FFP Omaha: Abortion Impact, Housing Lawsuit, Bart’s Arts

Hey Omaha,

I hope you’re getting ready for a brain-clearing, informational detox this Fourth of July weekend. Tomorrow I’m off to Humboldt to celebrate and learn about the 150-year history of my girlfriend’s family farm. As someone who grew up just about anywhere in the US but Cincinnati, the sense of place and pride of so many Nebraskans is one of the things I love most about living here.

One thing I WILL NOT be doing is watching Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, which has severed ties with meat and bun inhalation champion Joey Chestnut. Justice for Joey!

Before the holidays, we have a few stories for you that are worth reading.

Impact of abortion law

Abortions in Nebraska have fallen by 24% since a state law made the procedure illegal after 12 weeks. Anti-abortion advocates say the law saves lives. Others say it burdens people who are already facing an incredibly difficult decision. That’s the experience of an Omaha mother interviewed by Yanqi Xu. The mother learned her pregnancy had serious complications at 12 weeks and had to leave the state and spend a lot of money to get an abortion.

Public Housing Court Case
Jeremy has been tipped off about a class action lawsuit filed against the Omaha Housing Authority, alleging that the organization has violated tenant rights for years. Since arriving in Omaha last year, Jeremy has written extensively about the OHA and allegations that it has overcharged residents, denied them the right to challenge rent increases, and evicted them when they can’t pay. Stay tuned, we’ll be following this.

— Chris BowlingFlatwater Free Press

Hey everyone! Bart here, back with some awesome ways you can connect with the metro’s burgeoning visual arts scene this July, including graffiti artists embracing technology, an international print show so big it needs two seats to fit, and more.

July Benson First Friday
For 14 years, Benson First Friday has dominated Omaha’s monthly event. This Friday, discover the Benson Creative District’s outdoor art fair, art gallery openings, concerts, open studios, and countless other cultural events! See you there!
When: Friday, July 5, 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Where: Benson Creative District, 6109 Military Ave.

Point of View: Gregory D. Brown and Annie Troe
Since 1975, Artists’ Cooperative has been an Old Market art gallery. My interest was piqued by the upcoming exhibition of two internationally renowned artists, one who works in photography and the other in vivid, representational paintings.
When: Vernissage July 5, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Tuesday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Wednesday-Thursday 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Friday-Saturday 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Where: Art Cooperative Gallery, 405 S. 11th St.

Immateriality and Digital Art: Stephen Kavanaugh and Evan Major
Project Project brings us this thought-provoking, experimental exhibition again. I know Kavanaugh from Omaha and Major from Brooklyn from their murals, paintings, and graffiti-style sculptures. This time, the organizers will use the gallery space to challenge our conventions about what art is in an age where most of our image consumption is digital.
When: The vernissage will take place on Friday, July 12 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.; on Thursday-Friday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. (approximately) or by prior arrangement.
Where: Design Design, 1818 Vinton St.

Dances with Colors: Darlys VandeVoort and Michelle Daisley Moffitt
These two painters speak my language, carefully selecting representational and abstract works that work together through color, texture, pattern, and form!
When: Opening on Friday, July 12, 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Hot Shops Arts Center, 1301 Nicholas St.

That Art Boy: Jahmai Brown
As someone who is new to Brown’s work, I am excited to discover how this versatile artist uses unusual materials to create works of art that explore personal themes.
When: Exhibition opening on Saturday, July 13, 1:00–7:00 p.m.; Gallery opening hours: Monday–Friday: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Saturday: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Where: Hot Shops Arts Center, 1301 Nicholas St.

Solo: Susan Puelz and Earth Sense: Patty Scarborough
Anderson O’Brien has been exhibiting modern and contemporary work by regional and national artists since 1980. Their current exhibitions explore the landscape painting traditions of two different painters. Compare and contrast how Puelz and Scarborough explore the genre through their own distinct styles!
When: Until July 27, Wednesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. or by appointment.
Where: Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, 3220 Farnam St., Suite 2101

Surface Impressions at Constellation Studios and Lux ​​Center
Although this international exhibition is not located in the Omaha metropolitan area itself, I felt it was worth mentioning. The exhibition is produced by two Nebraska arts organizations that I love and have had the pleasure of working with. Constellation Studios and LUX Center for the Arts present us with the third biennial edition of “Surface Impression.” This exhibition is so large that it is held simultaneously in both locations, showing 75 contemporary relief prints from around the world in the heart of Nebraska.
When: Until August 31, Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-17:00
Where: Constellation Studios, 2055 O St., Lincoln; and LUX Center for the Arts, 2601 N. 48th St., Lincoln

— Bart Vargas is a visual artist, educator, and advocate based in Omaha, Nebraska. He posts a weekly list of local arts, culture, and entertainment events on social media and runs an international studio with his wife, Bekah Jerde.

The June 27 Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority board meeting saw key resolutions to expand public transit, including unanimous approval of a contract for 26 new buses and a strategic workforce expansion. Discover the full scope of these initiatives and how they aim to transform Metro’s public transit landscape in our summary. You can also read the full meeting notes.

Want to help inform your community and create better journalism while getting paid? Become a documentary filmmaker today.

— Leah Wambui Keinama, Director of Citizen Journalism

On the Fourth of July, my family and I will be proud to be part of the JE George Parade. This is the 74th year of the parade—the longest running in Omaha—and it is full of candy, elaborate costumes, and floats. Personally, I am looking forward to the dog costume contest. If it is not too hot, my parents’ miniature Bernedoodle, Wally, will probably be one of the competitors, wearing some red, white, and blue.

— Libby SelineFlatwater Free Press

Flooding continues to affect residents of Omaha and Council Bluff along the Missouri River, WOWT reports. In related news you probably don’t want to think about, Omaha released millions of gallons of sewage into the river because city workers couldn’t get to the pump station, according to The World-Herald. Swimmers and boaters should stay away from the river for a while, officials warn.

One of Omaha’s top college athletes will be wearing the green and white next season. The defending champion Boston Celtics selected Creighton basketball star Baylor Scheierman in the first round of the NBA draft last week. The Boston area is thrilled to have landed the sharpshooter from Aurora, according to Bleacher Report.

The rematch between U.S. Rep. Don Bacon and state Sen. Tony Vargas for Omaha’s 2nd Congressional District is shaping up to be a costly one, with the campaign finance departments of the national Democratic and Republican parties pouring in more than $1 million in ad buys, reports Aaron Sanderford of the Nebraska Examiner.

Omaha police say two men shot by officers in South Omaha earlier this year had cocaine in a hidden compartment of their car, KETV reported. OPD said it has made multiple arrests and seized significant amounts of drugs and cash as part of the ongoing investigation.

Several Tennessee baseball fans went from acquaintances to friends after flight delays forced them to make a 13-hour trip to Omaha for the College World Series. The impromptu trip allowed Knoxville residents to watch the Vols win their first national title, wrote Knoxville News Sentinel columnist John Adams.

Flatwater Free Press is published by the Nebraska Journalism Trust, a 501(c)(3) public charity