“Conversations on a Bus” peaks Sept. 7 at its public gallery opening at Omaha Metro Headquarters, 2222 Cuming St. Photographers Hooton Images brought this photo essay and interview project to fruition with curating aid from poet Sarah McKinstry-Brown and support from Omaha Creative Institute, Nebraska Humanities Council and Nebraska Arts Council. The show features 20 photos with interviews adjacent. The photographers conducted the interviews throughout July. An after party at House of Loom will resume the celebration starting at 9p.m. conversationsonabus.wordpress.com.
Benson First Friday on the prowl for the fourth time with a nude mud wrestling tournament compliments of the SWEATSHOP Gallery (ROID RAGE RUMBLE with live music and beer provided by Upstream). New editions: a poetry reading at Barley Street Tavern with Dylan Thaemert and Paul Hanson Clark; “Stick Out Your Tongue” dosha diagnosis at Omaha Yoga and Bodywork Center. And visual art: PETSHOP opens an exhibit of work by Tyler Chickinelli and Evan Crown; The Sydney has sculpture by Mark Goodwin; Benson Theatre Project hosts a slew of artists in their ‘Handmade Omaha Artists’ Market;’ Star Deli hosts artists Laurie Sewell, James Drake, Melanie Caudillo, Maggie Svoboda and Bryan Miller in “UnEarthed.” Facebook.com/bensonfirstfriday.
Bemis Sept. First Thursday Art Talk brings current artists-in-residence Chinatsu Ikeda (painting), Karen Irmer (photographs) and Meredith James (installation/sculpture) out of their studios for a free presentation. Sept. 6, 7pm at Bemis Center. Bemiscenter.org.
Sept. 7 Dundee Gallery opens a Paula Wallace solo show “Every Picture Tells a Story.” The painter who works out of Hot Shops exhibits her mostly figurative fanciful work connected via narrative with color, lines, themes of life and literature. The artist will give a reading Sept. 23, 3pm at the Gallery for the closing of the show. dundeegallery.com.
At Joslyn Art Museum Sept. 8, photographer Mark Ruwedel and University of Florida Professor of Art History Glenn Willumson present “Andrew J. Russell: Then & Now,” about the photographic history of the transcontinental railroad and influence of Russell to coincide with the exhibit, “The Great West Illustrated: Celebrating 150 Years of the Union Pacific Railroad” and “Mark Ruwedel: The Great West Revisited.” Joslyn.org.