Lincoln’s Haydon Art Center closed July 29 after more than 15 years, due to recent cutbacks in art funding. “We appreciate all of the support that everyone in the community has given us over the years,” said Haydon Board President Kate McCown. According to the Galley blog, the directors’ plan to complete the 2011 exhibitions in the Lincoln community; those interested in hosting, email infohaydon@windstream.net.
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts just received note of $100,000-plus in grant funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation, Iowa West Foundation, Nebraska Arts Council and Peter Kiewit Foundation, to support projects such as a public art installation in Council Bluffs and a new website. Bemis current artists-in-residence Lucrecia Troncoso (installation), Lisa Iglesias (graphite drawing), and Sophie Barbasch (photography) present the First Thursday Art Talk August 4, 7 p.m.
Artist Kirk Vaughn-Robinson won the Emerging Artist Award from the Artists’ Cooperative Gallery. The figurative sculptor will have a three-month mentorship with professional artists, learn about gallery operation and show in a gallery exhibit. Opening Friday at the Co-Op is Eclectic Visions, featuring painters Carol Ellington, Dona Golden, Virginia Ocken and Duane Adams.
August 5 the Hardware Gallery closes Fuck Up Screenprint Show offering one-of-a-kind mono-prints by over 20 international artists from Chicago to Quebec to Australia. Fup.tumblr.com
In Lincoln, Tugboat Gallery’s Big Ten featuring Mike Scheef and J.Lynn Batten opens. Drawer, printmaker and nontraditional artist Scheef debuts his book, EMZ Book Two. It examines art world politics, creativity and celebrity. Batten’s mixed media work explores the dichotomy between self-expression and mass-communication. LUX Center hosts Free Community Arts Afternoon August 7, with live music and art projects for children and adults, luxcenter.org.
August 8 and 9, the Nebraska Arts Council hosts free grant writing workshops at the NAC offices. NAC staff members provide specifics on writing competitive applications for NAC funding. Sessions in Lincoln and Norfolk on Aug. 11 and 23. Nebraskaartscouncil.org.