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| THE READER |
JULY 2015
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Teamwork in Hiring: From Background Checks to Networking
S
ometimes a recruiter and a hiring manager seem diametrically opposed by personality or approach. But to hire the right candidate, these two must work together. Communication is the key. For example, a hiring manager must clearly communicate the importance and value of the position to be filled. Then the hiring manager and recruiter work together to create an accurate job description. The recruiter should treat the hiring manager as an internal client, and set clear, reasonable expectations for each step in the process. Open lines of communication help both succeed by finding the right candidate. Background Checks
You learn a lot about a job candidate from his or her cover letter, resume and interview(s). How much more is needed? There are several aspects to con-
sider when you decide to run a background check. Consider the position – if you hire a driver, pull driving records. If you hire a bank teller, check credit history. You also can research criminal history, school records, military service and worker’s compensation claims. Most of this information will cost you, so only pay for what you really need. Finally, remember you can research a candidate online for free. Depending on your investigative skills, you may get the details you need. Drug Testing
Statistically, small businesses attract more substance abusers as applicants because the firms are less likely to have well-established drug testing policies like larger companies. Tread carefully when you implement drug testing. For example, if you test one employee, plan to test them all. Drug testing must be fair and
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| THE READER |
omaha jobs
equally applied, and meet applicable state laws. Make sure you know if your business is required to drug test, and then make sure you comply with the regulations. Networking to get Work
Sometimes a word-of-mouth referral lands you an interview or even a job. If you actively seek a job, you can pursue these word-of-mouth referrals, too. Networking is an increasingly important aspect in this highly competitive job market. First, think about the people you know. You probably know more than you think. Make a list of the people in your network. If you ask for help, have a specific request ready. The more specific your request, the better the members of your network will be to help you. Finally, maintain your network. Invest in your connections – ask about their families and life events. People will be more inclined to invest in you if you invest in them first.
Equal Opportunities
Affirmative action and equal opportunity employment are two very different things. Affirmative action policies are designed to give opportunities to historically excluded groups of people. Equal opportunity means you don’t discriminate against anyone based on their race, age, gender, etc. If your company does business with the federal government, you likely must have a formal affirmative action program that meets federal requirements. For example, you may be subject to audit from the Department of Labor. If you’re not sure about affirmative action or whether you follow equal opportunity requirements, seek professional help. Paying for legal advice may save you time and money down the road. The next Job Fair is Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015, at the Comfort Inn, 7007 Grover Street, Omaha, NE 68106, from 1 to 5 p.m. Visit www.omahajobs. com for more information.
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Business Systems Analyst #BSA0615 ProKarma, Inc. has multiple openings for the position of Business Systems Analyst based out of its U.S. headquarters in Omaha, NE. The employee may also work at various unanticipated locations. This is a roving position whereby the employee’s worksite and place of residence may regularly change based upon client and business demands; however, this position does not involve a travel requirement, as performing the daily job duties does not require the employee to travel. S/he will analyze user requirement and functional specifications and will conduct Information Technology System requirements gathering and high-level design. S/he will be responsible for defining the solution, test planning, and coordinating system rollouts using computer skill sets, such as: Use cases, Test cases, SQL Queries, Sequence Diagrams, UML diagrams. The position of Business Systems Analyst requires a master’s degree, or its foreign equivalent, in Computer Information Systems, IT, Computer Science, Business Administration, Finance, E-commerce, Engineering (any), or in a technical/analytical field that is closely related to the specialty, plus at least one year of experience in the job offered or in an IT/Computer-related position. Alternatively, the employer will accept a bachelor’s degree, or its foreign equivalent, in Computer Information Systems, IT, Computer Science, Business Administration, Finance, E-commerce, Engineering (any), or in a technical/analytical field that is closely related to the specialty, plus at least 5 years of progressively-responsible, post-baccalaureate experience in the job offered or in an IT/Computer-related position. The applicant must have professional experience conducting software application development projects (including Use cases, Test cases, SQL Queries, Sequence Diagrams, UML diagrams) using Java/J2EE/Tibco, RDBMS/SQL Server/Oracle. The employer deems that any suitable combination of education, training, or experience is acceptable.
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JULY 2015
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JULY2015VOLUME22NUMBER4 09 COVER STORY THE CHAMP IN AFRICA 17 SPECIAL URBAN LIVING ROUNDTABLE 22 ART PUBLIC ART AND FLOWER POWER 26 HEARTLAND HEALING BRAIN DRAIN 27 THEATER MEET THE NEW GUY 30 EAT CHECK OUT THESE PATIOS 33 PICKS COOL STUFF TO DO IN JULY 36 MUSIC THE GOOD LIFE TOUR 42 FILM CITIES OF THE BIG SCREEN 46 HOODOO SIZZLIN’ MUSIC OF SUMMER 48 OVER THE EDGE THE INDIE REPORT 50 MYSTERIAN DOCTOR IS IN
Publisher John Heaston john@thereader.com Creative Director Eric Stoakes eric@thereader.com Assistant Editor Mara Wilson mara@thereader.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS heartland healing: Michael Braunstein info@heartlandhealing.com arts/visual: Mike Krainak mixedmedia@thereader.com dish: Sarah Locke crumbs@thereader.com film: Ryan Syrek cuttingroom@thereader.com hoodoo: B.J. Huchtemann bjhuchtemann@gmail.com music: Wayne Brekke backbeat@thereader.com over the edge: Tim McMahan tim.mcmahan@gmail.com theater: William Grennan coldcream@thereader.com SALES & MARKETING Dinah Gomez dinah@thereader.com Kati Falk kati@thereader.com DISTRIBUTION/DIGITAL
Clay Seaman clay@thereader.com OPERATIONS
Kerry Olson kerry@thereader.com INTERNS Tara Spencer | Courtney Bierman | Ashley Bles PHOTO BY DEBRA S. KAPLAN
MOREINFO:WWW.THEREADER.COM
contents
| THE READER |
JULY 2015
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WIN SCREENING PASSES
UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS AN APATOW PRODUCTION A JUDD APATOW FILM “ TRAINWRECK” AMY SCHUMER BILL HADER BRIE LARSON MUSIC COLINEDITEDQUINNJOHN CENA WITH TILDA SWINTON ANDPRODUCTIONLEBRON JAMES BY JON BRIDIRECTORON SUPERVIOF MUSISORSC MANISH RAVALEXECUTIVETOM WOLFE DESICOSTUMEGNER LEESA EVANS BY WI L LI A M KERR ACE PAUL ZUCKER DESIGNER KEVI N THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY JODY LEE LI P ES PRODUCER DAVI D HOUSEHOLTER PRODUCED WRITTEN DIRECTED BY JUDD APATOW p.g.a. BARRY MENDEL p.g.a. BY AMY SCHUMER BY JUDD APATOW A UNIVERSAL PICTURE © 2015 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
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IN THEATERS JULY 17 8
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| THE READER |
ThechampgoestoAfrica Terence Crawford Visits Uganda and Rwanda with his Former Teacher, This Reporter and Friends S TO RY
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Senior contributing writer Leo Adam Biga, winner of the 2015 Andy Award for international journalism from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, chronicles recent travels he made in Africa with two-time world boxing champion Terence Crawford.
H AT T R I C K
“It’s life-changing when you get to go over there and help people,” he says. Nollette recalls, “When Terence left he had an empty suitcase. He left all his clothes, except what he was wearing, to a bus driver.” “I just felt they needed it more than I did,” he says. “I just thought it was the right thing to do.” Seeing first-hand profound poverty, infrastructure gaps and atrocity scars made an impression. “Well, it just made me appreciate things more. It kind of humbled me in a way to where I don’t want to take anything for granted. I haven’t in my life experienced anything of the nature they’re experiencing over there. For one thing, I have clean water – they don’t have clean water. That’s one of their biggest issues and I want to help them with it. They appreciate everything, even if it’s just a hug or a handshake.”
Expanding his vision
Terence “Bud” Crawford’s rise to world boxing stardom reads more graphic novel than storybook, defying inner city odds to become one of the state’s most decorated athletes. Not since Bob Gibson ruled the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1960s has a Nebraskan so dominated their sport. When Bud overheard me say he might be the best fighter pound-for-pound Neb.’s produced, he took offense: “Might be? I AM the best.” En route to perhaps being his sport’s next marquee name, he’s done remarkable things in improbable places. His ascent to greatness began with a 2013 upset of Breidis Prescott in Las Vegas. In early 2014 he captured the World Boxing Organization lightweight title in Glasgow, Scotland. Then, he personally put Omaha back on the boxing map by twice defending that title in his hometown before huge CenturyLink Center crowds last year. In between those successful defenses Crawford traveled to Uganda and Rwanda, Africa in August. He went with Pipeline Worldwide co-founder Jamie Fox Nollette, an Omaha native and Bud’s fourth grade teacher at Skinner Magnet School. After reuniting in mid-2014, he expressed interest going to Africa, where Nollette’s charitable organization works with partners to drill water wells and support youth-women’s programs. When I caught up with The Champ last fall, he left no doubt the impact that first trip made.
Simpatico and reciprocal
Nollette says the trips and fundraisers she organizes raise awareness and attract donors. Only weeks after winning the vacant WBO light welterweight title over Thomas Dulorme in Arlington, Texas, last April Bud returned to those same African nations with Nollette. “I told Jamie I would like to go back.” He says locals told him, “We have a lot of people that come and tell us they’re going to come back and never do. For you to come back means a lot to us.” “Just the little things mean a lot to people with so little, and so I guess that’s why I’m here,” Bud told an assembly of Ugandans in June. continued on page 10y
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None of this may have happened if he and Nollettte didn’t reconnect. Their bond transcends his black urban and her white suburban background. He supports Pipeline’s work and she raises funds for his B&B Boxing Academy in North O. His first Africa trip never made the news because he didn’t publicize it. His June trip, which lasted from the first to the 12th, however, was a different matter. So what about Africa drew this streetwise athlete to go twice in 10 months when so much is coming at him in terms of requests and appearances, on top of training and family obligations? Beyond the cool machismo, he has a sweet, soft side and burning curiosity. “He really listens to what people say,” Nollette notes. “He wants to understand things.” His pensive nature gets overshadowed by his mischievous teasing, incessant horseplay and coarse language. This father of four is easy around children, who gravitate to him. He supports anything, here or in Africa, that gets youth off the streets. He gives money to family, friends, homies and complete strangers. In 2014 he so bonded with Pipeline’s Uganda guide, Apollo Karaguba, that he flew him to America to watch his Nov. fight in Omaha. “When I met Apollo I felt like I’ve known him for years. I just liked the vibe I got. He’s a nice guy, he’s caring. He took real good care of us while we were out there.” Bud says paying his way “was my turn to show him my heart.” He respects Nollette enough he let her form an advisory committee for his business affairs as his fame and fortune grow. Even with a lifelong desire to see “the motherland” and a fascination with African wildlife, it took Nollette reentering his life for him to go. “Certain opportunities don’t come every day. She goes all the time and I trust her.” His fondness for her goes back to when they were at Skinner. “She was one of the only teachers that really cared. She would talk to me.” He needed empathy, he says, because “I got kicked out of school so much – a fight here, a fight there, I just always had that chip on my shoulder.” He says she took the time to find out why he acted out.
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Catching the vision
Boxing eventually superseded school. “I used to fall asleep studying boxing.” Meanwhile, Nollette moved to Phoenix. On a 2007 church mission trip to Uganda she found her calling to do service there. “It really impacted me,” she says. “I’ve always had a heart for kids and I always had an interest in Africa.” She went several times. “There’s not really anything that can prepare you for it. The volume of people. The overwhelming poverty. Driving for hours and seeing all the want. I didn’t know
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what possibly could be done because everything seemed so daunting. “But once I had a chance to go into some villages I started to see things that gave me hope. I was absolutely amazed at the generosity and spirit of these people – their hospitality and kindness, their gratitude. You go there expecting to serve and after you’re there you walk away feeling like you’ve been given a lot more. I was hooked.” Bud got hooked, too, or as ex-pats say in Africa, “caught the vision.” “I was very touched by the people and how gracious and humble and thankful they were about everything that came
towards them. I had a great time with great people. I experienced some great things.” Coming to Africa I: Uganda
For this second trip, he brought girlfriend Alindra “Esha” Person, who’s the mother of his children. Joseph Sutter of Omaha and myself tagged along, Julia Brown of Phoenix joined us in Detroit and Scott Katskee, a native Omahan living in Los Angeles, added to our ranks in Amsterdam. Nollette arrived in Uganda a day early and met us in Entebbe, where Bud and Apollo enjoyed a warm reunion. The next seven days in Uganda, which endured civil war only a decade ago, were a blur made foggier by jet lag and itinerary overload. Dividing our time between Kampala, the capital and largest city, and rural areas, we saw much: There were roadside shanties. Open market vendors. Christian schools, clinics, worship places. Vast, wild, lush open landscapes. Every shade of green vegetation contrasted with red dirt and blue-white-orange skies. Immense Lake Victoria. The storied Nile, which we crossed by bridge and boat. Stark contrasts of open slums and gated communities near each other. Mud huts with thatched roofs in the bush. The press of people. Folks variously balancing fruit or other items on their head. Unregulated, congested street traffic. Everything open overnight. Boda bodas (motor bikes) jutting amid cars, trucks, buses, pedestrians. One morning our group, sans me, rode aback boda bodas just for the thrill. I suggested to Bud that Top Rank, his sponsor, wouldn’t like him risking injury, to which he bristled, “I run my life, you feel me? Ain’t nobody tell me what to do, nobody. Not even my mom or my dad.” Along the way, ubiquitous Jerry cans--plastic yellow motor oil containers reused to carry and store water--carted by men, women, children, sometimes in long queues. “All waiting on water, that’s crazy,” Bud said. Long drives on unpaved roads rattled our bodies and mini-bus. Whenever delays occurred, it reminded us that schedules don’t mean much there. Bud calls it TIA (This is Africa). “Just live in the moment…go with the flow,” he advised. In a country where development is piecemeal, Apollo says, “We’re not there yet, but we’re somewhere.” Africans engaged in social action say they’ve all overcome struggles to raise themselves and their countrymen. “I was one of the lucky few to get out (of the slums),” Apollo
says. They want partners from the developed world, but not at the expense of autonomy. Many good works there are done by faith-based groups. Apollo works for Watoto Child Care Ministries, whose campus we toured. Three resident boys close to Nollette bonded with Bud on his last trip. The boys joined us for dinner one night. We spent a day with Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, whose vocational work with exploited females has won acclaim. Last year Nollette produced a video showing Bud training Sister for a mock fight with Stephen Colbert. This time, Nollette, Bud and Co. outfitted a dormitory for her girls in Atiak, where Pipeline built a well. Bud played music the girls danced to. They honored us with a traditional dinner and dance.
to come alongside them and support them in their efforts,” Nollette says. Nollette also says she offers “a pipeline to connect people in the States with opportunities and projects in Africa that are really trying to make a difference in their communities.” Apollo says Uganda needs new leadership that’s corruption-free and focused on good resource stewardship. To both, it’s all about leveraging relationships and expertise for maximum affect. We met ex-pats living and work there: Todd Ellingson with City of Joy and Maggie Josiah with African Hospitality Institute. Josiah offered this advice: “A lot of times, especially we Americans come over thinking we have all the answers and we know how to fix all the problems, and really we don’t need to fix any of the African problems. They will fix them themselves in their own time. But come over and listen and learn from them. The Africans have so much to teach us about joy when we have very little, they have so much to teach us about what it really means to live in community, what it means to live the abundant life...” Hail, hail, The Champ is here
We toured Pastor Ben Kibumba’s Come Let’s Dance (CLD) community development organization. Nakavuma Mercy directs CLD’s Thread of Life empowerment program for single moms in Kampala’s Katanga slum. While there, Bud and others gave out jerseys to kids. We met Patricia at Bless a Child, which serves cancerstricken kids in Kampala, and Moses, who’s opening a second site in Gulu. We met young entrepreneurs Charles Mugabi and Richard Kirabira, whose Connect Enterprise and Chicken City Farms, respectively, are part of a creative class Pipeline partners with. “One of the things I see is that you have a lot of young people with strong leadership skills and I want to be able
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Having a world champ visit proved a big deal to Ugandans, who take their boxing seriously. The nation’s sports ministry feted Bud like visiting royalty at a meeting and press conference. He gained extra cred revealing he’s friends with two Ugandan fighters in the U.S., Ismail Muwendo and Sharif Bogere. “I want to come back with Ismail.” Ministry official Mindra Celestino appealed to Bud “to be our ambassador for Uganda.” Celestino listed a litany of needs. “Whatever I can do to help, I’d like to help out,” Bud said. “I’m currently helping out Ismail. He fought on the undercard of my last fight. We’re building him up.” Bud won over officials, media and boxers with his honesty and generosity, signing t-shits and gloves, posing for pictures, sharing his highlight video and delivering an inspirational message. “For me, coming up was kind of hard. You’ve got gangs, you’ve got drugs, you’ve got violence. I got into a lot of things and I just felt like boxing took me to another place in my life where I could get away from all the negativity. I got continued on page 12 y
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shot in my head in 2008 hanging out with the wrong crowd. At that time I knew I just wanted to do more with my life, so I started really pursuing my boxing career. “I had a lot of days I wanted to quit. For you boxers out there, this ain’t no easy sport. It’s hard, taking those punches. You might be in the best shape of your life, but mentally if you’re not in shape you’re going to break down.” He emphasized how much work it takes to be great. “Every day, any boxing I could watch, I would watch. I would take time out to study, like it was school. I would tell you to just work hard, stay dedicated, give your all every time you go in there and who knows maybe you can be the next champion of the world.” He referred to the passion, discipline and motivation necessary to carry you past exhaustion or complacency. “There’s going to be days you want to quit. Those are the days you’ve got to work the hardest. I never was given anything. I was one of those kids they said was never going to make it – I used that as an opportunity to prove them wrong.”
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In addition to all the work we did, we did manage to take time out to enjoy the outdoors, hiking to the top of Murchison Falls and going on safari at Paraa game preserve. I brought up the rear on the hike and Bud hung back to encourage me: “I’ve got you, Leo…you can do it.” On safari his fondest wish of seeing big cats was fulfilled when we came across two lion prides. He also spotted a rare leopard perched on a cliff. Into Africa II: Rwanda
Uganda still swam in our heads after flying into Kigali, Rwanda, a city less teeming than Kampala. Despite only a generation removed from genocide, urban Rwanda’s more developed than Uganda. There are even some street lights and stop signs, plus more Western-style construction. In the rural reaches, it’s a sprawling complex of hills and valleys unlike Uganda’s flatlands. Our guide, Christophe Mbonyingabo, reunited with Bud at the airport. Just as Bud was mistaken for Ugandan, Rwandans mistook him for one of theirs, too. He delighted in it, especially
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when residents tried engaging him in their language, to which he begged off, “I’m American.” In both countries, access to clean water is a daily challenge. “Whether you’re passionate about women or children or health or education, once a village gets access to clean drinking water, this very basic need, it just changes everything,” says Nollette. “If a village gets a well it all of a sudden gets a school, a clinic, some agriculture.” We met young men hoping to make a difference when they complete their U.S. studies. Another we met, Olivier, lost his entire family in the genocide but has gone on to become a physician. As Bud put it, we were “happy to meet new friends, new faces.” Like the work Apollo does in Uganda, our guide Christophe works to heal people in Rwanda. The eastern Congo native needed healing himself after losing his father and two brothers to violence there. He credits being spiritually saved with his founding CARSA (Christian Action for Reconciliation and Social Assistance), which counsels genocide survivors and perpetrators to find forgiveness. Another example of forgiveness came when we met a man and woman who have found serene coexistence and share a cow even after he was complicit in her husband’s murder and stole from her. All of us expressed awe at this turning-the-other-cheek model. “They love each other, too, that’s the crazy part,” says Bud, though Christophe said not every survivor forgives and not every perpetrator makes amends. Bud summed it up, saying “Life’s about choices.” We met a survivor widow for whom Pipeline’s building a new home. Bud caught up with two boys he met last year. He nearly caused a riot with the gifts he gave and the backflips he performed, and a crowd of kids clamored for more. On the drive into the hills, the stunning vistas resembled Calif. or Mediterranean wine country. It’s a sensory explosion of nature’s verdant, colorful abundance and folks plodding the roadsides on foot and bike, selling wares, hauling bundles, Jerry cans,. anything you can think of. Upon hiking into a pygmy village, a young woman, Agnes, impressed upon us the residents’ extreme poverty. Their subsistence living and limited water source pose problems. She shared aspirations to finish school. The villagers danced continued on page 14 y
Sister is back and class is in session!
By Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan | entertainmentevents.com
SUMMER 2015 CONCERTS FRIDAY, JULY 10 Call it Loretta Young meets Carol Burnett. This is part catechism class, part stand-up routine. You, the audience member, are part of Sister’s class. She’ll take you back to the days of the Latin Mass, meatless Fridays and remind you about the good old ruler across the knuckles!
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 BRIDGE BEATS BOB KERREY BRIDGE 6 TO 6:45 PM
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| THE READER |
clarkcoband.com
JULY 2015
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for us. Our group returned the favor. Then Scott Katskee played Pharrell’s “Happy” and everyone got jiggy. Seeing so much disparity, Bud observed. “Money can’t make you happy, but it can make you comfortable.” A sobering experience came at the genocide memorial in Kigali, where brutal killings of unimaginable scale are graphically documented. Group dynamics and shooting the bull
The bleakness we sometimes glimpsed was counteracted by fun, whether playing with children or giving away things. Music helped, At various junctures, different members of our group acted as the bus DJ. Bud played a mix of hip hop and rap but proved he also knows old-school soul and R&B, though singing’s definitely not a second career. Photography may be, however, as he showed a flair for taking stills and videos. In this device-dependent bunch, much time was spent texting, posting and finding wi-fi and hot spot connections. On the many long hauls by bus or land cruiser, conversation ranged from music to movies to gun control to wildlife to sports. Apparel entrepreneur Scott Katskee entertained us with tales of China and southeast Asia travel and friendships with noted athletes and actors. While on the road, Bud gave insight into a tell Thomas Dulorme revealed at the weigh-in of their April fight. “When you’re that close you can feel the tension. I could see it in his face. He was trying too hard. If you’re trying too hard you’re nervous. If he’s intimidated that means he’s more worried about me than I am about him. I won it right there.” Our group made a gorilla trek, minus me. Even Bud said it was “hard” trudging uphill in mud and through thick brush. He rated “chilling with the gorillas” his “number one” highlight, though there were anxious moments. He got within arm’s reach of a baby gorilla only to have the mama cross her arms and grunt. “That’s when I was like, OK, I better back off.” A silverback charged. Back home, Bud’s fond of fishing and driving fast. He has a collection of vehicles and (legal) firearms. He and Esha feel blessed the mixed northwest Omaha neighborhood they live in has welcomed them. Nollette correctly predicted we’d “become a little family and get to know each other really well.” She was our
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mother, chaperone, referee and teacher. Her cousin Joseph Sutter, an athlete, became like a little brother to Bud, whom he already idolized. When the pair wrestled or sparred she warned them to take it easy. “Stop babying him,” Bud said. “I’m not going to hurt him. I’m just going to rough him up. You know how boys play.” Like all great athletes Bud is hyper competitive: “I don’t like to lose at nothing,” he said, and he didn’t like getting taken down by Sutter. Once, when Bud got testy with Nollette. Christophe chastised him, “I hope you remember she’s your teacher.” Bud played peacemaker when things got tense, saying, “Can’t we all get along? We’re supposed to be a family.” We were and he was a big reason why. “What would y’all do without me? I’m the life of the party,” he boasted.
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Out of Africa…for now
As The Champ matures, there’s no telling where he’ll wind up next, though Africa’s a safe bet. When I mentioned he feels at home there, he said, “It IS home. I’m AFRICANAmerican. It’s where a lot of my people come from historically down the line of my ancestors. Damn, I love this place. I’m just thankful I’m able to do the things I’m able to do. I can help people and it fills my heart.” Our last night in Africa, Christophe and Nollette implored us not to forget what we’d seen. Fat chance. Recapping the journey, Bud said, “That was tight.” Bud’s may next fight in Oct. or Feb., likely in Omaha again. , Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.com.
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MIKE MOYLAN Founder and president of Shamrock Development, Inc.
U
HOLLY BARRETT Executive director of Omaha Downtown Improvement District (omahadowntown.org)
rban areas of Omaha have seen a lot of growth and development in recent years, making urban living more appealing and accessible to a greater number of people of all ages and across the demographic spectrum. The Reader surveyed five professionals from diverse backgrounds to engage in a conversation about urban living—not only the lifestyle advantages, but how businesses, government and private citizens have worked together to revitalize Omaha’s urban areas and change the city’s very image: employees. Holly Barrett – executive director of Omaha Downtown Improvement District (omahadowntown.org), an organization that assists the city and property owners in making public spaces cleaner, safer and more active. Omaha DID also promotes the ongoing development of down-
NICK HUFF Co-owner of Hutch (hutchmodern. com), a Midtown Crossing retailer
DAN HOULIHAN Proprietor of Sullivan’s Bar (sullivansbar.com), a mainstay of the Blackstone district since 1954
town Omaha to make the area continue to be as vibrant and vital as possible. Dan Houlihan – proprietor of Sullivan’s Bar (sullivansbar.com), a mainstay of the Blackstone district since 1954. Sullivan’s has been under Houlihan’s ownership since 2001 and relocated across Farnam Street in 2014 with its most beloved historical fixtures, features and memorabilia. Houlihan has been a strong supporter of the continuing renewal efforts of Blackstone. Nick Huff – co-owner, with Brandon Beed, of Hutch (hutchmodern.com), a Midtown Crossing retailer with the tagline “objects of the urban life” and featuring a mix of modern, local and vintage furnishings. Hutch offers products from over 40 modern vendors, 20 local makers and a mix of vintage items.
JERRY REIMER Co-founder of Urban Village Development (uvomaha.com)
Mike Moylan – founder and president of Shamrock Development, Inc. (shamrockdevelopment.com), a local real estate development company specializing in creating downtown mixed-use developments. Recent projects include the historic renovation of The Barker Building at 15th and Farnam Streets, the 1501 Jackson Apartments, restoration of The Paxton at 14th and Farnam Streets, the 1000 Dodge Building at 10th and Dodge, and the 1009 Capitol Building. Jerry Reimer – co-founder, with Scott Semrad, of Urban Village Development (uvomaha.com), a growing community of locally owned and managed neighborhood apartment dwellings. Each historic building is renovated with high-quality, modern furnishings to maintain its local character and original charm. Urban Village’s developments are located in and near Midtown. continued on page 18 y
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the only mentalities. And embracing that entrepreneurship and innovation that a lot of the young people bring to the table, certainly, but we have a lot of game-changes who have been doing it for a lot of years down here, too.
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How did you get involved in urban living and what is your role? Barrett: I’ve been working in this industry close to ten years at this point. I started out as a fundraiser for various organizations and then started getting into politics; mostly the politics of downtowns—how politicians work with city planners and the constituents to make cities work for everybody.
Houlihan: Perception and education, overcoming the stigma that it’s unsafe. We’re not the first to do this, either, Omaha is actually behind the times. Portland, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Denver, Chicago—countless progressive cities have for a decade and a half or more pulled themselves out of suburban sprawl and gone back in to revitalize and reenergize these urban central areas, where they can have these beautiful business hamlets, architecturally and culturally rich.
I fell in with an organization, the LoDo district in Denver, which is a very vibrant historic district, clearly the bottom end of the downtown area of Denver. They needed someone to who could be a fundraiser speaking to politicians and to the city planners to be able to get things done. I just fell in love with the industry of city improvement. It’s everything from how to make transit more accessible to everybody to what kind of trees you plant. It’s everything from dog parks to working with the homeless community; it’s really varied. Omaha is where Denver was ten years ago, where it’s just starting to put time and effort into mixed-use development, access to transit, managing parking, really focusing on the residential experience in downtown and bringing that neighborhood feel into the commercial and industrial cores. Houlihan: I was born and raised in Midtown: reared, educated, employed, property-owned. I really have always been a Midtown/urban dweller and I haven’t felt any desire to leave it. And I’ve always appreciated it for a lot of good reasons. Huff: I haphazardly came into the urban scene by reselling found, vintage furniture as a hobby in June of 2013. Since then, my boyfriend—and also co-owner—and I have hopped around and now are in our third retail location, in Midtown Crossing. We sell new modern, local craft and found vintage furniture, lighting, rugs, art and home decor. Our customers seem to be of the thoughtful kind, a buyer who thinks about where they shop and why. We support and sell the products of over 20 local makers in our community. This gives local artisans an outlet to showcase their craft, and shoppers access to some of Omaha’s most talented makers. Moylan: We are a commercial real estate developers focusing on urban development in downtown Omaha. We have already developed five or six or seven properties in downtown Omaha over the past 15 years. We’re proud of what we do and we enjoy being a part of it, but there are so many people who have done so much in small, medium and large ways. It’s definitely a community spirit that’s pushing our urban development forward, for sure.
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Huff: I’m not sure Omaha has ever had a core that we are striving for as of lately. Urban living is finally being valued in our city, and it is completely changing the landscape and flow of our city. Moylan: To make it a true, strong urban core, to return office users more quickly to the urban core to see the benefit of being in downtown Omaha not only for their own use but for their employees. The lifestyle of an office user downtown is very good in Omaha and I think that was one of the challenges: trying to get the word out that downtown Omaha was a great place to have your office. Reimer: A real estate broker introduced Scott (Semrad) and I and suggested that we might make good business partners; we actually didn’t know each other prior to going into business together. Frankly, Scott had the vision to see what Midtown could be; he’d moved here from Denver and had seen it happen there and felt that it could and should and would happen in Omaha. My mother had some apartments and that’s where I learned the business. Her rule was that we don’t own what we wouldn’t live in ourselves. When Scott and I partnered, he said, ‘I have this vision for Midtown,’ I said, ‘I don’t want to be a slum landlord,’ and he said, ‘That’s not my intent.’ So, my role was to make it happen. Scott really provided the vision and access to capital. What have been the biggest challenges in bringing Omaha back to the city core? Barrett: There are still folks that are remembering what it was like 20 years ago before it was cleaned up and before it became as safe as it is. That recent past is still bright in people’s minds. You also have to remember that we do live in the Midwest and the Midwestern mentality embraces the suburbs; that lifestyle is very easy for Midwesterners to understand and to live, and it’s a very family-oriented lifestyle. The biggest challenge is getting out of our own way and not letting those mentalities be
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Reimer: Perception vs reality. The reality is, Midtown’s a great place and sometimes we fight the suburban/west Omaha-centric mentality and preconceived notions that really don’t align with what happens down here. The perception has improved dramatically, and frankly, Midtown Crossing was the catalyst for all of this. We wouldn’t have lived down there, Scott wouldn’t have had the vision, investors wouldn’t have put up the capital if there had not been the leadership of Mutual of Omaha. What distinguishes urban living from other lifestyles besides geography? Barrett: The ease of pedestrian travel; the idea that you can walk three or four blocks to get to where you’re going as opposed to driving. I think some of the other differences would be a range of diversity; we have everything from Greek delis to African restaurant, Subway sandwich shops up to high-end French restaurants. Cities in general are just oases of diversity where everyone comes together and accepts and celebrates that everyone has a different perspective, and different colors of skin, and different ways of thinking about religion…such a wide range of different kinds of people who live and work and play in cities. Houlihan: Aside from the obvious, you’re going to have much richer architecture and cultural diversity... Right
now we’re such a car-centric city and we’re trying to change that trend, too, looking forward to maybe thinking about light rail and better transit and better cab systems and Uber and Lyft and biking and pedestrian trails. We have to get away from needing to drive. Tying this into all of the studies done across the country and why these types of things work in other cities and thusly why urban living becomes more attractive and sensible: you live, work, play, eat, enjoy music—it makes so much sense for modern America. And our society is moving toward less bigger families. They’re staying single a lot longer and they’re having no kids or far fewer kids, and they’re waiting longer. This kind of living makes more sense to people, young folks especially…I’ve always remained single. I don’t have a family but I doubt very seriously I would have felt the need to leave this area. I’ve grown up in Field Club and Morton Meadows and Holy Cross areas. All terribly safe areas and great places to raise kids. So, to me, it’s like why wouldn’t you want to live and stay where you’re going to get an education and some culture? Huff: Urban living includes dense population, walkable destinations, bike paths, blending of cultures, mixed-use developments and public transportation. We have a few of these things, but we need to establish and improve a lot of the areas. There has been some great work by developers, city planners and non-profits to align Omaha with the best probable urban living landscape. Moylan: It’s been answered better by many others, but there’s a book out there by (noted American sociolo-
gist and economist) Richard Florida, who has spoken in Omaha a couple of times. He wrote “The Rise Of The Creative Class,” (creativeclass.com) and one of the big hypotheses of that would be that the creative class of people all gravitate toward a strong urban development that is based upon diversification and an active urban lifestyle, history and a community-mindedness behind it.
Huff: I think without urban living we won’t be able to attract or retain talent here in Omaha. A lot of the people who are staying are committing to make our city a better place to live, but a lot of people who don’t have that mentality we will lose to larger cities. Urban living is exciting, and if it can be engrained in our culture here in Omaha, I believe we can really start to see some rapid growth.
Reimer: More of a walkable community. One of the things I always say is that Midtown has more character and Midtown has more characters. There is a level of diversity and ‘cosmopolitanness’ that is available nowhere else in our city, and that’s what makes Midtown special.
Right now you don’t experience different cultures unless you intend to, and in my opinion that is a problem. We get in our cars, drive to work, and have the same routines. Even if we go out to eat, we don’t really experience the general public like you do in other larger urban cities. Socially we are behind because we don’t see different cultures, sexuality, et cetera. I believe Omaha is ready for the next chapter.
How important is urban living to defining Omaha’s lifestyle and character? Barrett: Again, that diversity is going to make Omaha stand out like in ways that it already is throughout Nebraska and throughout the Midwest. We are seeing Omaha in headlines…in the last couple of years Omaha has started showing up in those ‘best cities to live’ lists. I think it’s because we’ve started to take our small-town, take-care-of-each-other attitude into the nitty-gritty urban lifestyle. I think it’s pretty beautiful to see it already happen. Houlihan: The very fact that we’re doing this to these urban central destinations is why we’re becoming more hip. I don’t think hip drove this; this drove hip. It’s because the right people in the right places were able to make influence, finally, and make sense of why this important and why this makes sense.
Moylan: I think it somewhat is speaking for itself now. The rise of downtown, Midtown, Benson, Dundee and the areas just outside of downtown—Little Italy and north downtown—these are all areas that are seeing huge vibrant communities and growth and redevelopment. That kind of speaks for itself, that that’s so important it’s happening across the board for all the reasons. The marketplace is speaking on behalf all of how important this is; these areas are very strong, they’re all seeing continued development, they’re getting better rents, there’s more activity and higher occupancy rates. That’s why I’m saying it’s obviously important, because that’s where you’re seeing a significant amount of new investment and focus. Reimer: It’s actually a necessary component for us to attract this generation of talent. Talent today is global and they can live anywhere they want, so for Omaha companies to compete globally, we need an urban lifestyle. What do you wish non-urban dwellers knew about big city life? Barrett: How safe it is. There’s a misconception that it’s unsafe and a second misconception that there’s nowhere to park...you might not be able to park in front of the restaurant, but you can park a block away and be able to walk down a nice city block and experience more of downtown than just the ten feet from downtown to your restaurant. Houlihan: If a person too scared or too short-sighted to consider what might be here, then I don’t want them anyway. Stay out there. But if you’re the kind who doesn’t mind a little exploration and a little fun and even a little challenge, maybe, once you get here –all this is, is fun and cool. Welcome in! continued on page 20 y
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Houlihan: Having an eye and a vision and seeing beauty beneath something that may not look beautiful at the time. Being able to visualize that building and what it could look like, that’s getting inside and looking at the structure and the bones and taking it and bringing it back to its former glory. And hard work, taking a chance.
Huff: Not everyone wishes to live an urban lifestyle, and there is nothing wrong with that. We owe a lot of the success of our state to the rural areas who have a lot of influence on the mindset and pace of Omaha. But in my opinion, urban life for Omaha will help blend the neighborhoods and cultures, which is essential for the progress of any large city. Urban life will give us a better idea of what our city is, who lives in it, and an opportunity to come together and celebrate our diverseness.
Huff: In my opinion, Midtown Crossing was the major catalyst in turning Midtown into the epicenter of urban living in Omaha. Since Midtown Crossing sprung five years ago, we have seen developers like Urban Village and Green Slate add value to the surrounding neighborhoods, and this is just the start. With the new Blackstone district, and more projects on the way, urban living will be much more cohesive between Midtown and downtown Omaha.
Moylan: I think the obvious thing is how safe it really is downtown. It’s not that we have a security force on every corner, it’s because we have such a vibrant urban downtown; that’s what helps make it safer. And the second thing is, Omaha’s really at the point that you can exist without a car, especially with some of the transportation alternatives that are coming down the pike. And I’ll add that our parking situation is actually pretty great. Reimer: I think diversity is actually the slice of life. The reality of mass-production is that it makes a lot of things affordable to the majority…but it does come at the cost of diversity and character. Arguably, Midtown, because of its longevity, still sustains diversity and flavor: the architectural diversity, the size diversity/scale, big projects, little projects. In west Omaha, the Home Depots are all the same size. Walmarts are all the same size. If I live in a Celebrity neighborhood, my houses are all the same size. If I live in a second-home-buyer neighborhood, my houses are all the same size. If I live in a mcmansion neighborhood, my houses are all the same size… we have economic diversity in west Omaha, but (in Midtown) you see that on the same street. What are new urbanites surprised to discover? Barrett: They’re always very surprised at how pleasant everything is and that it doesn’t always have to be edgy… people who don’t spend a lot of time in downtown or never come downtown, when they experience that openminded and open-armed environment, they’re always surprised. Houlihan: That we are not old Omaha anymore. Countless times I hear people—their reaction whether verbatim or in something they said: ‘This is not old Omaha.’ It’s the undertone to anything they say. Huff: I am hopeful for our transportation and commercial/residential development around Midtown and Downtown Omaha. And also over the next three to five years, I would love to see our city be much more connected. Finally, to see public transpiration take on new forms, and connect neighborhoods and cultures not once connected, would be great and a huge asset to the city.
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Moylan: There’s been so much private and public cooperation in our urban development by people that really educated themselves on what makes a good urban atmosphere and environment. I think that’s partially due to the Midwestern work ethic and the cooperative ethic that you find in your average, everyday business life.
Moylan: That’s pretty easy; it’s really how great Omaha’s urban scene is for a city of our size. Our urban development and everything that’s occurred in downtown and Midtown is a much greater experience and urban scene than most cities our size. Reimer: How safe the neighborhoods are and how friendly the people are. The reality is different than the perception. What elements have contributed to the rapid improvement of urban areas of Omaha? Barrett: There have really been a lot of private investors who instead of investing in other places or just in themselves or their businesses, have invested in the city. Mutual of Omaha and Turner Park is a perfect example. All of the collaborative pieces that Peter Kiewit Foundation —like Abbott Drive—put together, MECA and the CenturyLink Center, TD Ameritrade, those kinds of things. Those are perfect examples of private entities making a commitment to their front yard and where they live and the people who work for them and where they want to be. They put their money where their mouth is, they stuck to their guns on design and location, they worked with administrators whether they agreed with who was in office or not, and they tabled differences so they could come together and make things happen.
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I think what happened is that Omaha was fledgling in early years and the city fathers that really cared so much about Omaha and some of the big corporate owners said, ‘Hey, what are we going to do? We have to have a place to keep young people here; the brain drain is too strong for Omaha.’ They all got together and the number one answer was that we need a strong urban atmosphere. And then—boom—you see everything starting to happen downtown. First and foremost by the Lauritzen family’s commitment to build the First National tower downtown. They had land out west and could have built a less expensive building with a lot less risk with by going out to suburbia like a lot of others had. Instead, they committed to downtown for the sake of the community; they were a good example. Union Pacific stepped up, the WorldHerald stepped up, all these people started then to educate and see the benefit of what’s happening with a strong urban environment. Now young people are ready to move here—25 years ago, most young people wanted to move away—I think the stats will prove that in years to come. Reimer: If was going to go very macro, there are some city leaders who set the wheels in motion. Midtown Crossing, keeping the First National tower in downtown, the new Union Pacific facility, the new Gallup facility. We had stewards of our community that had vision at a very high level that has done it. We drill down a little bit, having housing opportunities allows us to live in there; housing matters and housing has been a key. , For the full text of the interviews, please visit thereader.com.
SEASON SIX:
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Cleopatra Orpheum Theater • October 2 The Nutcracker The Arts Center, IWCC • November 22 Orpheum Theater • December 5 & 6 Momentum: Go West! Joslyn Art Museum • April 1 The Arts Center, IWCC • April 3
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art PANORAMACELEBRATION: Residents of the Hanscom Park community celebrate the unveiling of a mural by artist Watie White as a part of his latest neighborhood public art project, You Are Here. .
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Hanscom Park Community Finds Its ‘Place at the Table’ with Watie White’s Public Art Project B Y DAV I D T H O M P S O N
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ARTISTSELFIE: Watie White’s approach is more radical in that it imposes a special set of obligations on the artist in how he or she goes about creating a work of art.
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aving visited the South Omaha studio of artist Watie White a few times in the past, I was surprised on my most recent foray to encounter a new object dominating the space: a long table (actually, three tables lined up end to end) composed of reclaimed wood (flooring, doors, etc.) and seemingly waiting for a grand, if rustic, meal to be served to a large group of people arriving at any minute. White reminded me that this table was left over from all that ever was, always is, a public art project on display from July to December of last year in two abandoned homes on Emmet Street in North Omaha. White facilitated conversations with local residents about the history of the community that took place one-on-one and in a series of community gatherings — some seated at the table just mentioned when it was set up between the two dwellings. Based on input from these conversations and photos and other documents unearthed by his investigations, White produced dozens of paintings that were reproduced as vinyl prints and hung in the windows of the two homes for the duration of the show. The images faced outward and thus conjured up for passersby the sense that a crew of busy inhabitants was inside living out their lives as family members, friends, and neighbors. White’s latest public project is a mural installed last month on the side of the 10-story Park North Tower, one of two public housing projects located in the picturesque Hanscom Park neighborhood. The piece has the apt title You Are Here, which reaches out and includes the viewer, “you,” directly in the experience of coming to know a particular place, “here,” through the people who give the place its character. You Are Here emerged from a partnership with InCOMMON Community Development, a local
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non-profit that provides life-skill and job readiness training as well as employment opportunities and a meeting place to residents of the Park Avenue community, a poor subsection of Hanscom Park in which 34 percent of adults and 42 percent of children live below the poverty line. Also supporting the project are the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens, located just down the street from Park North, and the Leavenworth and Hanscom Park neighborhood associations. As the title of last year’s piece suggests, all that ever was, always is was aimed at recapturing a disappearing past and bringing it back to life
temporarily, with the hope that it would thus somehow “always” be present. The national non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity loaned the two Emmet Street houses to White for the show. The fact that the structures were demolished at the show’s conclusion made the images of past lives even more poignant—and also problematic, depending on how you feel about Habitat for Humanity’s strategy of demolishing homes as part of what it calls “blight remediation.” You Are Here, by contrast, is about celebrating a community that is very much alive, with its diversity and vitality signified by the mural’s gigantic group selfie of twenty-six of the neighborhood’s more notable citizens (and two dogs). Most of the individuals depicted are still alive. One exception is former president Ford himself, who jogs across the midspace of the mural as if he was late to get the memo about the gathering. Standing at the corner of Woolworth Avenue and Park Avenue and taking in the mural as a whole, I found myself wishing for a reference guide filling me in on the backstory of the individuals depicted, the shopkeepers, neighborhood activists, venerated senior citizens, and others all staring outward from the mural as if to take in the surroundings of which we viewers are a part. The lack of such an interpretive support underscores the fact that this mural is most appropriately aimed at the people in the neighborhood who walk by the mural every day, many of whom probably know several of the people depicted in the collective image. White was helped in the production of the piece by the technology of mural-making. The company that enlarged White’s series of portraits to the scale of a ten-story building is the same company responsible for Stored Potential, the series of banners in-
stalled by the organization Emerging Terrain on 13 grain elevator silos along Interstate 80 starting in 2010. To the consternation of many, these banners were removed last summer. One hopes that You Are Here will have a longer lifespan. Art as a means of community engagement has been a dominant theme in the art world since at least the 1970s. It is fair to say, however, that by and large the engagement sought by artists has been on their own terms, as an opportunity for them to invite the public to experience the world from their perspective for at least a few fleeting moments. White’s approach is more radical in that it imposes a special set of obligations on the artist in how he or she goes about creating a work of art. In White’s public art projects, the series of conversations leading up to the creation of the work (and continuing while it is on view) amounts to what might be called crowdsourcing or collective content generation. White is partially turning over a set of decisions (what should be the subject matter of the work? In what manner or style should it be represented?) to a constituency that is both co-maker and audience. The table in his studio is an apt metaphor for the ongoing presence of outside voices in his artistic practice. Strolling down Park Avenue, I also found myself pondering other parts of White’s oeuvre, and in particular the woodcuts that can be encountered in places as diverse as the Community Engagement Center at the University of Nebraska Omaha and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. These works are dense, patterned, secretive, and often haunting. They depict landscapes and structures populated by errant birds, fornicating rodents, and the brooding presence of the artist whose hand has produced this intricate plethora of marks. White points out in conversation that the “public” and “private” sides of his artistic output are related in that each creates a space for the other. The same intensity that enables him to plunge into the personal and somewhat obsessive mark-making of the woodcuts also leads to the embrace of process, conversation, and narrative that one sees in works like You Are Here. One never knows for sure which voices will speak, but rest assured that each in its turn will have a place at the table, an opportunity to be heard. ,
PRETTYMUCH: “James,” a member of the Hanscom Park neighborhood is featured in print and text in White’s public art project, You Are Here.
Popart: The signature piece of White’s latest community public art project, You Are Here, is a populist mural that adorns the Park Tower North.
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art FLOWERPOWER: Photo artist Luzia Simons creates her floral “scanograms” without the use of a camera but with amazing depth of field and detail.
PhotoSynthesis I
n the world of fine art photography, some artists take or make photos, others create them. The “takers” are those such as Dorothy Lange who record and document reality in its many forms and with a minimum of manipulation to extraordinary effect. The “makers,” including portrait artist Diane Arbus, are notable for their staging, lighting and composition, all the product of the studio and darkroom as much as their camera expertise. As for the “creators,” though not necessarily more fine or artistic, they are nonetheless more experimental with their medium.
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Artist Luzia Simons’ Floral ‘Scanograms’ Create Images Sans Camera BY MICHAEL J. KRAINAK
The result is often work that is more conceptual and/or abstract. A few have even created “photos” that are transcendent, without the use of a camera. Among this latter group is photo artist Luzia Simons, originally from Brazil, now living and working in Berlin, Germany. Simons belongs to a tradition of cameraless photography that includes early 20th century photograms as well as Man Ray’s selftitled “Rayographs.” But, while the above images were made largely by placing objects atop light-sensitive photographic papers, Simons creates her “scanograms” by layering floral arrange-
ments directly on the bed of her scanner. The image may take hours, even days to scan and print to the monumental size she favors. All of which can be seen in Simons’ most current exhibition, Stockage, in the Garden of the Zodiac gallery in the Old Market Passageway through August 17. Stockage is composed of five large, digital format scanograms, one smaller one in extreme close-up, a series of three glassenclosed wall hangings of seeming scientific flora specimens and an imposing, beautifully rendered, floral folding screen. Patrons of the Moving Gallery, which sponsored this exhibit may also recall its
extraordinary 2010 exhibition, Time, Death and Beauty, organized by Berlin’s Matthias Harder, the curator of the Helmut Newton Foundation. It too featured, among other international photo artists, the work of Simon and Omahan Vera Mercer. In a review of Time, Death and Beauty, this critic wrote, “despite sharing an affinity for deep-focus photography and exquisite detail in their portraiture of flowers at full bloom and past peak, Simons and Mercer have a distinctly different aesthetic.” In general, Mercer’s prints have evolved into still lifes of flora and fauna, mostly game, and vessels of all sorts that despite their formal properties appear quite visually intuitive and romantic. To the contrary, Simon’s aesthetic is more conceptual and referential. The content of Stockage is mostly tulips and to a lesser degree, poppies, each with an interesting cultural history and symbolism that contribute highly to her vision. Objectively, Simons connects to tulips’ history as commodity in the global market as they moved from Asian to European markets and beyond in a sort of “tulipomania” in 17th century Holland. At the height of “tulipomania” in March, 1637, tulip bulbs sold for more than 10 times the income of a skilled craftsman. And, it has been recorded that this phenomenon became one of the first “economic bubbles” in history. In his review of When the Tulip Bubble Burst, a book by Michael Dash, critic Mark Frankel quotes the author who says: “It is impossible to comprehend tulip mania without understanding just how different tulips were from every other flower known to horticulturists in the 17th century. The colors they exhibited were more intense and concentrated those of ordinary plants.” Not only does one see that intensity in Simons’ tulip imagery, but true to the theme of Time, Death and Beauty, her blossoms often appear rootless, ephemeral and on the verge of bursting, albeit with great beauty and sensuality. Poppies also symbolize a similar polarity culturally as the source of powerful opiates and their subsequent addiction. Yet, poppies are too a symbol of sleep and peaceful death, and what’s more, in classical mythology, their vivid red color signifies resurrection after death. The cultural and socio-political background of such is interesting, but in Harder’s essay, “Mysterious Dangerous Beauty, that accompanies Luzia Simons, a book of her “Stockage” prints, he reminds us that her series of floral images is also personal as well as conceptual. “For Simons, the flower as commodity…becomes a cultural issue that stands in for the issue of migration,” Harder writes. “Along their nomadic route from Asia to
Europe, tulips become a kind of alter ego for the artist whose own path has taken her from Brazil via France to Germany. Where are the (her) roots, where have they been severed or where have they imbedded themselves anew?” Harder never really answers these questions appropriately but suggests that Simons’ tulips in Stockage are, “a motif between nature and culture—mere material on the path to an ethereal utopia of beauty.” The artist accomplishes this not only by scanning her flowers at peak color, in close-up, and larger than life, but by her arrangements and composition that eschew bouquets or potted plants. Petals and stems are ‘stockpiled” atop the glass and often create their own images as they bloom, fall and separate in the scanner’s heat. Furthering the drama of the “moment” are: high definition detail and palette saturation, a selective field of focus which enhances spatial depth, predominantly dark backgrounds and high contrast lighting that make some flowers appear to pop from their canvas as others wilt from view. In addition, Simons lends some images an illusional quality by having pollen fall onto the scanner plate thus creating a ghostly tone in sharp relief to the more sculpturallike work in this exhibit. Very little of this variation is first observed by the viewer so intense are the qualities of light, shadow and color that permeate the gallery. The larger scanograms dominate -– captivate, really—one’s attention and hold the exhibit together. The smaller works, as well as the mural-like screen, though respectively clever and accomplished, are nearly distractions; at best, addendums to Simon’s talent and Stockage’s intent. As such, the exhibition’s monumental works, which break from traditional photograms, as well as photographs, appear to reference by category the tripartite theme of Time, Death and Beauty, and in that order. Seen this way, “Time” measures the two most traditional and formal images in the exhibit, Stockage #151 and 152, both in the back gallery. “Traditional,” because these flowers are at their most beautiful in blossom, enjoying their brief time in the sun or spotlight. These images are the closest to formal arrangements or still lifes in the show, the most exquisite combination of the real and the ideal. Viewers of these tulips in the category of “Time” are more likely to say, “These are the flowers I know. I’ve seen them in nature or on a pedestal.” On Simons’ canvas, they bloom into sight, not because of an artificial black backdrop, but because of the high def, key lighting and multi-reflective, layered background. A moment of harmonious, natural beauty.
Representing “Death” in the thematic trilogy are the tulips in Triptych, #45 in the hallway separating the two main gallery spaces, which offer flowers in sharper contrast on solid black backgrounds not unlike in the 2010 exhibition. Rather than pop, these petals look as if stamped or stapled to the surface as if specimens to their now past glory. Instead of a bouquet of tulips, they resemble more a collection whose blood rich reds on an ebony backdrop have been augmented by the artist who actually paints, touches up as it were, with a bit of pigment on the scanner glass. Not even this additional make-up can quite cover up flower edges that have begun to curl and fade over another layer of pasty white and gray petals hinting at what’s to come. Lastly, Simons’ interpretation of “Beauty” is not categorized by work of traditional flo-
ral arrangements as we have seen in works, #151 and 152. Instead of tulips fully blossomed, we have in pieces #149 in the front gallery alcove and especially #150 in the back venue space, art work that is fully blossomed. That is, scanograms that are the most painterly whose images of tulips are the most gestural, abstract and ephemeral. This is Simons’ most complex work to date. The palette is now a pastiche of translucent yellows, reds and greens on a fairly neutral, liquid background. It is no longer about tulips as commodity or even subject but as inspiration. Thanks to her creativity, their Beauty will endure. The tulips no longer pop. They linger. , Stockage will “linger” until August 17 in The Garden of the Zodiac gallery in the Old Market Passageway. For details and gallery hours, call 402-341-1910.
GARDENDISPLAY: Luzia Simons’ exhibit, Stockage, is currently on display until Aug. 17 in the Garden of the Zodiac gallery in the Old Market Passageway.
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BY MICHAEL BRAUNSTEIN
heartlandhealing
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HEARTLAND HEALING is a metaphysically-based polemic describing alternatives to conventional methods of healing the body, mind and planet by MICHAEL BRAUNSTEIN. It is provided as information and entertainment, certainly not medical advice. Important to remember and pass on to others: for a weekly dose of Heartland Healing, visit HeartlandHealing.com. .
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ou can run from it. It will find you. You can descend into the deepest cavern of our planet or zoom out into the farthest galaxy but you can’t hide. It is everywhere. It is the essential substrate of existence and it is all that is. It is energy. We live in a sea of energy that is very real and is completely and wholly pervasive. There is nowhere in the entire universe of creation where energy is not. Fortunately for us, along with the other living beings on this planet, we have adapted well over millions of years to the presence of energy in the natural universe. Certainly there are variances of the energy spectrum that can put us in real jeopardy: Too much infrared and we crisp right up. Too much of certain nuclear rays and we morph. Kinetic energy can be a problem, too. But if we stay in that survivable range, even the radio waves generated by stars and the cosmic rays coursing through the universe leave us relatively unscathed. We have evolved to withstand what occurs naturally as long as we avoid the radical areas of the electromagnetic spectra. Evolution has taught us how to surf the sea of energy that is in Nature. Though one could argue that humans first began manipulating energy with the use of fire a million or so years ago, we really upped the ante only in the past couple hundred years. That’s but a blip on the timeline of evolution. And in the past 50 years, we’ve managed to swamp the planet with electromagnetic radiation, mostly in the form of radio, light and microwaves, to a magnitude never before seen by the planet or its inhabitants. This ELF is real. To give an idea as to the range of random energy baths we’re dousing our planet with, one of the most insidious is the use of extremely low frequency radio waves to communicate with our nuclear submarines. ELF is a system developed by the Navy to solve a military problem. To wit: How can we tell our submarines to surface and launch missiles to annihilate the Commies if radio waves can’t penetrate the ocean? Around 1958, the Navy solved it. Extremely low frequencies pass through the rock, soil, water of the Earth just like that thumping bass passes through the trunk of the 1978 Caprice four lanes over and three cars back at the stoplight. Low frequency can penetrate walls from the apartment two floors up, right? You may not hear the vocals or guitar but you sure hear the bass. So to communicate with subs, the Navy built a few radio stations around the world. The next problem encountered was that low frequencies are very long and to produce a very long radio wave you need a very long antenna. Ready for this? One ELF station in Michigan has an antenna that is 14 miles by 14 miles by 28 miles. Yes, that’s miles. The original antenna plan was 6200 miles of cable buried in bedrock.
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Pounding out extremely low frequency in coded blips, the Navy sends thumps through the planet to communicate from Michigan to a sub on the other side of the globe. Are we stupid enough to think that those pounding pulses, sent day in and day out, have no effect on the wellbeing of planet Earth? Yes, we’re that stupid. Bouncing balls. The Navy’s use of ELF is on the magnum scale. But with the proliferation of cell phones, microwaves, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, we’re bathing our planet and our bodies in an unstudied experiment with energy. We know that energy affects us. We just don’t know for sure how. Want to make it personal? That cell phone in your pants pocket, butt or front, is throbbing your most delicate parts with tangible, measurable radio wave radiation. And there is enough evidence of harm to prompt many civil agencies and governments to show concern. Check it out yourself. Every cell phone manufacturer warns the user not to touch the antenna or let the phone touch our skin or head while in use. Some of the most popular phones put out enough radiation to warrant serious attention. Cell phones were never tested for safety before approval for sale to the general public back in the 1980s. Enough research has shown that cell phones have cancer-causing potential to prompt the Federal Communications Commission to issue guidelines. These guidelines created a measure of the rate that body tissue absorbs radiation energy during cell phone use called the specific absorption rate (SAR). The SAR for cell phone radiation was set at a maximum of 1.6 watts of energy absorbed per kilogram of body weight. This limit does not take into consideration that lower amounts of energy have been definitively shown to be “possible carcinogen” according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In fact, the latest research shows that significant changes do indeed occur to brain cells when exposed to cell phone radiation. Also, the FCC standards were set in 1996. Cell phone antennas have become more powerful and use different wavelengths now. No FCC guidelines have been established on the newer ones. Earth’s species and the planet itself have had millions of years to adapt to naturally modulated energies. Our survival depended on it. But we’ve subjected ourselves and the planet to new amounts of energy. We cannot have adapted to these new, intrusive and pervasive energies in so short a time. The amount of dirty electricity and untested energy waves we’re dumping into our bodies and onto the planet goes unchallenged. From compact fluorescent lights to radiation generating cell phones, we’ve entered uncharted territory in our sea of energy. Expect storms ahead. Go online to www.thereader.com for more information on this topic. Be well. ,
ILLUSTRATION COURTESY POPSCI.COM
‘SeaofEnergy
And a pocketful of radiation
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‘newvision J
Playhouse’s New Associate Artistic Director Talks About His Journey to Omaha and his Vision for Programming STORY BY WILLIAM GRENNAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEBRA S. KAPLAN
eff Horger’s path the Omaha Community Playhouse is one of preparation meeting opportunity. After his wife received a position at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Horger started floating his resume around town, seeing where he could find a fit. Boy, did he find one. “We consider ourselves very lucky,” he said. Born in small town Illinois, Horger received degrees in theatre, education and Spanish from North Central College in Naperville, IL. Soon after, he traveled south with his wife. He focused on teaching, but his love for theatre kept bringing him back to one opportunity after another. “It came to a point where my wife and I were talking about me getting a higher de-
gree and she said, ‘You need to get a degree in theatre. That’s clearly what you want to do.’ I said, ‘Well, that’s going to suck for you!’” he laughed. Soon after, Horger found himself in the graduate theatre program at the University of Alabama. There, he focused a lot of his time and energy in Cuban Theatre. The state has a large Cuban contingent and, until recent years, the only way to get into Cuba from America was with an academic visa. “I happened to be the only person in the department that spoke Spanish, so I became the translator,” he said. “When they would send theatre artists or government employees over, I became their translator and followed them around for the week.”
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In his travels, Horger noticed that most of the plays performed were Cuban adaptations of Shakespeare and other classical texts. “I saw a production of Twelfth Night that would make even a seasoned Rocky Horror Picture Show fan blush,” he said. He saw an opportunity to bring modern American works across the Caribbean and soon received Christopher Durang’s permission to translate, produce, and perform Beyond Therapy for a Cuban audience. In doing so, Horger became the first American actor to perform a contemporary American play in Cuba. “A couple years later, we did an original work based on Greek mythology written by
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y continued from page 27 an Alabama professor,” he said. “For it, we were able to bring several Cuban artists to the United States. We ran the show in Alabama, then we ran off-Broadway for a little while, and then we took it to Havana. When we switched over, I had to perform the role in Spanish.” After finishing graduate school, Horger got picked up by the Riverside Theatre in Florida, directing plays and musicals, working in children’s theatre, and getting involved in outreach programs. He also spent time directing and teaching at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival in 2012. In every stop on his journey, Horger looks for unique and alternative approaches to storytelling. It’s the same mindset he brings in running the Omaha Playhouse’s new-look Alternative Programming. “I really see it as a way to offer different types of programming to the community,” he said. “We’re the Omaha Community Playhouse. We wear that name as a badge of honor. Omaha has a lot of great theatres, but we can’t do it all. There’s always room for more stories to be told and Alternative Programming is a way to allow some of these things to happen.” One constant of the Playhouse’s Alternative Programing is the popular staged reading series. Horger said it’s a great way for people to participate in the Playhouse’s programming without a huge time commitment. “We love our volunteers,” he said. “We are so lucky that we have people that, from start to finish, can give us three months of their lives. But the fact is, there are a lot of people that can’t do that. The staged readings are more plausible for them. It’s a way that allows them to perform, to do what they love, to
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be a part of our theatre family with a smaller time commitment.” The shows featured in this year’s staged reading series include a number of shows both old and new. Detroit 67 by Dominique Morisseau takes a look at two siblings during the Detroit race riots. Take Me Out by Richard Greenberg deals with a star baseball player who comes out as gay to a variety of reactions from friends, fans, and teammates. Civil War Voices by James R Harris and Mark Hayes is a collection of compelling and passionate true stories of real individuals who lived through the Civil War. A Steady Rain by Keith Huff tells the story of two friends on the Chicago police force whose relationship is put on the line after a domestic disturbance call. The new musical from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Dogfight, based on the Warner Brothers film, is about three Marines learning the power of love and compassion. Nebraska Shakespeare interim Artistic Director Vincent Carlson-Brown will guest direct a reading of the classic Treasure Island, adapted by Ken Ludwig. “We’re just trying to tell good stories,” Horger said. “As long as good theatre is happening, we’re great with that. Take Me Out is relevant because it deals with a lot of issues that we are seeing in mainstream society right now; a lot of identity issues, LGBT issues, and sports in general. With Treasure Island, we’re throwing in classical works. There are some shows that just aren’t done because there’s not always a place for them in the season. It might not be edgy or mature content, but there’s something to be said for honoring those works.” “Another bigger element that we are adding this year is the idea of music with Dogfight and
Civil War Stories. I just assistant directed Spamalot and being in the room and seeing what our local talent can do with just a week of music rehearsal gave me the confidence to say, ‘You know what? We have singers out there and we need to serve them.’ Let’s give them some opportunities.” Along with the staged reading series, the Playhouse will feature a New Voices show featuring the artistic talents of local students, giving the community a chance to meet new artists. From the Ground Up, the development program for new works in partnership with the Great Plains Theatre Conference, will continue next season. Last year’s program culminated in the staging of Ellen Struve’s new play Prince Max’s Trewly Awful Trip to the Desolat Interior at the Joslyn Art Museum this past May. “It’s a wonderful way for us to celebrate the fact that we have people here that create great art. We have a lot of great writers in the community. Our Patchwork Play Project is another way we are looking to create new work. There are folks that want to create theatre, there are people who want to tell these stories but they don’t always have the way to do it. We’re nominating ourselves to be the kick in the butt for some people. You want to write something? Come with us, we’re going to help you get that done.” After finding his footing in Alternative Programming and getting his opportunities to direct main season shows, Horger looks most forward to working with Omaha’s theatrical talent. “As a director, there are two things I always ask, regardless of the show. First, what is the world? You need to establish the world in which it takes place. Sometimes, it’s a grounded world. Sometimes, it’s a crazy, episodic world that’s constantly changing. You need to lay that out. The second question: Whose story is being told? There’s something to be said for having a through line that we track to an audience. Actors need to be aware of that shared goal. The reason I love directing is that there’s always a surprise in it. You don’t know exactly how it’s going to end up until it ends up.” , More information on the Omaha Community Playhouse’s Alternative Programming can be found at www.OmahaPlayhouse.com.
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perfectpatios T
ucked away in the Eagle Run shopping center is Salt 88 (3623 N. 129th St.). From the moment you walk in, you immediately notice how open and inviting the restaurant feels. You can see everything from the other diners to the kitchen, though it never feels like you’re so close that you can’t enjoy a quiet meal with friends. The patio is airy and serene, furnished with beautiful blue chairs and wood tables with a view of a golf course. This lends to a Caribbean feel that makes you think that at any moment a steel drum player might start a calypso tune while you enjoy a frosty drink with an exotic name. One of the most amazing things about this particular patio is that you know it’s sitting right next to a parking lot, yet you can’t see it and really can’t hear it either. On my most recent visit for lunch I enjoyed an artisan turkey sandwich. The baguette was lightly toasted and crispy while the turkey was lean and had the perfect amount of seasoning. Since I don’t get to Salt 88 as often as I might like, I decided
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‘salt88: Sophisticated
Summer Time... And Outdoor Dining Is Cool and Easy B Y C H E R I L L E E | P H OTO S B Y D E B R A S . K A P L A N
to partake of the rosemary frites. They come in a guilt-free portion and are deliciously seasoned with just the right amount of satisfying crunch. My friend decided to try the veggie coastal burger and pronounced it to be tasty. The most fun part of this meal though, besides enjoying time with a friend, was the cotton candy that came at the end of the meal. Having been there before, I knew this was coming but admit I was a little concerned when the server asked if we wanted dessert and we said “no.” I thought, hmmm I wonder if she will bring us cotton candy anyway even though we said we didn’t want dessert. I needn’t have worried. She brought a light purple funnel of grape cotton candy on a paper stick and handed it to me. You could smell the grape from a mile away and it instantly brought back memories of Hubba Bubba chewing gum and that made me smile. My friend and I began by daintily plucking little pieces off the paper cone but quickly gave in to our inner children and giddily started grabbing
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restaurant serving American lunch and dinner fare with locally sourced ingredients.
tufts of the fluffy, sweet spun sugar off the paper and laughed as we licked our fingers. Brunch outdoors
‘lot2: Smart scene for new American fare made from local ingredients and select wines by the glass or bottle.
Nebraska has an abundance of beautiful views, delicious menus, and summer temperatures that don’t mind soaring into the upper 90s and triple digits. A day that begins beautiful and balmy can turn sweltering with little notice. Heading out the door early will help you beat the heat as you enjoy brunch out on the patio! This is one of my favorite things to do, and one of my favorite places to dine is Lot 2 (6207 Maple St.) in Benson. Try the waffles if you have a bit of sweet tooth. At Lot 2 your waffles come with syrup already on them. I know what you’re thinking, ‘there couldn’t be enough syrup on the waffles to last me through the whole meal. I definitely need a jar of syrup.’ Nope, you don’t. I am still not sure how they get the ratio just right, but I ate my entire order of waffles without needing an extra drop of sweet and sticky goodness. In addition to my waffle, I enjoyed a mocha latte, which was delicious and had just the right amount of chocolate and foam to coffee. Lot 2 is one of the few restaurants I have found that offers pineapple juice on their morning menu. There’s no better way to feel like you’re on vacation than eating on a fun and funky patio with a tropical juice drink. If you want to get your brunch drink on, try the blackberry Bellini. It’s a refreshing and light alternative to the mimosa. If you tend more to the lunch side of brunch, Lot 2 offers a ramen dish that smelled heavenly and looked hearty as it passed my table. And they have the all-American favorite, the cheeseburger which you can order with a PBR if you are so inclined. continued on page 32 y
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‘crumbs
‘marks: Assortment of comfort dishes with global influences in a homey bistro with a landscaped patio.
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The patio gives the impression of a remodeled parking lot, but the tables are elegant and the atmosphere leaves nothing to be desired. It’s definitely a relaxing respite in the middle of bustling Benson. Adding to the vibe, the staff plays ‘70s and ‘80s music to help you jam over your bagel and cream cheese. Cocktails al fresco
Another great time to take advantage of the beautiful weather without getting overheated is happy hour. The sun starts to sink lower in the sky and that’s when Marks Bistro (4916 Underwood Ave.) really begins to heat up! The beautiful patio gives off a hip, French garden vibe. When you’re sitting out there it feels as if you are in an oasis of tranquility. Greenery accentuates the tables and umbrellas, while creating a calm, cooling feel. The outside world is shut out and you’re left feeling relaxed. On a recent visit, I took advantage of the Mojito. It was refreshing with its bright, mint flavor and tang of the tequila. It really is
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like drinking a party in a glass. For an appetizer, my friend and I sampled the bread spread trio which features sun-dried tomato pesto, herbed feta spread and Kalamata tapenade. By far, my favorite was the pesto. It was tart and salty combining the best of the tomato, basil and pine nuts. I have had this a lot at Marks and have often considered eating it as a dinner all on its own. But since I was sharing, we decided to order the bistro tots to try as well. It was my first time tasting this particular dish. The tots were savory with a light, crisp crust and soft inside. Personally, I felt the texture lacked balance. The inside of the tots could’ve been a little firmer, or the outside needed a bit more crunch. In spite of this, the tots are still a delicious new addition to the appetizer menu. What I really like about Marks’ patio is that while it’s right next to the front of the restaurant, you cannot see the diners inside and they can’t see you. It almost feels like you’re in a whole different restaurant. I’m already planning to go back. ,
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n VISIT THE ZOO LIKE A KID AGAIN! BUT THIS TIME, WITH BEER Tickets are selling fast for the second annual Brew at the Zoo suds sipping safari. Live music, food, and games will add to the excitement as you stroll through the recently voted No. 1 zoo in the world. Guests 21 and older are welcome to the event, which takes place from 7-9 p.m., and will sample beer and wine from dozens of local breweries. Cost of the July 18 event is $55 with a $5 discount for Zoo members. There are only about 70 VIP passes remaining, which adds a pre-event party, meal voucher, and ticket for the cash-bar. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit www. omahazoo.com, n 50 SHADES OF GREEN AT GREY The Grey Plume located in Midtown Crossing has been recognized by The Daily Meal as America’s greenest restaurant. Your favorite place for local fare has been cooking up more than just in-season side dishes, but a fully earth-friendly business model. From menus printed on recycled soy paper to the top energy efficient dish washer, Grey Plume has the recipe for sustainability. To read the full list, go to: www.thedailymeal.com n DESIGNATED BIKER I often find myself wishing I could stroll through the Old Market and take in the beautiful views with my favorite cocktail in hand. I also wish I could indulge in a sweet libation without the guilt that always haunts me after a night of sugary spirits. Don’t set down that beer just yet, citizens! Patio Bar is here to save your summer nights! Mixing two of Omaha’s trademarks — excellent drinks and more excellent scenery — this 16 person biker bar (see what I did there?) comes with a captain to steer and a few dozen legs to keep it moving through downtown Omaha. A roof over your head, pedals at your feet, and Omaha stretching out before you. To find out more or to schedule your Patio Bar rental, visit www. omahapatioride.com. n LET THEM EAT CAKE The International Cake Exploration Societé welcomes all cake decorators and sugar art enthusiasts to its 40th annual convention July 30 through Aug. 2 at the CenturyLink Center for four days of demonstrations, exhibitions, hands-on classes and an amazing array of vendors from all over the globe. To register your own sugar art, visit www.icesconvention.org/omaha2015. — Sara Locke Crumbs is about indulging in food and celebrating its many forms. Send information about area food and drink businesses to crumbs@thereader.com.
Thursday, July 2 TD AMERITRADE COLLEGE HOME RUN DERBY TD Ameritrade Park, 1200 Mike Fahey Street 7:30 p.m., $8-12 www.collegehomerunderby.com The College World Series may be over, but the fun does not have to end, not yet anyway. The annual TD Ameri-
trade College Home Run Derby is a great way to end the CWS and kickoff your Fourth of July celebrations. Not only do you have the opportunity to see some amazing athletes killing it out there in a completely different atmosphere than your typical CWS game, but the end of the night is wrapped up with the Omaha World-Herald Independence Day fireworks display. It is interesting to watch the baseball players hit their hardest, attempting to win the most home runs and yet without the stress of the CWS they seem more relaxed and having fun. And you might even catch one of the home run soaring high baseballs. The fireworks are the icing on the cake, after all the excitement, the crowd is moved around and some travel down onto the grass. The lights go out and the music begins. Sit back with your family and friends, relax and enjoy the smell of hotdogs, cotton candy and fireworks. Baseball and fireworks, can’t get much more American than that. — Mara Wilson
Tuesday, July 7 STIR COVE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs, One Harrahs Blvd. Times and prices vary www.caesars.com/harrahs-council-bluffs Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs is really outdoing itself this summer with their Stir Cove Concert Series, which continues throughout July. To kick off the month, Rockstar’s Mayhem Festival will be hosting Slayer, King Diamond, The Devil wears Prada and Hellyeah on July 7. Little Big Town will be in our town July 10. The Roots, known for accompanying Jimmy Fallon from his “Late Night” gig to his “Tonight Show” gig, will be here July 18. The month will round out with British indie art-rockers Alt-J July 26, ‘90s grunge heroes Alice in Chains July 30, and “Take Me To Church” Irish singer Hozier July 31. Despite being at a casino, Stir Cove shows are all ages. Tickets are available on their website. — Ashley Bles
HOZIER
Friday, July 10 COX MUSIC AND MOVIES SERIES Holland Center Courtyard, 12th and Douglas Street 7:30 p.m., Free, www.omahaperformingarts.org Cox Music and Movies will be running Fridays this month. On July 10 it’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (G) with Michael Lyon and the Steve Thornberg Trio running sweet jazz and swing. On July 17 it’s The Lego Movie (PG) with 2015 OEAA Nominees Clark and Co. playing indie R&B for you. Finally, July 24 you can catch The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13) and blues rock veterans Blue House. The music starts at 7:30 p.m. and the movies start at dusk. It’s a rain or shine event that’s free to the public. — Ashley Bles Thursday, July 23-25 HULLABALOO MUSIC FESTIVAL Sokol Park, 905 Allied Road $20 Day / $60 Weekend www.hullabaloomusicfestival.com If you missed Lovefest in the Midwest last month, be sure to catch Hullabaloo Music Festival July 23-25 at Sokol Park in Bellevue. It will be 3 days of camping and music. Among the acts attending are Earphunk for the progressive funk fans, self-described “Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival/Electric Church” Kris Lager Band, EDM from Robert Delong and others and the unique “alternative Southern rap” of Nappy Roots. There will also be art installations, workshops on everything from yoga to pottery and nightly themes: Thrifty Thursday, Freaky Friday (complete with freak parade), Sinful Saturday, and Soul Salvation Sunday. Tickets are $60 for the weekend or $20 for a day pass. Kids 10 and under are free. — Ashley Bles Through July 31 POP MEETS STREET Modern Art Midtown, 3615 Dodge Street Gallery Hours: Tue.-Sat. 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. www.modernartsmidtown.com
picks
Group show Pop Meets Street promises a nod to looser, more flamboyant approaches in art this month. Echoing the provocative and sometimes sharp commentary found in 60’s Pop and 80’s Street Graffiti, MAM’s stable of artists have been charged with bringing in work that reflects this theme with energetic color, satire and irony. Jordan Weber, now in Des Moines, will show his L.A. Mural-style Pop Art work brought down to size (shown above), while Sioux City’s Paul Chelstad will offer New York City stencil approaches begun with his sojourn on the east coast “back in the day.” Zany 3D pieces will be offered by ceramicist Iggy Sumnik, amazing wooden pulltoys by Troy Muller and Jaime Burmeister’s “Vermin” will be in attendance. Both James Freeman and Lynn Piper promise an assortment of narrative characters. Pop approaches will be covered by Washington’s Tom Rierden (pinballs) and Sioux City Ben Pratt’s psychological Pop understatements. Omaha Street artist Brian Gennardo will finish the dance card with a powerful punch of paint. — Eddith Buis
“POP MEETS STREET” - PAINTING BY JORDAN WEBER
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Through August 17 STOCKAGE Garden of the Zodiac, 1054 Howard Street Gallery Hours: Tue.-Sat. noon-8:00 p.m., Sun. noon-6:00 p.m. www.facebook.com/TheGardenoftheZodiac
THANKYOU FOR BEING A FRIEND - PHOTO BY ROXANNE WACH
Luzia Simons, originally from Brazil, now living and working in Berlin, Germany, is a photo artist who is much less a “maker” or a “taker” as she is a “creator.” Simons belongs to a tradition of cameraless photography that includes early 20th century photograms as well as Man Ray’s self-titled “Rayographs.” But, while the above images were made largely by placing objects atop light-sensitive photographic papers, Simons creates her “scanograms” by layering floral arrangements directly on the bed of her scanner. The image may take hours, even days to scan and print to the monumental size she favors. Her exhibit Stockage is composed of five large, digital format scanograms, one smaller one in extreme close-up, a series of three glass-enclosed wall hangings of seeming scientific flora specimens and an imposing, beautifully rendered, floral folding screen. For more on this, check out the art page. — Michael J. Krainak
Through August 1 FEATURED ARTIST: ANN BURKHOLDER Connect Gallery, 3901 Leavenworth Street Opening Reception: Friday, July 17 5:30-9:00 p.m. Gallery Hours: Wed.-Sat. 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. www.connectgallery.net Owner of the Burkholder Project in Lincoln’s Haymarket, Ann Burkholder has been painting in oil—landscapes— for about 70 years. Born in the Nebraska Sand Hills, Burkholder’s focus has been on the horizon between earth and sky for her whole career. Field trips to various sites to photograph the big skies and changing Nebraska weather reference later paintings in the studio. The current series, “The Dark & Stormy,” is based on the Renaissance style of starting with a dark background and ‘painting to the light.’ — Eddith Buis Through August 2 THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND Shelterbelt Theatre, 3225 California Street Opens Friday, July 10 Thurs.-Sat.: 8:00 p.m. Sun: 2:00 p.m., $15-20 www.shelterbelt.org “Sumer Is Icumen In.” So goes a famed medieval English song (aka the “Cuckoo Song”) whose words are in the Wessex dialect. This summer hear and see no evil when another kind of sex takes over the stage sheltered from harm, seeded and shaded by Shelterbelt Theatre. It’s Thank You for Being a Friend, a cuckoo, deliberately gay musical. This trip to summer camp has a book by Nick Brennan, lyrics by Luke Jones and music by Jeff Thompson. Their show, you could say, is pretty far out. Subtitled The Unauthorized GOLDEN GIRLS musical it doesn’t so much replicate that iconic TV multi Emmy- Award- winning TV endurer as parody and spin off it. Note the title,
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whose notes come from the song which was the opener for the 1985 video debuter. In this instance the ladies, inevitably, are spending their golden years in Miami, FL. But gay superstar Ricky Martin moves in next door and hosts loud parties with his entourage. The girls are bugged. So they challenge the boys to square off against them to see who sings and dances best at the annual Shady Oaks Retirement Home Talent Show. Brennan says the idea emerged because close friends were obsessed with the Girls and that his, Jones and Thompson’s take in “dirty, irreverent, high-camp style” has a sentimental side. He also calls it “a tribute,” one which, as well, makes fun of gay life-styles. Does it get so close to the original source as to have men in suits pondering lawsuits on behalf of Susan Harris and other creators of those scripts? Not so far. Parody is protected by The Constitution, Brennan claims. “And no copyrighted material is used from the original.” So goes the centuries-old ditty “Bulluc sterte- bucke uerte” I.e. “The bullock is prancing, The billy-goat farting,” ‘nough said, eh? — Gordon Spencer
BRANDON BALLENGÉE: COLLAPSE
resents other such associations as ancient Egyptian burial tombs. The walls are lined with luminescent digital prints made by scanning various fish and other aquatic specimens then printed with watercolor inks onto watercolor paper. Finally, a video and a small wall installation complete the show.
— Janet L. Farber
Through October 10 BRANDON BALLENGÉE: COLLAPSE Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Gallery Hours: Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. www.bemiscenter.org New York resident Ballengée describes himself as an artist, biologist and social activist, as well as faculty member of the School of Visual Arts. On paper, his creds include a PhD in Ecological Understanding through Transdisciplinary Art and Participatory Biology. The centerpiece of the exhibition is a pyramid composed of stacked gallon-sized jars filled with aquatic specimens—26,162 of them representing 370 species—all dredged from the Gulf of Mexico postBP oil spill. Their science-like hierarchical arrangement based on the food chain also rep-
Through August 13 JAZZ ON THE GREEN Midtown Crossing’s Turner Park, 3102 Dodge St. 5 p.m., Free www.jazzonthegreenomaha.com Jazz on the Green at Midtown Crossing’s Turner Park starts up this month and runs through August 13. Beginning July 9 and running every Thursday, catch free jazz in the park thanks to Omaha Performing Arts. The music starts at 7:30 p.m. but you can grab your seat as early as 5:00 p.m. Food and drinks will be sold there and remember: Midtown Crossing offers free three hour parking at one of their three parking garages. — Ashley Bles
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ANN BURKHOLDER - WINTER STORM OVER STAGECOACH LAKE
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tourdeforce M
ost music fans at some time in their lives have traveled a few hundred miles to see a favorite band perform. But imagine having to travel three hours every time you wanted to simply see a rock show. That’s what Ryan Murphy does. The 29-year-old drove from his home in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to Boulder, Colorado, a couple weeks ago to see journeyman rocker Butch Walker. Making pilgrimages to larger cities to see original music performed is just part of living in rural, outstate Nebraska.
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music
Bringing Good Music to the Good Life State BY TIM MCMAHAN
“The opportunities are few and far between here to see a true rock show,” Murphy said. But this month, the rock show is coming to Murphy and to other culturally landlocked music lovers who call Western Nebraska home. It’s called The Good Living Tour. Produced by cultural non-profit organization Hear Nebraska, the first-of-its-kind project packs up bands from the Omaha and Lincoln areas and transports them to rural western communities, many of which have never seen a
rock show performed in their towns except by insipid cover bands. A total of 27 Nebraska bands are involved in the nine-day tour that starts July 17 in Imperial and ends eight towns later in Grand Island. For Hear Nebraska Executive Director Andrew Norman, the Good Living Tour is a dream come true. “I grew up in Imperial and I never saw anything like we’re bringing to these towns,” Norman said. “We had a county fair that brought in C-level national country bands, continued on page 38 y
W
The Backwaters Press Presents Susan Elbe and Todd Robinson
ant to change the future?
An Evening of Poetry Wednesday ant to change July 29 become a the future? 7:00 p.m.
W
become a
This free reading is held at UNO's Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (UNO campus, south of the Bell Tower) on the second floor This program is funded in part by Humanities Nebraska and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.
(We’ll save you a www.thebackwaterspress.com
seat.)
(We’ll save you a seat.)
W
ant to change the future? become a
402-930-3000 • mentor@p4k.org
(We’ll save you a seat.)
402-930-3000 • mentor@p4k.org
402-930-3000 • mentor@p4k.org
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y continued from page 36
but nothing interesting. When I discovered indie music and punk rock — bands that approached music in a different way — it blew my mind. I wish I could have seen (Omaha indie band) Cursive in the late ‘90s when I was in high school, but I missed out.” Norman said bringing local indie bands to the rest of the state has been an objective of Hear Nebraska since the organization formed five years ago. “Hear Nebraska purports to be a statewide organization that covers music news outside of Omaha and
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music
Lincoln, but it’s tough when your entire staff lives in those two cities.” So as part of the The Good Living Tour, Hear Nebraska staffers traveled to tour-stop communities weeks before the first concert to write feature stories and produce videos that capture the essence of each location while explaining why young professionals have chosen to live in rural communities where modern culture can be a scarce commodity. The stories and videos appear on the organization’s website, hearnebraska.org. Norman said towns were selected for tour stops after he presented the concept at a travel conference last October. “A number of representatives from some of the towns said they wanted to be part of it,” Norman said. Other towns, like Scottsbluff, were chosen because energetic organizations reached out. Murphy is the head of The Next Young Professionals, a group of 20- and 30-somethings “trying to buck the trend of people saying there’s nothing to do in this town. When the opportunity came up to get a Good Living tour stop in Scottsbluff, I chomped at the bit,” Murphy said. Norman said groups like Murphy’s helped finance the tour, along with grants from Humanities Nebraska, Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Corporate sponsors Pinnacle Bank and the Center for Rural Affairs also pitched in, along with media partner the Omaha World-Herald. Tour expenses include paying for travel, lodging, sound, production and staging, and of course, paying the bands, which were selected based on a number of criteria. “First, every band had to play original music,” Norman said. Each tour stop will feature three acts. “One band will be a group that plays music anyone would be able to recognize and ‘get,’ and who are among the best in the state at what they do.” Examples include bluesman Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers, pop act Rock Paper Dynamite and rockabilly band The Bottle Tops. “We also wanted a wildcard on each bill aimed at giving young people and kids something to expand their expectations, to say, ‘Holy shit, what is that? I want to hear more.’” Examples here include indie band See Through Dresses and hip-hop acts Both and M34N STR33T. A third band was selected for each show with ties to the community where the tour stop is taking place. Member
of the dream pop band blét are from Scottsbluff; singer/songwriter Dustin Prinz has roots in West Point, and a couple members of Simon Joyner and the Ghosts have called Grand Island home. Norman said the biggest challenge to pulling off the tour is attracting an audience for bands few if any in these towns have heard of. “Can we get people to come?” Norman asked. “We are approaching marketing in as many directions as we can, but we don’t necessarily have resources in each of these towns and aren’t sure the best way to reach the audience.” Their marketing strategy combines working with traditional media, canvasing social media and that good ol’ standby, distributing flyers. “Had I heard about something like this growing up in Imperial, I would have been there for sure,” Norman said. The tour’s end goal is more than just spreading culture to the outer reaches of the state. Norman said he hopes the tour can create new opportunities for bands traveling from Omaha to Denver. “It would serve Omaha and Lincoln bands if they didn’t have to drive eight hours between gigs, and instead had a viable places to play along the way,” Norman said. Places like Murphy’s Scottsbluff. “Living out here can feel like being in a different country,” he said. “We sometimes feel forgotten. So just being included in this tour has meant a lot to me and my friends.” , For more information, go to hearnebraska. org. Editor’s note: The author is a member of the Hear Nebraska Board of Directors.
Southwest Iowa
ART TOUR ©Zack Jones
Connecting Southwest Iowa communities through Art Saturday, September 19th 10am to 5pm Sunday, September 20th Noon to 4pm
Gathering P laces in… • Malvern • Macedonia • Red Oak
• Stanton • Clarinda • Shenandoah
• Glenwood • And other communtities
Like us on Facebook @ SWI Art Tour
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Get back to where you once belonged. | THE READER |
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FILM
Cinemacities
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“I
f you could live anywhere, where would you live?” While real-world answers are expected, that is not how my jib is cut, my friends. I like to provide answers that are a little more creative, if somewhat, kind of, completely impossible. Like, my first response may be “with Anna Kendrick.” My second response is likely to be a made-up city from the movies because it makes for far more engaging conversation than something like “Akron. I hear they have a decent public school system and really nice air quality.” So in the name of aboveaverage small talk, below is an arbitrary ranked list of the best fictional movie cities for you to use when asked this question. 10 – Castle Rock
Featured in: The Dead Zone, Cujo, Needful Things, Stand By Me You wouldn’t want to live in Castle Rock if it were actually possible to do so. Postcards
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The top 10 fictional movie locations B Y R YA N S Y R E K
sent from this fake town would read “Be glad you aren’t here!” Stephen King’s fictional locale in Maine is essentially the worst place on earth for people who prefer staying alive and not trafficking in the icky underbelly of supernatural terror. If you’re not confronting demon dogs or, you know, the devil, you’re finding random dead bodies. Oh, sure, things are always going to be interesting in ole Castle Rock, but you’re probably best staying away. Use this as an answer if you’re trying to impress a girl wearing black lipstick or a boy who once cosplayed as The Joker. 9 – Bedford Falls
Featured in: It’s a Wonderful Life If Bedford Falls were a real place, I’d like to think it would still be in black and white. This slice of Americana is pure old timey, small town adorable. Why, even the bankers are decent human beings! Plus, it’s worth wondering whether heaven is specifically keyed in on Bedford Falls. While Clarence
could coincidentally have been dispatched there, isn’t it worth wondering if the eyes of God linger over this one particular town? I’m just saying, if you’re trying to get people to move to your city, “you’ll be protected by an omniscient being and his legion of angels” is a pretty good selling point. 8 – Halloween Town
Featured in: The Nightmare Before Christmas Admittedly, there are going to be some drawbacks in turning into a Claymation version of yourself. You’ll have to diligently avoid the sun and have an incredibly high tolerance for Tim Burton…which means having an incredibly high tolerance for Johnny Depp… which means having an incredibly high tolerance for “jaunty hobo” fashion. That said, you’d also be able to belt out gleefully macabre songs written by the guy from Oingo Boingo, and I think that’s been a dream we’ve all had at one point or another, right? continued on page 44y
313 N. 13TH STREET / LINCOLN, NE
SHOWING IN JULY
Labyrinth 1986
Forever Young Family & Children’s Series
CALL OR CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR MOVIE TIMES AND PRICES
Summer 2015 A classic film series for kids of all kinds. June 25, 26, 27, 28, July 2, 4, 5 & 9 The Princess Bride 1987 (PG)
Aug 22, 23, 27, 29, 30 & Sept 3 Annie 1982 (PG)
July 11, 12, 16, 18, 19 & 23
Sept 5, 6, 10, 12, 13 & 17
July 25, 26, 30, Aug 1, 2 & 6 Willow 1988 (PG)
Sept 19, 20, 24, 26, 27 & Oct 1
Labyrinth 1986 (PG)
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure 1985 (PG) The NeverEnding Story 1984 (PG)
Aug 8, 9, 13, 15, 16 & 20
The Sound of Music 1965
Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater 1340 Mike Fahey St.
Series made possible with the support of Lincoln Financial Foudation
Info & tickets at filmstreams.org.
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y continued from page 42 7 – Metropolis
Featured in: Metropolis You already kind of live in Metropolis, insofar it is a place that is incredibly socioeconomically divided, with the wealthy elite lording over the toiling working class who suffer to keep the city running. So we already have the Marxist nightmare scenario, but you know what Metropolis has that we don’t: Robots! Actually, the German name for the robot used in the film, Maschinenmensch, is even better, as it literally means “Machine Human.” Way cooler than robot, right? “Run! The Machine Human is out of control!” Anyway, seeing as how we already live in a society that greases the wheel of capitalism with the tears of the lower classes, we may as well move to a place with Machine Humans. 6 – Whoville
Featured in: How the Grinch Stole Christmas Not pre-Grinch Whoville, where the upturned noses of pretentious Whos were turned away from the green and fuzzy Grinch, but post-Grinch Whoville, a bastion of inclusivity and Christmas joy. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to experience whatever horrible radioactive experiment and/or evolutionary development resulted in their goofy schnozzes and penchant for random hairstyles. But they do seem rather
happy and living there would give me an opportunity to convince an elephant he has early-onset dementia. 5 – The Shire
Featured in: The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit series The main objectives in The Shire appear to be (1) eating, (2) smoking out of longass pipes and (3) eating again. That is a solid way to live. Theoretically, after Frodo chucked the cursed jewelry into the volcano, there isn’t even a looming evil threatening to destroy the entire world any more. The only real hesitation I have here is that I’m not a big fan of people running around without shoes on, let alone catching sight of copious amounts of upper foot hair. Then again, maybe a few pulls off the ole Hobbit pipe would ease that concern. 4 – The Emerald City
Featured in: The Wizard of Oz, Oz the Great and Powerful Yes, there is a slight problem with flying monkeys. Yes, the Lollipop Guild will not quit singing that one damn song. No, you can’t be sure some witch-related mischief won’t go down. That said, have you seen the place? It’s fab! Plus, you can make friends with talking lions and other sentient beings who shouldn’t exist. If you set aside the possibility that your
‘cutting’room
n First off, you still have time to submit your films to Film Streams for their 2015 Local Filmmakers Showcase. Second, should you do so, you will be judged by bad asses. This year’s jury was just announced and if you’re an indie music fan, brace thineself. Sarah Bohling, Orenda Fink, Teal Gardner and several staffers at Saddle Creek Records will decide your film’s fate! I’m sure there’s something cooler than knowing rock stars watched your movie, I just can’t think of it right now. n Any time auteur Nicolas Windig Refn makes a movie, I’m in. Don’t care what it is. Don’t care who is in it. He’s one of a handful of directors who has my complete interest at all times. So while I’m all eager-beaver for his next work, The Neon Demon, Refn dropped some hints about his new-new project. He mentioned loose ideas for a Tokyo-set spy film called The Avenging Silence. And HOLY CRAP I WANT THAT MOVIE NOW. Then he went on to say some weird nonsense about how the Mads Mikkelsen character from Valhalla Rising, the Ryan Gosling character from Drive and Vithaya Pansringarm’s character in Only God Forgives are “the same character.” Oh Nicolas, you’re as crazy as the lack of H in your first name! n I loved The Babadook so hard. I don’t typically dig horror movies, but I loved that one so much I may have strained friendships by forcing people to watch it. I have been breathlessly awaiting what writer/director Jennifer Kent would do next. I was not let down by her choice. Next up is Alice + Freda Forever. Based on a non-fiction book set in the 1890s, the movie is about two young women who fall in love and wish to marry. Awww, that’s sweet! Kent is doing a love story about…wait something’s not right here. Oh, right, somebody kills somebody with a razor and one of them is declared insane. That seems more fitting. Regardless, I’m there! n Big news in citizenship this week, as Godzilla was officially made a citizen of Japan. That news again: Japan treats a fake rubber monster with more respect and dignity than we treat immigrant children. —Ryan Syrek Cutting Room provides breaking local and national movie news … complete with added sarcasm. Send any relevant information to film@thereader.com. Check out Ryan on Movieha!, a weekly half-hour movie podcast (movieha.libsyn.com/rss), catch him on the radio on CD 105.9 (cd1059.com) on Fridays at around 7:30 a.m. and on KVNO 90.7 (kvno.org) at 8:30 a.m. on Fridays and follow him on Twitter (twitter.com/thereaderfilm).
experience is actually a near-death experience or hallucination, Emerald City offers gorgeous visuals, a diverse population, and a not insignificant amount of random magic! 3 – Cloud City
Featured in: The Empire Strikes Back Run by the sexist mofo to ever knock back a Colt 45, Cloud City is not misnamed. It is a city. It is in the frickin’ clouds. It’s hard to top that view. Stacked with tons of Machine Humans, Cloud City also seems to be relatively free from the ongoing war between rebels and The Empire. There is a slight risk of accidentally falling to your death, but who doesn’t want a little adventure? A trip to the mailbox could mean your untimely demise in the wrong weather pattern, but that’s part of the thrill! Sidenote: If Lando Calrissian is not running Cloud City, living there is associated with 75% less swagger. 2 – Gotham City
Featured in: Every Batman movie If you want to live in a crime-infested, gothic urban nightmare haunted by a hero who thrives on fear, this is the spot for you! Populated with psychotic murderers, corrupt police and a general public who almost all had to have been a henchperson at one point,
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the thrill of living in Gotham would have to be immense. Surviving a single day in the hell of endless night would feel like such an accomplishment. Plus, did I mention sometimes Superman swings by to say hi? Risking death from a toxic gas released by a howling madman seems like it would be worth it on the off chance you get to see a killer superhero crossover. 1 – Shermer, Illinois
Featured in: Many, many John Hughes movies If you didn’t see this one coming, shame on you for not suffering the same crippling ’80s nostalgia as most people. Shermer is just your average midwestern town, except you’re likely to see Molly Ringwald. From Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to The Breakfast Club, we all kind of grew up in Shermer, didn’t we? The heart-warming, laugh-inspiring world of Hughes felt all the more real because this fictional place united so much of his work. Long before Marvel made a bajillion bucks with a “unified world,” we could giggle that Samantha from Sixteen Candles knew Ferris Bueller. When it comes to made-up movie cities, it doesn’t get any better than Shermer, Illinois. ,
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WEDNESDAY JULY 1 The Brits THURSDAY JULY 2 Cuban Missile Crisis FRIDAY JULY 3 Hot 2 Trott MONDAY JULY 6 Gooch & his Las Vegas Big Band TUESDAY JULY 7 Billy Troy WEDNESDAY JULY 8 Bozak & Morrissey THURSDAY JULY 9 Bourbon Street & Shades of Brown Reunion FRIDAY JULY 10 The 402
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MONDAY JULY 13 Gooch & his Las Vegas Big Band TUESDAY JULY 14 Scott Evans WEDNESDAY JULY 15 LeGrand & Company THURSDAY JULY 16 Jules & Joe Band FRIDAY JULY 17 Adley Stump (The Voice) Party SATURDAY JULY 18 Bozak & Morrissey MONDAY JULY 20 Gooch & his Las Vegas Big Band TUESDAY JULY 21 Billy Troy
WEDNESDAY JULY 22 Bill Chrastil THURSDAY JULY 23 Knucklehead FRIDAY JULY 24 On The Fritz SATURDAY JULY 25 Outlaw Road MONDAY JULY 27 Gooch & his Las Vegas Big Band WEDNESDAY JULY 29 The Grease Band THURSDAY JULY 30 Far & Wide FRIDAY JULY 31 Taxi Driver SATURDAY AUGUST 1 Rough Cut
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out more about Trout’s “I’m Back” tour check out waltertrout.com. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com. The event takes place under the pavilion tent on the River City Star grounds, 151 Freedom Park Road, down on the riverfront. It will be a great day of blues, rain or shine. For complete details and other artists on the bill look for the event poster at facebook.com/BluesSocietyOfOmaha.
hoodoo
HOODOO focuses on blues, roots, Americana and occasional other music styles with an emphasis on live music performances. Hoodoo columnist B.J. Huchtemann is a senior contributing writer and veteran music journalist who received the Blues Foundation’s 2015 Keeping the Blues Alive Award for Journalism. Follow her blog at hoodoorootsblues.blogspot.
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incoln’s Zoo Bar celebrates their 42nd anniversary with a week-long event. Friday and Saturday, July 10 and 11, the outdoor festival heats up in front of the club on 14th Street. The Zoo Bar is one of the nation’s oldest and most historic blues venues. Headlining the outdoor stage Friday, July 10, 9 p.m., is New Orleans soul-blues legend Irma Thomas. The city itself has named Thomas the Soul Queen of New Orleans. Her storied career has won her fans around the world who hold her in the same regard as more mainstream artists like Aretha Franklin and Etta James. The Grammy-award winning vocalist is celebrating 50 years as an entertainer with a special 50th Anniversary Collection CD of her most popular songs. Take a look at her iconic accomplishments at irmathomas.com. Arkansas-based Earl Cate’s Earl & Them kicks things off at 5 p.m. Friday. Up-and-coming Alligator guitarist Selwyn Birchwood plugs in at 7 p.m. Josh Hoyer & The Shadowboxers bring it all to a rousing close with an 11 p.m. set. Saturday, July 11, the lineup includes blues supergroup Mark Hummel, Anson Funderburgh and Little Charlie Baty performing with their Golden State/Lone-Star Revue at 7 p.m. Saturday also includes the always-incendiary Carolyn Wonderland (5 p.m.), Kris Lager Band 9 p.m. and AZP (11 p.m.) Afternoon sets from The Bottle-
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A veteran of 25 years on the local scene, Omaha blues band Blue House with the Rent to Own Horns celebrates the release of At The Pit July 11, 7-11 p.m. at Waterloo’s Dog House Saloon. See bluehouseblues.com. The remarkable chemistry of Blind Pig recording artists Peter Karp and Sue Foley does not get spotlighted enough on local stages. They play a special free show at The Dog House Saloon on July 5, 5 p.m. Check out their music at karpfoley.com. There are just too many great shows going on this month to cover here, including The 21st Saloon matinees and other great shows. Don’t miss out. Please remember to check out the digital-only Hoodoo updates online weekly at thereader.com for more highlights and recommendations. ,
Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Celebrates 42 Years of Blues, Jon Dee Graham Plugs In, Walter Trout Returns BY B.J. HUCHTEMANN
tops (1 p.m.) and Tijuana Gigolos (3 p.m.) round out Saturday’s schedule. The indoor schedule is still shaping up as we hit the print deadline. Check zoobar.com for further details and set times. Hoodoo hero Jon Dee Graham & The Fighting Cocks are confirmed for a rare full-band gig Tuesday, July 7. Graham is a writer of life-changing songs and a guitarist of rare ferociousness. He is a three-time inductee into the Austin Music Hall of Fame and an act not to be missed. Donate Life Blues Fest
Playing With Fire and the Blues Society of Omaha join forces with Donate Life Nebraska to welcome acclaimed blues-rock guitarist Walter Trout back to Nebraska. The Donate Life Blues Fest, Sunday, July 26, marks Trout’s first performance in Nebraska since he received a life-saving liver transplant at the Lied Transplant Center in May 2014. Trout has resumed touring, kicking off his return with a June 15 show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The Walter Trout Band performs July 26 along with multiple Blues Music Award winners and soulful blues-rock slingers the Tommy Castro & The Painkillers. The event benefits Donate Life Nebraska and is an effort to encourage awareness for the extreme need for organ donors. See donatelifenebraska.com for more information on the importance of organ donation or to sign up to be an organ donor. To find
hoodoo
KarpFoley:
Peter Karp & Sue Foley’s Karp-Foley Band make a rare area appearance at Waterloo’s Dog House Saloon Sunday, July 5, 5 p.m.
JESKA BAILEY
CHIP DUDEN
Walter Trout and his blistering blues guitar are back in Omaha Sunday, July 26, after a June 15 return to the stage at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
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Hot Notes
JULY SHOWS JULY 1-3, 5 JUSTIN LEON
Justin Leon has spent the last ten years working the road and sharpening an act that is based on his life and yours, spending less time on our differences and more on what we have in common, Justin observes the world in a way that everyone can relate. Mainstream or urban, audiences agree, spending some time with Justin Leon is like sitting on the couch with a friend laughing about your day, your family, and your life.
JULY 9-12
PETE CORREALE
JULY 16
OMAHA’S CLASH OF THE COMICS
Honing his stand-up act for nearly two decades in New York City as well as clubs across the country, Pete Correale’s humor connects so strongly because it’s reality-based comedy that comes from the scenarios he encounters in his own life. As he puts it, “If it happened to me, it happened to someone else.” In 2010 Entertainment Weekly named him One of the Top 10 Comics to Watch and in 2013 he filmed a reality show sitcom pilot for A&E and Ryan Seacrest Productions.
Local and regional comedian’s give the best 5 they have - winner at the end of the evening gets a one night paid spot in front of a nationally touring headliner right here at the Funny Bone!
JULY 16-19 RYAN HAMILTON
Ryan is endearing comedy lovers, and his future is bright. Named one of Rolling Stone’s Five Comics to Watch with standout appearances on Conan, The Late Late show, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, and Showtime, he’s establishing himself as one of the nation’s favorite stand-ups.
JULY 23-26
JIM FLORENTINE
JULY 29
RODNEY PERRY SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT
Florentine has made dozens of appearances on the Howard Stern Show. His two characters on Comedy Central, “Special Ed” and “Bobby Fletcher” have become cult stars. Jim appeared as “Special Ed” along with International megastar Eminem to present an award at the 2003 MTV Music Awards and has achieved headline status at comedy clubs throughout the country, numerous commercials, and even two top selling comedic albums.
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The Omaha Weekly Reader 07-01-15_09-01-15.indd 1
6/19/15 3:11 PM
The term “gotta laugh to keep from crying” could easily be any comedian’s mantra but for one Louisiana transplant, the tracks of his tears have been a passionate journey to the top of his game which has led him to laugh out loud at all his naysayers. Perry would find the infancies of his comedy career, as a rambunctious seven year old. His teacher noticed his funny nature and made a deal with him. If he would “shut up through the class” he would be given an opportunity to perform for his classmates at the end of the day. Rodney took his teacher up on that deal. This was the beginning.
JULY 30-AUG 2 IAN BAGG
After moving to New York City, he quickly became a regular at all the major comedy clubs. He’s added credits like NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, CBS’s “Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn” and “The Craig Ferguson Show”, a half hour HBO comedy special, “A Comic’s Climb” and “Comedy Central Presents Ian Bagg” (leading him to dating Britney Spears for three days).
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JULY 2015
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overtheedge
summerbest I
The Mid-Year Indie Rock Report BY TIM MCMAHAN
I used to write these CD review wrap-ups on a quarterly basis, but now that The Reader has gone monthly I’ve pulled back to doing them just twice a year. As a result, there’s a ton more recordings to consider. In fact, so far 2015 has been a benchmark year for new music, at least from an indie perspective. There have been more quality indie records released at this point in the year than any other year I can remember. With that in mind, I’m making this hard on you. I’m listing as many albums worth checking out as I can squeeze into this column, along with a one-sentence review. Find them in your favorite record store or check them out on Spotify and decide for yourself if they’re worth the investment. I think they are. And please, enjoy the rest of your summer. Belle & Sebastian, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance (Matador) — Better than the pundits have been telling you, if you’re a fan, it’s worth the acquisition, especially for the kicky dance tunes. Courtney Barnett, Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit (Mom + Pop) — The follow-up ain’t as strong as the debut, but it’s still better than almost anything else released so far this year. John Klemmensen and the Party, self titled (self release) — John is one of Omaha’s secret weapons, a singer/ songwriter rockstar who puts his heart on his sleeve and leaves it bleeding all over the stage. Simon Joyner, Grass Branch & Bone (Woodsist)— We’ll point to this one in a few years as being a career-definer for Omaha’s best songwriter (sorry, Conor, but it’s true). Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell (Asthmatic Kitty)— Get out the Kleenix, this is weepy music about loss and death and stuff that hurts when you listen to it, but is beautiful as hell. The Fireworks, Switch Me On (Shelflife) — Probably the best indie “rock” album released so far this year, its Ramones/Jesus and Mary Chain-infused riffs are righteously infectious. Find it. Matt Whipkey, Underwater (self-release) — Matt’s at his best when Matt’s singing about himself, a topic he knows oh so well. Get it on vinyl. Various Artists, Hear Nebraska Vol. 3 (self-release) — Consider it a compilation of the best Nebraska music from the previous year, because it is. Collect them all. Reptar, Lurid Glow (Joyful Noise) — Sort of local, sort of a modern-day Oingo Boingo. Quirky fun. Sam Martin, A Motion in An Ocean (Make Believe) — He’s the guy you don’t want to live vicariously through because you could wind up dead or worse, but you’d always have a good story to tell.
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Calexico, Edge of the Sun (Anti-) — A return to form for a band that’s been doing it since the ‘90s, and doing it well. Clarence Tilton, self titled (Need-a-Nail) — Easily among the best songwriter records released ‘round these parts; this alt-country album will be on your year-end “best of” list. Twinsmith, Alligator Years (Saddle Creek) — Impressive debut by some local heroes who are forging their own path by way of Vampire Weekend. Hop Along, Painted Shut (Saddle Creek) — The best non-Omaha band Saddle Creek has signed since Jenny “Rilo Kiley” Lewis. Digital Leather, All Faded (FDH)— I’m a sucker for this guy’s synth-fueled navel-gazing rock that is, indeed, loud as shit. Desaparecidos, Payola (Epitaph) — More than a decade in the making, it was worth the wait if only because the world desperately needs someone to rage against the machine. Waxahatchee, Ivy Tripp (Merge) — The women are making the best indie rock these days, and this is yet another example. Matthew E. White, Fresh Blood (Domino)— A ‘70s throwback sort of, White’s music sounds dated in a Blood Sweat and Tears sort of way, which is a good way. Icky Blossoms, Mask (Saddle Creek) — Blondie would be proud of this follow-up that’s more electro-clash than electro-dance. Let the party begin. Freedy Johnston, Neon Repairman — The best New York-by-wayof-Kansas singer/songwriter that you never heard of (or have forgotten) is back and better than ever. Jamie XX, In Colour (Young Turks) — They’re calling it the dance album of the year; I say the jury is still out, though he knows how to craft them beats. Domestica, Domestica 3 (Tremulant) — Heidi (finally) gets some company on the mic from her guitar-slinging hubby who is (almost) as good as his wife. Death Cab for Cutie, Kintsugi (Atlantic) — Remember when these guys were relevant? Well, they almost are again. The Decemberists, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (Capitol)— Not as good as the last one by a long shot, but still worth checking out if only for Colin Meloy’s somber bray. Father John Misty, I Love You, Honeybear (Sub Pop) — A sleepy album with enough beauty to make it more interesting than boring. Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly (Interscope) — The only hiphop album I’ve paid attention to this year, and the only one worth owning. Modest Mouse, Strangers to Ourselves (Epic) — They’ll never be as weird or interesting as they were when they were young, but who cares? Natalie Prass, self-titled (Spacebomb)— Another throwback to ‘70s baroque, this may be the most starkly beautiful record of the year. Sun Kil Moon, Universal Themes (Caldo Verde) — After Benji we all thought he was a genius; after this one we all think he’s crazy. Wolf Alice, My Love Is Cool (Dirty Hit) — The last album I listened to before writing this column is a great way to start your summer. , Over The Edge is a monthly column by Reader senior contributing writer Tim McMahan focused on culture, society, music, the media and the arts. Email Tim at tim.mcmahan@gmail.com
| THE READER |
JULY 2015
49
Yesterdayʼs Foods — Today!
The future of restaurants is to be found in the past: A popular trend in the next decade will be new restaurants that recreate the complete menu of long out-of-business restaurants of the past. The restaurants will go so far as to recreate the decor and the costumes worn by waiters and waitresses. Some of these will be very old menus, dating back to the turn of the century or further, but some will recreate foods enjoyed in the 80s or 90s. This will involve a process called “forensic cooking,” in which chefs will track down old recipe books and former employees to determine precisely how foods were made, and will sometimes even include bringing in former patrons for taste tests to see if the menu tastes like it should. Similarly, there will be a movement to revive locally made beers, hard liquor, and soda pop from previous generations, often by locating still-unopened bottles of the stuff and then performing complex chemical analysis to determine the way these past drinks were made. Soon, anybody who wants will be able to enjoy the foods of the past, just by going to a local restaurant!
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The Invaders
There are more than 50,000 aliens living among us now, passing themselves off as ordinary people and living ordinary lives. But they are deep cover agents for a slow, invisible invasion. These are not aliens from another world, but instead from an alternate dimension. This world is very like our own, but destroyed by a thousand years of war and quickly dying. This invasion has been planned for 50 years, since technology was developed that opens a hole to our dimension. They have studied us and learned our languages and ways. They have forged documents so that they can seem like they have always been here, and, over the next decade, all of them will leave their world and join ours, hoping for a second chance at life that their ruined world could not offer them. You will not know them. They may be future lovers or spouses. They may teach your children. They may run for office. They may write your books or act in your movies. But they will always remember, and share the stories of their lost
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world with their children and their childrenʼs children, passed on as a cautionary fable.
Thinner
The next trend in food will be something called “decalorization” -- the opposite of our current trend to provide food with as many calories in them as possible. Instead, vending machines will offer food with miniscule calorie counts, and food scientists will seek to make existing foods less caloric. Chemical processes will develop that will prevent the human body from effectively making use of calories in food, which will mean that we will be able to eat the same amount of the same sorts of food, but take in a much smaller amount of calories. The result of this will be a reversal of a national trend toward weight gain. Indeed, some people will find it hard to get enough calories for their daily needs and will rely on supplements. The average American weight will decrease by 20 percent or more, and Americans, as a whole, will become a thin people; sometimes dangerously so, as it will be found that being below a certain target weight can be as dangerous as being too heavy.
I Wanna Ramble
Thanks to wearable devices like the FitBit that encourage users to walk long distances, American will soon adopt the English tradition of rambling. More than just a long hike, a ramble is a leisurely walk, but one with special laws applied to it. There is the right of way, in which walkers are given priority in traffic situations, and the right to roam, which allows ramblers to walk on privately owned but uncultivated land. This allows ramblers to walk long distances, often in unexpected places, with impugnity. These sorts of public hikes will become so popular that trails will develop, even in urban settings, where it will be common to see ramblers at all hours. These trails will develop intro greenways — special walking and biking paths bounded by scenic greenery. The average American city will have dozens or even hundreds of these, carving unique and enjoyable walking paths talong unexpected routes through the city. For more on these predictions and others by Dr. Mysterian visit www.thereader.com.
“WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC JULY 2
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ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL FEAT. SLAYER, KING DIAMOND & MORE JULY 7
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HOZIER WITH DAWES
ALABAMA SHAKES WITH BELLE ADAIR
SLIGHTLY STOOPID WITH DIRTY HEADS AND THE EXPENDABLES
SEPTEMBER 10
BILLY IDOL
LITTLE BIG TOWN WITH DAVID NAIL AND ASHLEY MONROE
AUGUST 1
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