Omaha .... Not Just For Cows
Photo Credit: Matthew Ireland - Silo Art
Contributed by: Lance Rome - Omaha Area Resident, Art Advocate and Writer Extraordinaire - 11/05/2012
 When you’re thinking of Omaha, NE. you might think of phrases such as “Just a Cow town” or “Somewhere in middle America”, and both statements may ring true at times, but Omaha may have something you might not know about, but should.
Omaha has ART, CULTURE, and a real feeling of pride for both. So stop asking the question, “What exactly is a Corn Husker anyways?” and take a few minutes to take a tour of some of our wonderful galleries, museums and then take time to get to know a little more about the wonderful mid-western people that express themselves through their art, music, and expressions.
Museums
Probably the best and most familiar stop here is the renowned Joslyn Art Museum, which is located at 2200 Dodge St. (402) 342-3300, it is our oldest and most well known gallery & museum and is guaranteed to be a huge hit with anyone. The mission statement of the gallery says it all when its describes its vision and mission when it says, “Joslyn Art Museum collects, preserves, and interprets the visual arts of the highest quality, fostering appreciation and enjoyment of art for the benefit of a diverse audience.”
Please take the time to check out their website to learn more at www.joslyn.org for times and showings.
Art Districts
Of course as we continue on with our tour of galleries we would have to just take a short walk to our world famous “Old Market” neighborhood, first formed as a manufacturing center in our early history, now reclaimed and filled with some of the best kept secrets we have to offer. The Old Market is again a must for visitors, and art lovers. In one afternoon your adventures from walking in the beautiful and clean downtown hub for culture, art, and shopping can end up lasting you an entire week…and you still don’t get to meet everyone or see all the different types of showcased Art, music, and unique shopping that is in front of you everywhere you turn. A must stop, and one I recommend as a first is the Old Market Artists Gallery located at 417 S. 11th St. year after year it is voted #1 in the cities annual “best of” contests. The Old Market Artists Gallery consists of a limited membership of 12-14 artists, who display their work, as not only a way to introduce themselves, but also expose you to their visions.
Please take the time to learn more at www.oldmarketartists.com
And finally since we have just visited a small part of our city, I will encourage you to stay right in the “neighborhood” and visit the eclectic Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts located at 724 S. 12th St. The Bemis Center boasts over 100,000 square feet of a unique “live in & work” area that hosts 36 artists with work in progress constantly , a beautiful building that allows our best free space to express themselves to you in a one of a kind way. The Bemis Center is also a proud member of the Alliance of Artists communities which is a world wide organization and more can be learned about it by visiting their web site at www.artistcommunities.org. and of course the best part of your visit is that parking and admission are both free. Find out more at www.bemiscenter.org
So even though we’ve only just touched the surface you can see that Omaha…”Well, she’s not just all about cows”, and we are proud of what we have to offer here in “Middle America”… We invite you to come join us as we welcome you into our little slice of the Art world….to find out more about Omaha, it’s galleries and Museums, and hospitality please visit our Omaha Convention and Visitors Center, located at 1001 Farnam St. or call 402-444-4660 www.visitomaha.com
Fine Arts Galleries
Although to know Cows, is to know good Steak.....
So now that I’ve given you an initial idea of just a small portion of our Art scene, I wanted to go a bit further and spotlight on a few of the other well known, renowned studios, and galleries around Omaha. I’d like to add, before I start, that if the “steak” comment kept you reading, then I figure I am on the right track. Many people know that one of our most recognizable businesses here is the Omaha Steaks Company, and they specialize in offering the worlds best cuts of meat money can buy.
Which is the perfect way to lead you into my introduction of another specialized and highly renowned gallery here, The Anderson O’Brien Fine Arts Center. I am honored to be writing about the AO’B Fine Arts Center because it is a very unique place, or I should say places. They have 2 locations here, and I am suggesting that during your visit, you dedicate an entire day to them, and then the next as well.
A gallery that offers so much more than just Art on the wall..
The Anderson O'Brien Fines Arts Center
Local Artists
We are currently looking for more contributors for the Omaha Art Scene. If you want to write about any of the following please contact us:
- Art Museums
- Art Galleries
- Local Artists
- Street Art
- Public Art
- Festivals and Fairs
- An Interpretation of Artwork
- Any Underground Art
Go to the Get Involved! page to learn about different ways to get involved with the Art-City.org project.
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