National Night Out is a nationwide event to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie. The Leavenworth Neighborhood Association's celebration this year will include a dedication of the recently completed “Freedom Mural” at VFW Post 247, 33rd and Leavenworth Street. Artists, veterans, guests, and neighbors will gather at 6:00 p.m. for smoked pork sandwiches, baked beans, music, entertainment for children, and a short dedication of the mural to veterans of Post 247. The August 6 celebration will bring the community together to not only promote safety but to recognize our freedoms and thank those who have sacrificed to protect them.
The 20’ x 60’ mural honors veterans who bravely fought to protect our freedom and was the vision of Omaha Artist Richard Harrison, of A Midsummer's Mural, who together with Mike Giron, of M. Giron Artworks, has been pursuing opportunities to beautify Leavenworth Street with the addition of colorful murals. Richard sketched the idea of a mural that evokes freedom by picturing a boy on a tire swing in front of a 60' long tree filled with rays of sunshine. The mural has text that says "thanks to those who protect our freedom" and the word freedom is in huge translucent letters that fill the wall.
Richard took the design to the VFW and told them that he would raise the funds to create the mural at no expense to them. Thanks to generous funding from the Leavenworth Neighborhood Association, the Mutual of Omaha Foundation, The Nebraska Arts Council, and members of St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, who had a big pancake breakfast with the artists flipping pancakes, that goal was achieved.
Artists who worked on the painting include Richard Harrison, Mike Giron, Rebecca Harrison, Jeremiah Neal, Pam Conyers- Hinson, Eddith Buis, Larry Lentz, and students of the Kent Bellows Art Studio and Center for the Arts.
The artists met twice with students from Jackson Elementary School (part of their Completely Kids Summer program) to use the mural project as a catalyst for learning. Students met the artists on Tuesday, July 23, at 9:30 a.m. at the VFW mural site to discuss what freedom means to different people. The kids were able to expresses what freedom means to them by adding writings and drawings of their own to an 8' x 20' mock-up of the mural. It will be on display at the VFW event August 6th and may find a home on the walls of the VFW or Jackson School. The next day, Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m. several veterans visited the students at their school to talk about what freedom means to them and the choices they made in their lives to help protect our freedom. The students were absolutely absorbed in the stories from the veterans who spoke about the need to work hard in school and stay away from gangs as well as told stories about what it's like to drive a tank or how scary it is to camp out with the enemy all around you. The kids were very appreciative of the veterans who included Thomas Parker, Kenny McDonald and Jeremiah Neal.
Richard, Mike, and Rebecca, and others completed the mural on the outside of the Avanza grocery store on Park and Leavenworth last Summer. The wall has paintings of giant fruits and vegetables, as well as papel picado crafts created by Jackson Elementary School children in a workshop with visiting artist, Linda Garcia. Since then the artists have completed murals that cover the interior walls of the Avanza store with recreations of Spanish colonial style architecture. The store will celebrate their new renovations on August 4th.
The celebration of the VFW mural will include a kick off for another mural, an Op Art design by Mike Giron, for the West side of Midwest Photo Pro (4314 Leavenworth St.). Also, Benson Plant Rescue has recently received funding from a Mayor's Grant for this team of artists to do giant floral mural on their new location at 7224 Maple and is awaiting final design approval from the Nebraska Arts Council. This project will be styled following Mike Giron’s previous design for Maria Bonita restaurant on South 24th Street.
Our team bios are:
Richard Harrison began doing art in Omaha in 1999 under the business name, A Midsummer's Mural, an A+ rated member of the Better Business Bureau. He has been teaching or working professionally in large scale art since 1989. He has worked in cities across the country including Omaha, Chicago, South Carolina, and Denver. In Chicago Richard did work for The Chicago Art Institute, The Museum of Modern Art, and The A.T. and T Corporate headquarters. He has an MFA from North Carolina School for the Arts, and a Bachelor's in Art from Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kansas. While at OU Richard was twice a national finalist in scene design for the American College Theatre Festival. Richard has taught full time for five years, including at The Virginia Magnet School for the Arts, and Lagrange College, Georgia and he has taught part time at Bellevue University, in Bellevue Nebraska. He was also a scene designer at the Omaha Community Playhouse for three years. Richard now lives in Omaha and his work can be seen at http://www.amidsummersmural.com and www.a- midsummers-mural.blogspot.com.
Mike Girón lives in Midtown Omaha. He began painting in 1989, has been featured in solo and group exhibitions, created many public artworks and even painted Mardi Gras parade floats in New Orleans, where he was born. He received his BFA from the University of New Orleans and went on to get his MFA from the University of Colorado, Boulder. As a college professor, he has influenced many artists, and has been curator of socially-conscious art exhibits, including Green Art and Art and the Experience of War. His chosen media include oil and mixed-media painting, murals, traditional and digital printmaking, and design. Mike has a superb eye for color and insightful design that breathes life and excitement into all of his work. Mike is currently working as an independent artist in Omaha, as well as teaching art at Metropolitan Community College and working in collaboration with A Midsummer's Mural. His work can be seen at www.mikegiron.com.
Rebecca Harrison is an Omaha muralist who has been working with A Midsummer's Mural for seven years. In May of 2013 she graduated with a BA in Art History from UNO. While at Omaha Central, she worked with Joslyn Art Museum’s JAMbassadors program and was a student at Kent Bellows Studio. Rebecca was president of UNO’s Organization for the Advancement of the Arts and helped curate the online student publication, Apparatus. She was also an exhibitions intern at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Spring, 2012. Rebecca will soon be working with Dave Lowenstein on a community mural for Hastings, Nebraska via the Midwest Arts Alliance Mural Project, which is funded in part by the Nebraska Arts Council.
Jeremiah Neal is from Muskegon, Michigan, and attended college there. Since 2010 he has helped with supervision at Siena-Francis House’s “Artists in Recovery” program, with Dr. Ruth Margalit from UNMC. He also has had a mentorship with art educator Eddith Buis for the past two years. Jeremiah was in the United States Air Force from 1976-79, and a Medic at Mercy Hospital in Michigan, 19880-89. He has exhibited at Siena-Francis House and the Scott Center (2009), a solo show at Hot Shops Art Center, (2010), a group show at Michael Phipps Gallery (the “Luigi Waites Tribute”) and a 2- artist exhibit at the Phipps Gallery, both in 2011. He has completed murals on the exterior of the Siena-Francis House, the KROC Center, and the Silverstone Group, where he acted as mentor and supervisor for a team of artists. Jeremiah states, “I feel it’s in my DNA to contribute to society at this point of my life; to continue painting and writing to help others to see life as the adventure it is.” Contact: crossaddicted@yahoo.com
Pamela Conyers-Hinson is a sculptor who holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Studio Art and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership. She is a teaching artist for the Kent Bellows Studio & Center for Visual Arts, Joslyn Art Museum, and Sheldon Museum of Art. Pamela has worked with various groups within the community, including those with physical and mental disabilities. She is also a teaching artist for WhyArt? Contact: conyhins@gmail.com
Eddith Buis holds B.S., M.A. and Specialist degrees in art education, and taught with OPS from 1973-1997, and Metropolitan Community College from 1997-2012. Best known for directing public art events, Buis coordinated the J. Doe project, 5 years of sculpture exhibits at Leahy Mall, Fontenelle Forest, Lauritzen Gardens, the Lewis & Clark Icon Project, Bench Marks for the Kiewit Foundation, and “Bike Blast” for disadvantaged youths. Buis has extensive experience and expertise with public art processes. Contact: ebuis@cox.net
Larry Lenz is a man who lives in the neighborhood around the VFW Post 247 who has been a jack of many trades, including a painter. He was kind enough to offer us his help with this project. We recommend him for his story telling abilities as well as his skills in painting. A lot of amazing things happened to him in his life and we were glad to have him join our team.
No comments:
Post a Comment