I've moved.

I've upgraded.

Find me at weekfiftytwo.com, which should redirect you to my new wordpress blog, which translates to www.weekfiftytwo.wordpress.com.

The site allows me to use the blog as not just an outlet for writing but a professional Web site where I can post more than just random thoughts.

Please update your links! I will be taking down the blogger site soon.

Thanks for reading, subscribing and commenting.

Impressive stuff from the Lincoln Arts Council

I wrote a column in the Reader two weeks ago about how a bunch of local artists, galleries and museums are embracing the podcast. Now, the Lincoln Arts Council is doing a pretty impressive job of embracing the whole "Web 2.0" thing and I thought I'd share their good work.

Check out the LAC Facebook page and become a fan. You'll get event notifications and help spread the word about all the good stuff the LAC does. If you're Twittering (something I've tried and that has, thus far, failed to keep my interest - but that's another blog post) you can now follow the LAC's tweets at www.twitter.com/artscene. The LAC has a Flickr photostream where the group uploads images of their most recent projects.

If you want it all (and a few more things, like email archives and the ability to submit events online) get it all here.

This Weekend...

My artsy friend Rachel and I are going to check out some art tomorrow night. Artist Allyson Gibbs is opening a show of new work at Benson's very cool PULP Gallery, and we'll be there. (After that its drinks at Jake's, my new favorite midtown bar.) On Saturday night, one of my favorite artists, Renee Ledesma Hoover, opens her annual fall show, this year at Rob Gilmer's RNG Gallery. I'll be reviewing it for the Reader in the coming weeks. Her sculptures are some of my favorites and what makes her art even better is her warm, engaging personality. I look forward to this show every year.

Also, here's something interesting to look at. My sister Lindsey sent me a link and wrote me a note that came with it: "Isn't it weird how this is basically just like the Kaneko?" she typed. Yes, it is. And it makes me think that Omaha is very lucky to have such an innovative art space budding in its downtown.

In other news, I'm enjoying the fall and have been crazy busy with my day job and my editor duties at the Reader. I wish I had more time to devote to writing, drinking wine at La Buvette and going on vintage shopping expeditions. Those are three of my favorite fall activities. I have enjoyed digging out all my forgotten fall clothing and, on the chilly evenings, spending time at home indulging in some of the trashiest and most addictive Bravo reality television. (I DIE for Rachel Zoe and her mind boggling collection of vintage. Sigh.)

And in some final news, I'm super excited for a few upcoming concerts: Stephen Malkamus, Mason Jennings and Wolf Parade are all coming to Omaha.

Glorious fall: perfect for art, fashion and music.

Signing off.

Above photo courtesy RNG Gallery and Renee Ledesma Hoover.

Celaya

Last night my significant and I went to a lecture sponsored by the University of Nebraska. Enrique Martinez Celaya, an NU visiting presidential professor, gave his first lecture in Omaha. NU President JB Milliken appointed Celaya to the position in 2007, and the three-year term began last year in Lincoln, where he gave three public lectures, had a show at the Sheldon Art Gallery, visited with classes and gave a UNL student an internship at his Los Angeles studio.

I don't go to as many lectures as I used to, but I have to say, this one was really worth the time. Celaya's talk was engaging, honest and thought-provoking. I especially loved his comments on the recent Damien Hirst auction that took place on the same day as a huge stock market dive. You can read about his thoughts at his blog.

I took a few notes at the lecture, and asked a question at the end. My question was "You seem to think art is ultimately not understandable. Where does that leave the viewer, the writer, the critic?" Celaya gave an answer that was better than I could have expected, delving into the differences between "good" and "bad" art and why he chooses not to waste his time on art that doesn't challenge, doesn't live up to his standards and isn't difficult.

Read about his philosophies on art, his recent work and his publishing house at his Web site.

He'll be back in Omaha this spring, and will give another lecture. I highly recommend attending. It'll make you think.

Food and Art.

Two of my favorite things. That's why I had to blog about a facebook message I got from the Lincoln restaurant Bread and Cup. Sadly, I haven't made it to this Haymarket restaurant that uses market fresh ingredients to make what sounds like absolutely delicious food.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, Bread and Cup is having a special event called "Chef and Artist Dinner." The restaurant is collaborating with local ceramic artists and will serve a four course meal on hand crafted dishes made by the team of artists. Diners can purchase the plate their food comes on; the purchase will be accompanied by a recipe for the meal the diner enjoyed. The event is by reservation only, and Bread and Cup will seat diners in groups of 4. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and is $50 per person.
Make yours at 402-438-2255 or learn more at www.breadandcup.com

Here's the menu, with accompanying wines:

Fruit & Cheese Plate
Figs, nuts, goat cheese with bread & olive oil
Wine: 2006 Champalou Vouvray

Tabouleh on Crisp Lettuce
A cracked wheat salad with olive oil, scallions, lemon, and mint
Wine: 2006 Martin Codax Albarino

Moroccan Lamb Tagine with Apricots, Almonds, & Honey with Couscous
Or
Spiced Potato Tagine with Mediterranean Olives
Wine: 2004 Pont d’ Avignon Cote du Rhone

Kataifi with Candied Pumpkin
Wine: 2006 Nachtgold Eiswien

Two artists, two shows.

Two Omaha "heavy hitters" -- Terry Rosenberg and Larry Ferguson -- are opening shows this fall.

Terry Rosenberg: Colors of War opens at the W. Dale Clark Main Library downtown tomorrow, Oct. 1. A free opening reception for the show is slated for Saturday , Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. Rosenberg will show 100 digital images (one is at left) that take conflicts throughout the world and present them in a new, thought provoking context. Emotionally charged couplets of words - like "Israelis/Palestinians" and "Democracy/Terrorism" appear in vividly colored arrangements on each piece, opening up an opportunity for debate, discussion and interpretation.

Viewers can also post their comments and engage in debates through the artist’s interactive blog www.terryrosenberg.blogspot.com, which features exhibition images and the essay Colors of War and the Colors of Words by Richard Shusterman, the Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar Chair in the Humanities at Florida Atlantic University. Following its run at Omaha’s Main Public Library Branch, Colors of War will travel to fine art venues and libraries in the US and abroad.

Larry Ferguson: Moved by the Spirits will open at Modern Arts Midwest Oct. 3 with a 7 p.m. reception. The show is a solo exhibition of black and white images of trees, a subject Ferguson has found inspiration from since childhood, when he watched his mother plant more than 600 olive trees to serve as a windbreak at his rural Nebraska home. (And in case you were wondering, yes, the trees are still there 40 years later.)

Close to 100 images make up the show, which includes the release of an accompanying, limited edition plate book with the same title as the show. City Weekly critic Mike Krainak and art writer Kim Carpenter contributed essays to the catalog.

above photos courtesy Terry Rosenberg and Larry Ferguson.

American Apparel

One other thing...Omaha's outpost of American Apparel opened this week. Rejoice!

Check out our new Omaha store.

We're excited to be part of the neighborhood.
Stop in and say hello.

American Apparel Omaha
733 N 14th St.
Omaha, NE 68102
Tel. (402) 346-3000
Map & Directions

Store Hours:
Mon - Sat10am - 9pm
Sun11am - 6pm