I am a Benson Bunny. I went to Lincoln to attend Nebraska Wesleyan. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and minors in Art and Music in 1972. Omaha Public Schools offered me a job teaching second grade.It was the start of a 26 year career that also included teaching on the Pine Ridge Reservation (4th grade), and the one room school my mother went to in Sheridan County in Nebraska (K-8th grade). After living in western Nebraska for 4 years we relocated to Elkhorn. I taught at a one room country school as head teacher for 8 years (K-3rd grade) then back to OPS for 11 years (2nd & 3rd grade). 

I went out on a health leave as I had fibromyalgia that created migraines 3 to 4 times a week. I also struggle with a LOT of osteoarthritis and a little rheumatoid arthritis. I retired early but felt like I needed to do something, so I started a pet sitting business called Paws 4 Me for 10 years. I taught in the warm water pool at Lakeside Wellness then became certified in Tai Chi in 2015. I have taught Tai Chi since 2015 and am now at Elkhorn Common Ground. I became a Certified HealingTouch Practitioner in 2017. I am a life-long learner!! 

I have one son and two granddaughters here in Omaha. I met my husband in 1996 when his son was in my 3rd grade class! He waited till the summer to write me a nice thank you note. In the note he asked me out and gave me his phone number as I had an unlisted phone. We married in July of 1997! 

Tell us about your history with Omaha Artists Inc.

I joined Omaha Artists in 2018. I have always been doing some type of art as a classroom teacher and calligraphy as a College for Kids class and freelance for the NE State Historical Society. I enjoy drawing, watercolors, acrylic and oil and cold wax. In the last 3 years I have taken a variety of online art classes. I would like to learn encaustic! I love the Fun Shops that Omaha Artists promote as well as the meetings. I always meet someone new! When I paint my aches and pains fade away as I focus on the project!

I have a website: highergroundsacredart.com. I also display my art on Fine Art America. 

Tell us about a couple of your favorite books you have read (name and author)? 

In my spare time I love to do art and read historical fiction. A couple of books that I highly recommend are “The Dovekeepers” by Alice Hoffman, “The Book of Longings” by Sue Monk Kidd and “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens. I love authors Alice Hoffman, Jodi Picoult, Kristin Hannah and Kate Morton and Omaha author Jonis Agee. I also love to connect with my friends. My goal is to keep up with my 93 year old mother!

What are your travel experiences? 

Jerry and I honeymooned on Maui. Scuba diving at the Cayman islands as well as Hawaii was beautiful. I was lucky to travel with my mother and stepfather to Berlin and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Air lift in which Chuck flew. We then traveled to Paris where we had an apartment for two weeks.

It was amazing and I would go back in a heartbeat! I have been on a barge in Scotland and gone to the town where my great grandmother was born. I have traveled with family to Italy, France, Ireland and Canada. I love the Nebraska Sandhills and love to travel west. 

What are you known for? 

I am known for my smile and my laugh as well as my “evil twin” who gets into mischief! 

Has anything or anyone changed your life? 

My husband has changed my life by honoring who Iam and being my steadfast rock through health and illness. He gives me the space I need to learn and grow. Every year just gets better! My family and my friends are my inspiration and my love. 

What is your favorite quote or saying? 

My favorite quote is “Be still and know that I am God.” I also like “This too shall pass.”

Katie Johnson

Member Spotlight Reporter

General OAI Meeting Minutes - February 24, 2021

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Category: Board Meeting Notes

Published: Sun. Mar 14, 2021

February 24, 2021 at Famous Dave’s

• President, Barbara Egr called the meeting to order at1:15pm, 14 members attending.
• Secretary, Linda Leary-General meeting minutes ofthe January 27, 2021 zoom meeting were sent in theFebruary newsletter.
• Treasurer Report, JoAnne Nielsen-Checking Account Balance: $4,878.49.

Committee Reports

A.N.A.C. (Association of NE Art Clubs) – Jo Anne Nielsenwill provide report details in the March newsletter.

Art Shows – Sharon Clawson – The Spring Virtual Art Show will be opening online on May 1. The show theme is Shadows. The Zoom Reception and Judge’s comments date will be announced by email. See Sharon’s more specific details in the March newsletter.

Cookbook – Jo Anne Nielsen needs more recipes. Please send recipes using the form in the newsletter.

Courtesy – Barbara Mathewson reported one new member, Tom Kerr.

Fun Shop – Shirley Schmidt will include the March 17 Fun Shop details in the newsletter.

Gala – Patti Kounkel relayed the current plans: Vendor applications for 12 spaces A sign up sheet for volunteers Johnny Ray Gomez will provide the music entertainment Katie Johnson needs corporate sponsor suggestions in return for advertising.

Hostesses/Luncheon/Dinner – Sue Loyd reported lunchat LaCasa’s on Leavenworth on March 24, 2021, 11am. Make luncheon reservations with Linda Guynn. Scholarship Winners will be announced. (Zoom Board meeting on Tuesday, March 23, 7pm. Barbara Egr will email a zoom invite.) NO JOSLYN MEETING!

Membership – Jo Anne Nielsen reported 111 active members.

Newsletter – Danielle Easdale. Barbara Egr requested the articles be sent to Danielle by Saturday. See newsletter for additional information.

Programs – Vickey Timperley reported the program will be at Lauritzen Gardens viewing the Fantastical Folklore display at 2pm, March 24, 2021. Members must make their own reservation and pay for the $10 ticketat lauritzengardens.org.

Program – Steve Reese, professional photographer and proprietor of Mervin Reese Photography presented “How to Photograph Your Art Work”

Adjourned at 2pm.

Next Meeting:

Wednesday, March 24, 11am
Luncheon and General Meeting
LaCasa Restaurant on Leavenworth

NO MEETING AT THE JOSLYN

Followed by: Program: Lauritzen Gardens
2pm Fantasical Folklore Respectfully

Submitted by Linda Leary, Secretary

Winner of the Members Choice Award

Details

Category: Art Show News

Published: Sun. Mar 7, 2021

goes to

Lion by Danielle Easdale

All four entries received a lot of support with a total of 43 votes. Thank you to all the members who took the time to vote.

Members Choice Award: We Have a 4-way Tie!

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Category: Art Show News

Published: Mon. Mar 1, 2021

We need to do another round of voting to decide who the Members Choice Award winner is. Here are the four entries that are tied. Please vote by 8:00 pm next Sunday, March 7.

Click the award graphic to vote.

What Did You Think About Our First Virtual Show?

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Category: News

Published: Mon. Mar 1, 2021

The "First Ever Virtual Show" committee would appreciate your feedback and opinions concerning the online show. I believe we all agree that a "real, in-person" show is everyone's preference. However, we are in the midst of a global pandemic. Please fill out the survey by March 15 to allow us time to make adjustments based on your feedback for the next show.

We appreciate your responses!

Take the Survey Now

Winning Entries for Omaha Artists Inc.'s First Ever Virtual Show

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Category: Art Show News

Published: Sat. Feb 13, 2021

Thank you to Troy Muller for judging the show and to all who participated in Omaha Artists Inc.'s First Virtual Show! Go to the Art Show Gallery to  see the winning entries.

Letter from the President

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Category: News

Published: Sat. Feb 13, 2021

Last Wednesday, our club held its first Zoom meeting because Omaha Public Schools canceled in-person school. Our club follows OPS’s weather guidelines and since they were meeting remotely, we did too!

I am always looking for silver linings. In this case 29 people joined us to listen to Sarah McWilliams’ inspirational and motivation lecture. If the club would have met in-person, only fifteen members had reserved a spot for the luncheon. In other words, almost twice as many club members were able to hear our club news at the general meeting and listen to Sarah’s talk!

Ms. McWilliams suggested a memory exercise in which we were asked to search back ten years ago to a memory we loved. It could be a fun experience, spending time with a loved one, or something else. Her example was attending an Easter egg hunt with a beloved child. She suggested we think of the sky color, the flowers that were blooming that day, and the animals we noticed in the yard/park. Then...she suggested a painting about that experience: paint butterflies, the child’s movements, the daffodils blooming, etc.

It is my hope that you try this exercise and allow yourself to paint some happiness this next month.

With love,
Barbara Egr
President
Contact

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."

-Thomas Merton

February General Meeting and Luncheon

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Category: News

Published: Sat. Feb 13, 2021

Did you know that one of the many lovely perks of being an Omaha Artist, Inc member is you get to have your own “gallery page” hooked onto the Omaha Artists, Inc. web page? However, many of you have not taken advantage of this gem because you do not feel knowledgeable knowing how to “Photograph your Artwork in High Resolution.

”Well...good news! We have Steve Reese, professional photographer and proprietor of Mervin Reese Photography, as our guest speaker at our next luncheon. Many of our members took advantage of Steve’s professionalism as he shot high resolution photos for OAI’s First Ever Virtual Art Show! He will be teaching us how to photograph our artwork in high resolution to obtain the results we desire!

February 24th
11:00 board meeting
12:00 luncheon and guest speaker
Famous Dave’s, 2015 Pratt Ave. in Bellevue
(near Menards on Cornhusker.)
Order from menu, separate checks, masks & social distancing
RSVP to Linda Guynn by Fri., Feb. 19.

Space is limited due to high social standards and distancing. Therefore, we will accept reservations on a first come, first serve basis. Hope to see YOU there! It is going to be fun and you can get your gallery page up and running with GREAT quality photographs you shot yourself.

February is the month for love... love of self, love for others, love of art.