News

President's Message for November

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Category: News

Published: Wed. Nov 6, 2019

Let’s talk turkey…no, nothing to do with bowling 3 strikes in a row and nothing to do with name-calling even though we do use the words ‘stuff it’ while quitting cold turkey and singing it’s all about that baste! 

This month, we pull out our favorite recipes and buy magazines with new recipes we may wish to try for our turkey dinners. Thanksgiving dinner in this country is traditionally turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. Have you ever wondered if the Pilgrims had the same menu in 1621 as we do today? Was turkey the meat served? Did they even have sugar and flour to make cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie? Did they have sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping? 

While you are looking at your favorite recipes and perhaps reading recipes from your grandmother’s recipe box, keep in mind you may wish to submit these recipes to be published in our cookbook! Check out the recipe entry form in this newsletter! Don’t forget we have an art show in November – photos will be chosen for our cookbook. 

We have another date to keep in mind for November! We have the Feztival of Trees, November 23- November 30 held at the Tangier Shine, 2823 South 84th Street here in Omaha. OAI has sponsored and donated a tree decorated with our own painted ornaments under the leadership of Linda Jones. Help us decorate that tree November 21st and win a free ticket to go to the soft opening at the drawing on 20th! 

Each November finds the members of OAI enjoying a potluck meal, fellowship and the making of greeting cards for the upcoming year. This year we gather on November 20th. Barbara Mathewson is Courtesy Chair: throughout the year, she sends cards to those who are grieving a loss, someone who is ill, welcoming, thanking or praising. If you know of a member of our group who might enjoy receiving a card, please notify Barbara. We appreciate Barbara’s diligence in making someone’s day a little brighter! 

November is a time not only for turkey but, a time of thanking those we appreciate. There is something about this time of year being surrounded by people who love and care about you. Let’s share the love and appreciation for each other as we consider the past and the present. 

May all your wishbone wishes come true! 

---Katie Johnson-President 
Omaha Artists Inc. 

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.
–William Arthur Ward 

Funshop: Potluck and Courtesy Card Making

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Category: Fun Shops

Published: Wed. Nov 6, 2019

When: Wednesday, November 20, 2019 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (and after to enjoy our feast) 

Where: Lutheran Church of the Master, 2716 South 114th Street, Omaha, NE 

Please join us for an enjoyable morning creating greeting cards followed by a potluck meal.

Join in with a dish to share! If your name starts with:

A thru F – bring a salad
G thru L – bring an entree
M thru Z – bring a dessert 

Tea and water will be provided along with table service..... 

This is a once-a-year gathering where we have no instruction, no teacher...... only our imagination to create beautiful greeting cards (sympathy, get well wishes,and blank cards) that are then used to send to our members throughout the year. Please bring whatever media you would like to work with, whether it be acrylics,watercolor, alcohol ink, mixed media, colored pencil, ribbons, pictures, sayings or anything else you feel inclined to use for decoration purposes. Barbara Mathewson, our Courtesy Chair will provide the cards for our use and any further instructions. 

As Thanksgiving approaches and we embrace an attitude of gratitude for blessings we enjoy each day, we request donations (supplies- specifically mat board of any size, gift cards, or monies) to support OAI's continued support of our community's Art Reach and Art Bridge outreach programs. 

This will be our last get together before we meet again in January, 2020. We thank you for your generosity, friendship and support. See you Wednesday, November 20! 

Note: there will be a brief board meeting at 11:00 am / no general meeting this month! 

----Signed, Barbara Egr, Program Chair-Vice President, Barbara Mathewson-Courtesy Chair, Patti Kounkel-Event Coordinator, Shirley Schmidt-Fun Shop Chair, Neva Cozine and Sheila Scarborough, Fun Shop Co-Chairs 

Courtesy Notes

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Category: News

Published: Wed. Nov 6, 2019

Cards sent to:

New Members: Jolene Cohort, Michelle Murdock and Craig McPeck 

Get well cards: Barb Mitchell 

Barbara Mathewson

Courtesy Chair

Art Show News

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Category: Art Show News

Published: Wed. Nov 6, 2019

Big Big Changes to Winter Art Show!!!! 

Since the Jewish Community Center has just recently acquired funds to redo more of the building, including the art gallery space, so we have changed our venue. We will now be at Gallery 92 in Fremont, 92 West 6th St., Fremont, NE. They were able to accommodate us for this show, so we are very thankful. Here are the new dates: 

Registration: Sunday, February 2, 2 - 4 pm
Reception: Friday, February 7, 5 - 7 pm 
Take Down: Monday, March 2, 11 - 1 pm 

No Theme 

The Gallery takes 30% of any sales if you are not a member of Fremont Area Art Association, 20% if you are a member. 

Same size guidelines apply. 

Spring Art Show

April 28 - May 3
Hot Shops Art Studio
1301 Nicholas St.

Theme: “Shadows”

Registration – Tuesday, April 28, 11 - 1 pm
Reception – Sunday, May 3, 2 - 4 pm
Take Down – Sunday, May 31, 2-4pm

Image Size Guidelines

We will be enforcing size guidelines, in order to give the shows a better look, and to avoid overcrowding. These sizes refer to the OUTSIDE EDGES OF THE FRAME

• 3 pieces allowed 11 x 14 or smaller, (area of 154 square inches or smaller), each piece. Square inches are measured by multiplying the length by the width of the outside edge of the frame.
• 2 pieces allowed at 24 x 30 or smaller, (are of 720 square inches or smaller).
• 1 piece allowed larger then 24 x 30, with maximum size of 40 x 40, (1600 square inches).

Sizes may be figured by adding two adjacent sides, so smallest no bigger than 25 (11+14), middle size 54,(24+30), and largest – when two sides greater than 54 but not larger than 80 total.

Extra Show!! 

We will be at Lauritzen Botanical Gardens next summer! 

Registration: Wednesday, July 29, 11 - 1 pm 
Reception: TBA 
Take Down: Sunday, September 20 - 2 -4 pm 

Sharon Clawson

Art Shows Chair

October Board Meeting Notes

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Category: Board Meeting Notes

Published: Wed. Nov 6, 2019

Omaha Artist Inc. General Meeting, October 23, 2019 at DC Center. President Katie Johnson welcomed guests and called meeting to order.

Secretary: Judy Freeland, previous minutes read and approved

Treasurer: JoAnne Nielsen reported $4973.88

ANAC: No new news reported

Art Shows: Sharon Clawson reports LaCasa is our fall host.Theme: “From Farm to Kitchen”. Registration, Nov. 4, 11-1pm. Reception, Monday, Nov. 11, 5-7pm. Take down Monday January 6, 2020, 11-1. Limit 3 pictures. Linda Meigs will judge our art. Winter show TBA. Hot shops will be our spring host. Theme: “Shadows”. Registration, April 30, 11-1pm. Reception, May 5th, 2-4pm. Take down May 28th, 11-1pm. Lauritzen Gardens will be our summer show location in July-August. Gallery 92 in Fremont will be our host in November, 2020.

Community Art Bridge: No report. Please bring mat board, any size to be donated Nov 20.

Community Art Reach: Sara Wamsat discusses in newsletter needs and supplies that can be donated.

Courtesy: Barbara Mathewson reported two new members, Jolene Kobout and Michelle Murdock. Barbara Mitchell is in Methodist Hospital until November 1st recuperating from a stroke.

Fun Shops: Shirley Schmidt, Neva Cozine and Sheila Scarborough reported the Oct.18th Fun Shop brought in 37 people and $177. Marilyn Beig demonstrated watercolor painting over gesso. Nov. 20th we will to decorate cards for Barbara Mathewson’s Courtesy Committee. Barb will supply cards, artists will bring their own choice of media supplies. Get Well, Sympathy, all occasion themes for the cards except Christmas. A brief board meeting will be at 11:00 am with a potluck lunch following at noon. Everyone is asked to bring a dish of their choice. This Fun Shop is located at 2617 S. 114th (upper north entrance).

Reservationist and Event Coordinator: Carol McCall and Patty Kounkel planned our first evening board meeting, dinner and program on October 23. The event was at the DC Center with 40 in attendance. Janna Harsch spoke on metal art and the organization, Impact Nebraska Art.

Membership: Susan Stevens and JoAnne Nielsen report 122 active members.

Newsletter: Please get information to Linda Guynn before Nov. 1st.

Programs: Chairman, Barb Egr invited Sarah McWilliams, an impressionist artist, to be our program January 22, 2020. Sarah will help us “discover our own style”. Location of this board meeting and luncheon TBA.

Publicity: Sharon Clawson announced postcards were ready and shared several at the DC Center Dinner Meeting.

Vice President: Barb Egr announced rosters were ready and being mailed out/ those present received theirs at the dinner meeting.

President: Katie Johnson has 10 free tickets to the soft opening of the Shriner's Festival of Trees on Nov. 21st. The drawing will take place at the Fun shop on Nov. 20th. There will be another drawing that morning for a $150 donation from Dillman's Workshop given to OAI for someone to attend a Dillman’s Art Workshop Retreat in Lac du Flambeau, WI. If you want to be in that drawing, call Katie, 402-310-0349 or email and let her know. For information on Dillman’s Workshops, call Sherry Reese as she has attended in the past or review the Dillman's Bay Resort website.

Unfinished Business: Planning of the OAI cookbook is underway by JoAnne Nielsen and Susan Stevens, as well as plans for our OAI Gala in 2021 by Patty Kounkel.

Other Announcements/Information: Linda Jones will be recruiting volunteers at La Casa’s registration, Nov. 4th, for people to help decorate our OAI tree at the Shriners location. Decorating day will be Thursday, Nov. 21 at 9:00am. Sign up!
Thank you Katie Johnson for donating lights and ribbons for our tree. Katie Johnson asked for suggestions for design of new business card for Omaha Artists Inc - contact her or bring suggestions to the November 20 meeting to be decided by the board.

Motion to Adjourn by Judy Freeland
Seconded by Sharon Clawson
Respectfully Submitted by Judy Freeland

Spotlight Member Section featuring Dick Brown

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Category: Spotlighted Members

Published: Wed. Nov 6, 2019

This Spotlight Member Section is meant to get to know each other!

Tell us about you?

I was born in Boulder, Colorado a LONG TIME AGO and grew up in Greeley, Colorado! As a youngster I was very introverted—sort of a “loner”. I opened up by high school, played some basketball and golf but no other activities. For one thing, I always had a part time job, from the time I was 12! I met my wife Mitzi in college at University of Northern Colo. We were married in 1957 and both graduated in 1958. I then reported to the U.S. Air Force as a brand new 2nd Lieutenant. We had 4 children, 3 boys and a girl. They are scattered all over the country. After 24 years, I retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Colonel at Offutt AFB. We stayed in the Omaha area since Mitzi began her own career at Mutual of Omaha as a computer programmer. She retired in 1997 as a Senior Systems Analyst in the middle of a six- year battle with breast cancer. She died in 1999. I have 8 grandchildren, 7 of whom live close by---Great!!

Tell us about your history with Omaha Artists Inc?

I joined OAI in 1987. I have always been working with our participation in ANAC. For about 12 years I was the person who took all the artwork from OAI. Bellevue Artists, Associated Artists of Omaha. And Council Bluffs to the annual ANAC Conference. I hung all the artwork, took it down, and returned it to the various clubs. I finally decided that was too much, and we reorganized. Omaha Artists has always been an amazingly caring and helpful group: I am proud to be part of it.

How did you get involved in art?

My mother was an artist in her later years. I have always enjoyed and appreciated art. When I retired, I still had some VA eligibility and used it to study art for 2 years at UNO. I joined Bellevue Artists and OAI, and here I am 30 years later! I mostly do watercolors.

What is a little-known fact about you?

I am a lay pastor in the Presbyterian Church. I have preached in 41 churches in Eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa over the past 25 years, many of them more than once. I regularly conduct services in Colorado. I recently retired from 30 years of teaching Adult Sunday School.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I love fly fishing and have since I was about six years old. I fish all summer at my mountain home in Colorado. I read a lot - mostly non-fiction. I do a lot of wildlife photography.

What are your travel experiences?

I have traveled the U.S. quite well. The Air Force graciously showed me Vietnam and a tiny island at the end of the Aleutian Islands! I just hope to be able to enjoy my mountains each summer and I’ll be happy,

What are you known for?

Probably for my funny T-shirt collection!

What skills would you like to learn?

I need to become computer literate-----I am hopeless!

Has anything or anyone changed your life?

My service to my country and my faith have influenced my life and determined who I am today.

Art Bridge

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Category: News

Published: Wed. Nov 6, 2019

At our October class there were 42 ESL students doing 3- D pumpkins. In November we will be doing a lesson regarding leaves.

Please note that Art Bridge has a need for mat board, any size. This can be brought to our November Fun Shop with any other donations for Art Reach/Art Bridge.

Linda Bernett

Art Bridge Chair

Supplies Needed for Community Art Reach

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Category: News

Published: Wed. Nov 6, 2019

Please bring supplies to the November 20th pot luck luncheon / card making Fun Shop. 

Supplies to donate:

• small bottles of craft paint all colors/ acrylic
• construction paper
• drawing pads
• school glue
• glue stix
• pencils
• 8 count crayons
• sharpeners
• erasers
• small canvas 11x14
• 8x10 smaller canvas boards
• 8x10 or smaller mat board
• watercolor boxes (8 color)
• colored pencils
• all sizes of brushes
• rulers
• scissors
• small boxed games
• playing cards
• card games
• matchbox cars
• small game books (dot to dot, etc.)

Community Announcements

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Category: Opportunities

Published: Wed. Nov 6, 2019

The Omaha Weavers and Spinners Guild 21st Annual Fiber Arts Sale

Saturday, November 23, 2019 - 9:00n am-4:00 pm 
Westside Community Center 
3534 South 108th Street 
Omaha, NE 

Joy Long Memorial Award Has Ended

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Category: News

Published: Wed. Nov 6, 2019

Cherlynn Wilson, Joy Long's daughter, has announced the end of the Joy Long Memorial Award for "Best Use of Light and Atmosphere".

"We will have to bring the art award to a close. The last of the funds were distributed last year. It was a pleasure to recognize the artists that exhibited the elements that my mother was able to convey so beautifully in her artwork. We thank you for allowing us to honor her."

Cherlynn Wilson