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Cindy Rehm, Grey Sisters l, 2018, collage printed in fabric, 56x35 in. @cindyrehm #cindyrehm #greysisters #contemporaryart #collage #textileart #feministart #dargerhq (at Darger HQ)

#textileart #greysisters #collage #cindyrehm #contemporaryart #feministart #dargerhq

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Opening tomorrow Friday 13, 6-9pm TRANSCRIPTIONS Cindy Rehm + Sheila Talbitzer. As always, free and open to the public. image: Sheila Talbitzer, 57 Vials from the Ludwina Year One Project, 2018, pigment print, 20 x 26in. @cindyrehm @srtalbitzermansfield #artopening #transcriptions #cindyrehm #sheilatalbitzer #photography #contemporaryart #contemporaryphotography (at Darger HQ)

#sheilatalbitzer #contemporaryphotography #transcriptions #contemporaryart #artopening #cindyrehm #photography

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Last week to view DIALOGICAL Sophie Dvorak + Matthew Sontheimer. On view til Saturday June 30th. image: Sophie Dvorak, ‘Legends of North America’ 2018, collage on wood, 12x8 in. . . @_sophiedvorak_ @matthewsontheimer #sophiedvorak #collage #cartography #contemporaryart (at Darger HQ)

#contemporaryart #collage #sophiedvorak #cartography

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The Artist Known As Chi | Motivated, Caregiving and Multidisciplinary Artist Chikadibia Ebirim

The Artist Known As Chi | Motivated, Caregiving and Multidisciplinary Artist Chikadibia Ebirim

It’s not often that you will see a tall kid with a curly afro handing out hugs to strangers. Making every moment a special and memorable one is the intention for multidisciplinary artist Chikadibia Ebirim, Chi for short. He is 24 years young with a mile of emphatic joy to share with the people he comes in contact with. Chi currently operates out of his studio as a 2018 fellow at the Union for Contemporary Arts. Passionately, he shares with us how important is it to truly maximize creative talent while serving others throughout his practice.

“My first form of expressing myself through music was beatboxing. I've been making clicking noises in rhythmic patterns since I was in diapers or I would be banging on my toy box like a drum set. I give praise to Buffett middle school, 7th grade, multimedia class. That school changed my life, because they taught kids how to use Garageband and iMovie. Around the same time my mother purchased a Macbook pro from Steve Jobs. At this point I always had access to make the movies that I always wanted to make. That was 2007, 11 years ago.”

Humbly, Chi never denies the origin of his inspiration even stemming from his childhood being the grandson of Tom Palmerton. Although a different medium, the tenacity is appreciated nonetheless offering a desire of fortitude for Chi in his emerging years.

“Creativity does run throughout my family. My grandfather (on my mother's side) probably being the most successful artist so far. His most famous piece would definitely be his bronze sculptures of gorillas at the Henry Doorly Zoo.”

“My mother has also been one of my biggest inspirations. She was my navigator (besides GOD and self) for understanding my true talents. My parents introduced me to Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, and Prince. The three artists changed my life forever,” Chi says.

But the influence to create didn’t stop in middle school. Chi found a love for not only music, but visual art including digital art, photography, video and more recently fashion.

JoAnne Leflore: We notice you started this brand of clothing during your fellowship. Everything you wear now is branded with “Chi”. Can you tell us more about how this project got started? 

Chi: “I've always wanted to pursue a proper outlet for clothing since I was about 11 or 12 years young. I started drawing minimal clothes and shoes in Omaha Home for Boys when I had free time. Being the first three letters of my name and that it represents my whole belief system, I really wanted to dedicate my creativity to the brand’s true representation: GOD. Energy. Consciousness. Ergo, I created CHI INTERNATIONAL. I can't wait to grow the brand into the dreams I've always had with it. It will change the world.”

What do you hope to bring attention to for your city, state, nation?

“I want the world to notice and respect Omaha as a gem in hip-hop/pop music culture. I want the American people to take more time to pay more attention to what we look like as a nation to foreign countries. I think that individuals could do better at spreading good vibes. Hopefully my art makes consumers want to be nicer.”

Who have you recently collaborated with and what was the nature of the project?

“John Ficenec, he's an incredible visual artist. We meet each other on Instagram! We honestly just met up one day at a local thrift store and he was very specific about the vision he wanted to capture. We put flowers in my hair and just started going at it. Most definitely my favorite photographer I've had the honor to work with.”

What upcoming events/projects should we be on the lookout for?

“I FINALLY dropped my self-produced project Purple Abstract this year. Also… I dropped a sequel to my mixtape series Snow,  titled Snow2, only 20 hours after releasing Purple Abstract. There's always a long list of events and creative endeavors I'm producing. Just stay connected through my website or follow my on Instagram @chikadibia_”

What are you motivated by as an artist?

“Self is a huge part of my motivation as an artist. My life’s experiences have been extremely vivid to my mind’s observation. God is an infinite resource of inspiration/motivation that blesses me in every moment with beautiful complexities I could never describe.”

From the mouths of babes, they say. Chi can probably have the deepest conversation with anyone if you have a few minutes to spare. Just don’t be surprised if he finds a connection, a path of light, to help you build your own creative mission.

If you want to learn more about the creative expression and future events offered by Chi, visit his website at: ONLYPEACE.US

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Sophie Dvorak, “Legends of Asia,” collage on cardboard mounted on wood, 12x8 in. @_sophiedvorak_ #sophiedvorak #contemporaryart #collage (at Darger HQ)

#contemporaryart #collage #sophiedvorak

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Sophie Dvorak, “Legends of Asia,” collage on cardboard mounted on wood, 12x8 in. @_sophiedvorak_ #sophiedvorak #contemporaryart #collage (at Darger HQ)

#sophiedvorak #collage #contemporaryart

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Satan at Home

Satan at Home opened at III of Cups in Lincoln on May 3rd, the same day as religious leaders in the United States celebrated National Day of Prayer, a political event, enthusiastically supported by President Donald Trump to promote religious liberty. This year the White House established the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative backed by American Christian evangelicals and Catholics.  

In his brief and poignant exhibition statement, John Skinner, engaged a conversation about the complex nature of religious liberty, the context of language and meaning, and the normalization of one point of view over another. He wrote, “Christian words and images are so common in the United States that we don’t notice them. They appear in politics and government constantly. Christian imagery can be added to anything to make it seem more virtuous. I’ve replaced this imagery with something more remarkable, Satanism, to draw attention to how common it is.”

Satan at Home arrives at a moment in which artists are exploring the possibilities of spiritual faith, religious institutions, and social conventions in their work to reveal underlining problematic inconsistencies. Exhibitions like Satan at Home offer important pathways for deep examination of culturally ingrained beliefs, attitudes, habits, and symbols that are taken for granted as standard and default. Skinner does not pass judgement nor does he attack, he simply stages a conversation, allowing the art itself to debate with the viewer’s emotive reactions. Skinner’s art is observant, subtle, and seriously roguish, yet polite. 

 John Skinner Q & A:

JFM: When I met you at III of Cups you said that you hadn't exhibited in a long time. Tell us about some of your previous exhibitions and work.

 JS: It's the first time I've exhibited in a long while because it's been a while since I've had work that I thought would inspire a conversation about a topic I consider important. I don't think that Satan at Home is related to my previous work. I was once very interested in exploring telephone networks, and I had a number of exhibitions that came from that hobby, more than a decade ago. Samples of that work can been viewed on my profile here. 

JFM: "Satan at Home" comes off as tongue-in-cheek and funny but it is also poignant, revelatory, and respectful. Do you always use humor as an expressive layer in your work, and do you consider yourself a conceptual artist?

JS: I often make art when I am confused by my own ideas or feelings. I like to approach my confusion with experiments. I substituted Satan into familiar public uses of religious imagery because it was the largest simple change I could think of to that imagery. Experiments like these create a juxtaposition that can get a laugh out of people. So, yes, it's fair to say I've used humor often in such experiments, and that they are conceptual art. Recently, I've been wondering things like: How do I resolve my positive childhood experience of religion with my later disgust at how religion functions in politics and government? What shall I make of the fact that religion seems to me inadequate at providing a sense of individual purpose, yet it binds communities together through shared collective purpose so well that it is very difficult to replace with any secular institution?

JFM: Tell us about the making of the photograph featuring Governor Pete Ricketts and you in a 'Hail Satan' holiday sweater. Did you intend to show the photograph in the exhibition or did the decision to present it as art arrive later in the process?

JS: Last Christmas I heard the phrase "Merry Christmas" used as a challenge in response to the greeting "Happy Holidays". I like Christmas and the spirit of generosity that is supposed to accompany it. I don't think that responding to a genuine holiday wish by challenging the beliefs of others is at all fitting to this spirit of generosity. I wondered if a holiday sweater reading "Hail Satan" was something that existed in the world. The internet obliged.

The next week, my girlfriend Misha told me about the official Christmas tree lighting in the Nebraska State Capitol Building. I decided to go with a small group of friends, wearing the sweater. The pageantry of the gathering was lovely -- in particular I like it when strangers are invited to sing together in public. However, I could not truly enjoy it knowing that Christianity is not treated as simply one faith among many. Christian arguments are treated as unbeatable justifications for most any misogynistic, uncharitable, or unwise thing our leaders or lawmakers want to do.

Though suspect of what Christmas means to Governor Ricketts, I was not above accepting his invitation to the crowd to come over to the Governor's Mansion for holiday cookies afterward. Upon entering, there was a handshake / smalltalk / photo op with the First Couple. I mentioned to the First Lady that I live just down the street from the Governor's Mansion. She invited me to drop over some time, even though I'm pretty sure they don't actually live there? She spotted the sweater right as my girlfriend's sister was ready with the camera. The First Lady did a pretty good job of reducing her look of shock in time for the photo.

I was so delighted with the photograph that I texted an old art school friend, Ashley Goodwin, to reserve a gallery exhibition date. I wanted to force myself to produce artwork themed around the photo. Part of the reason is that I was embarrassed by the photograph. In it I appear, perhaps, to be going through an angry atheist phase more typical of a teenager than a grown man. Seeing the words "Hail Satan" there honestly still shocks me a bit. I wanted to explore what was behind my embarrassment and shock.

JFM: The quilt "Satan Bless the U.S." is a beautiful piece. Somewhere on social media, I read that this is the first quilt you've ever made. Have you made art using fabric before and how did the quilt idea originate?

JS: Viewers may perceive the quilt as anti-American, or anti-military, or anti-Christian. I submit that it is none of these things, and I invite viewers to interrogate the reasons for those perceptions. I was inspired by the Quilts of Valor program, in which quilters donate their work to veterans in the hope of helping them heal and recover from war. (Mine is not an official Quilt of Valor, for which religious messages are prohibited.) The quilt is being donated to a Satanist veteran, Travis, who served in Iraq with the 201st Military Intelligence Battalion, and then returned to Iraq as a civilian doing a similar job with a defense contractor. This career lead Travis to a skeptical attitude toward the ethics of intelligence work and the role of private industry, a skepticism which helped inform the quilt.

Regarding the creation of the quilt as art, I've known for years I would one day make a quilt. Family gatherings in childhood often revolved around appreciating my aunt and uncle's quilts. I assumed everybody had elderly relatives who collected quilts or something similar, and I thought it was all very boring. This aunt and uncle then donated their collection to the University of Nebraska, upon which it became the largest public quilt collection in the world, the International Quilt Study Center. Having relatives with such a collection, I then came to understand, was hardly a typical childhood experience. Questions started to occur to me about how this collection had come into being. I learned that the money for the quilt collection, and the museum that houses it, came from my uncle's career, which included being in the CIA and vice president of Mobile Oil. A career that spans national intelligence and the petroleum industry suggests an uncomfortable closeness between the narrow business interests of a particular corporation or industry and our perceived national interest. I've often wondered about the hidden costs of the quilts.

JFM: Are you a practicing Satanist? The Church of Satan in Missouri has won some important legal battles and are recognized as a valid faith. Have you reached out to the Church with the exhibition? Is there a Church in Nebraska?

 JS: Unlike real Satanists, who have particular belief structures and values, I chose not to represent any particular theology for Satan. For example, my roadside sign that reads "Satan, I trust in you" is a reference to common "Jesus, I trust in you" roadside signs, which are often found paired with an anti-abortion sign. Rather than decide if my imagined version of Satan supports or opposes legalized abortion, I could allude to the topic by substituting Satan into an essentially vacuous Christian message commonly put to a political purpose.

I am not a practicing Satanist, and I honestly don't know much about Satanism. I chose the image of Satan on a whim when I bought that holiday sweater. I do see periodic news items about the things that the Satanic Temple has accomplished in support of religious freedom. They seem pretty wonderful. I'm not aware that they have any branch in Nebraska and I have not reached out to them.

Originally from the small town of Craig, Nebraska, John Skiles Skinner received an Art degree from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2006. Today he works as a computer programmer and still lives in Lincoln.

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Omaha Gives! is Omaha’s 24-hr charitable challenge. Omaha is home to so many organizations worthy of your support, and we hope you keep us in mind as you give today. (link in profile) Your generous donation will help DHQ continue to be WAGE certified/a nonprofit art organization dedicated to establishing sustainable economic relationships with artists. #omahagives (at Darger HQ)

#omahagives

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TOMORROW Friday 6-9pm Reading Feathers//Work by Amy Haney & A Night of Tarot//Fundraiser for Darger HQ. Free and open to the public. Come view Amy Haney’s tarot card prints and have your cards read by the Oracle Enna and Shiloh. #amyhaney #tarotcards #enna #shiloh (at Darger HQ)

#shiloh #enna #amyhaney #tarotcards

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“Critique Pants” diptych by @matthewsontheimer archival inkjet on paper. Photo of #matthewsontheimer sharpie-colored pants made for his critique class at UNL. #violettendencies #sharpie #critiquepants #jorts #hulkpants (at Darger HQ)

#matthewsontheimer #sharpie #hulkpants #jorts #violettendencies #critiquepants

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TOMORROW Opening 6-9pm DIALOGICAL Sophie Dvorak + Matthew Sontheimer #dialogical #sophiedvorak #matthewsontheimer (at Darger HQ)

#dialogical #matthewsontheimer #sophiedvorak

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Last day to view TWO PLACES AT ONCE // Craig Roper + Garric Simonson 12-5pm. image: Craig Roper, “Black Plastic” 2017, 13.5x11.5in. @ropercroper @vintage_alpine #craigroper #blackplastic (at Darger HQ)

#blackplastic #craigroper

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Artist Interview: Hugo Zamorano | Muralist

When you google this guy, what comes up are plenty of links that showcase a career as an emerging graffiti artist and painter. You will find out about a Tedx Talk and about half a dozen public murals he’s painted across Omaha. But when you meet Hugo in person, you will also find out that he is really humble about his success. He’s a cool dude who just wants to see his community thrive through the inspiration of art and collaboration. …’the smart person learns from their mistakes and a wise one learns from others’ mistakes.’ Those are some words of wisdom Hugo chooses to live by. “Although a good friend told me once that we all have to make our own mistakes. Which is true, but I’d rather try to avoid some.”

 A couple mistakes lead to enlightenment, he remembers. As a preteen, he was sneaking out with his childhood homie in LA to essentially stay out of trouble with the gangs. Ironic right? But seriously – art became a way to express himself growing up.

His parents moved here when he was 14 and eventually Hugo was allowed to take his art down a more serious path becoming a mentor through the Kent Bellows program. He also landed a full-ride scholarship to UNO and through the encouragement of his family, continued to grow his skills. He loves to paint. He lights up when he talks about some of the mural projects he’s worked on helping to tell the historic stories about Omaha’s ethnic history along with contributing to the existing culture.

Recently, Hugo finished an aerosol mural on 13th and Williams Street revealing the story of immigration between a Bohemian ruler blaming the Aztecs for ruining cultural heritage. The mural has more complexity when you look closer to see that both parties are to blame for the loss of appreciation and recognition for the other’s heritage despite the fight for territory.

“I’m gonna blame Hip Hop to be honest. When I was little my dad was always playing it, listening to N.W.A. and Kid Frost. Eventually my parents became religious and they stopped listening and what not. But when I was in the third grade I remember one of the first songs that I really liked was by Nas, it was called I Know I Can. That really got me into it because when you usually hear about Hip Hop they say it’s always about sex, drugs and naked women. You know it always has a negative image. So when I heard that song I was like this isn’t negative at all. One of the lyrics to Nas’ song says, I never worked a day in my life. It sounds dope to me and that’s what keeps me going knowing that I can live doing what I love.”

Making the connection of Graffiti art to its origins with Hip Hop are put into action as Hugo participates annually with the Abstract Concrete festival that happens at the Bancroft Street Market. It’s a notion of honor to be asked to paint here and even better if you are asked to tag concrete slabs next to some of the city’s best aerosol artists.

JoAnna Leflore: What are some recent accomplishments for you?

Hugo Zamorano: Ah man, I’m engaged to my best friend, I bought a house last year at 25 with the money I made from making art, I live off of my passion which is art.  I got best emerging artists award for 2016 (Omaha Entertainment Arts Awards), and the Mexican community mural I painted with my mural team, A Midsummer’s Mural, got best public art for that same year. I feel like traveling is an accomplishment for me.  I went to London in 2015 I think it was and Thailand in 2016 with my fiancée.  I think traveling is an accomplishment because in our society I feel like that’s not something that is encouraged a lot because people act like the USA is the best place in fucking world -- ha!  There are a lot of nice places in the US that I haven’t visited, but other countries are always more of a culture shock because you have to really do some research and you have to navigate as an outsider.

JL: You seem to really enjoy doing community work as a part of your artist mission too. Do you plan to do  more of this?

HZ: The Latino Artists Exhibition I helped coordinate at Bancroft Market back in 2015 was really a big deal. There was a printmaker from New York and two Art Collectors who showed up. That was a major collaboration with five other local artists along with the OLLAS team at UNO. I was just really happy to see everyone work together to pull that off. I can’t wait to do it again.

JL: What do you hope to bring attention to for your city, state, nation?

I guess I just hope to bring some positive change through art. And to keep making Omaha a great place for creating artwork, and a place to come for art.

More examples of how Hugo makes a point to give back involve being a teaching artist through WhyArts? where he recently taught students from Norris Middle School how to paint a 40-foot temporary wall. 

You can see more of Hugo’s work around town too. If you’re in the neighborhood, check out these locations:

UPCOMING SPRING 2018: Werner Park Mural in celebration of their 50th Season

Business Development in Little Italy in collaboration with Omaha Creative Institute (13th and Williams Street)

Bancroft Street Market (10th and Bancroft Street)

Lithuanian Bakery Mural (5217 South 33rd Avenue) 

UNO Milo Bail Student Center (2017) and Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center 

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Super, Super Super & Super Super Super paintings by @ropercroper. Open tonight 6-9 for Second Froday on Vinton. Two Places at Once//Craig Roper + Garric Simonson. Stop on by before you go to @weareprojectproject to see Michael Villarreal’s killer work. @lilgoopy #secondfridayonvinton #craigroper #super (at Darger HQ)

#secondfridayonvinton #super #craigroper

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Garric Simonsen, Postcard collage series, 2017. Exhibition Two Places at Once extended to March 24. @vintage_alpine #garricsimonsen #antipainter #postcards (at Darger HQ)

#garricsimonsen #antipainter #postcards

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Garric Simonsen, 2017, digitally hand-painted carte de vista printed on aluminum, 7x4 in. @vintage_alpine #garricsimonsen #antipainter #cartedevista #digitalpainting (at Darger HQ)

#antipainter #digitalpainting #cartedevista #garricsimonsen

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What day is today? Second Friday. Open 6-9 tonight. TWO PLACES AT ONCE Craig Roper + Garric Simonsen. Be sure to stop by @weareprojectproject & @omahacreative tonight, too. ‘My Favorite Day’ Craig Roper, 2017, mixed media @ropercroper #craigroper #myfavoriteday #mixedmedia (at Darger HQ)

#mixedmedia #myfavoriteday #craigroper