TCD Gallery Features American Quilts

UNL's Textiles, Clothing and Design Gallery is featuring a variety of American quilts in an exhibition, American Quilts: A Century of Change, 1800-1900, opening March 16 at the gallery, located in the Home Economics Building on UNL's East Campus. Above left is an example of a colorfast red dyeing process, "Turkey red," available during the 1830s. The process started a trend in red-and-green applique and pieced quilts. At right, an example of block printing, among the oldest fabric-printing techniques.

Pottery Works Focus of New Sheldon Exhibit

The Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery is presenting a special exhibition -- Pots, Plates, Vessels and Vases -- drawn from the gallery's permanent collection.

This exhibition surveys the development of the media of ceramics from detailed china-painted Victorian-era vases through the art nouveau movement from the turn of the century to more contemporary expressions by internationally-known artists Pablo Picasso and Peter Voulkos.

Ceramics, primarily for utilitarian use, have been around since the beginning of time. However, this exhibition focuses on the more recent development and changing aesthetics of the media.

Two primary American art pottery workshops which were instrumental in transforming the ceramic media into an artistic expression are Artus Van Briggle of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Grueby Pottery of Boston, Mass. This exhibition includes prime examples from these workshops that reflect aesthetics of the Arts and Craft Movement.

The tradition of decorative utilitarian pottery of Native America is represented by Native American Maria Martinez, who revitalized the use of ancient motifs and designs and the recent contemporary expressions of Helen Naha, a Hopi. Former UNL Department of Art and Art History faculty members, David Seyler and Tom Sheffield, and current professor Gail Kendall also are represented in the exhibition. The vessel as a sculptural expression is well represented in several works including plates by Pablo Picasso, West Coast artists Peter Voulkos and Peter Shire, and ceramic sculptor Jun Kaneko of Omaha.

The exhibition was curated by George Neubert, director of Sheldon Gallery, with the assistance of Kelly Smithey, a student intern through the University's Department of Art and Art History.

Irish Folk Music Groups to Share Lied Stage

One of the most popular folk groups of Ireland, the Clancy Brothers, will join Irish-American ensemble Cherish the Ladies for an evening of traditional song and dance at the Lied Center for Performing Arts at 8 p.m. March 23.

Recognized as the most popular force in Irish entertainment for the past three decades, the Clancy Brothers are enjoying a new surge of popularity. The three brothers -- Pat, Bobby and Liam Clancy -- have recently been joined by their breathtaking renderings of traditional Irish songs. At their Lied Center performance, the Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell will perform selections such as When the Ship Comes In, Lily Marlene, Galay Races and Those Were the Days.

Cherish the Ladies, the premier all-women Irish-American ensemble, will open the evening with their exciting mix of music, song and dance. Although all of the members were born in America except for singer/guitarist Aoife Clancy (whose father is one of the Clancy Brothers), each had a strong Irish heritage that led them to study Irish music and instrumentation. Cherish the Ladies performs both traditional airs and dance tunes, as well as new songs.

Besides the eight instrumentalists, Cherish the Ladies also includes two traditional step dancers. At the Lied Center performance, the award-winning brother-and-sister team of Eileen and Donny Golden will demonstrate hornpipes, reels, strathspey dances and other traditional steps.

Two pre-performance talks will be given at the Lied Center's Steinhart Room. Long-time fan of Irish music Paul McCue, president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and self-titled "Irishman in Good Standing," will offer his insights 55 minutes before the performance and again at 30 minutes before curtain.

Tickets are $24, $20 and $16; half-price for those 18 and under or UNL, Wesleyan and Doane students who present identification. Target Treatseats discount coupons are available at participating Target stores.

The Lied Center box office is open for walk-in sales on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 90 minutes before the performance. Phone orders may be place by dialing 2-4747 or 800-432-3231.

Lied Center to Welcome Brazilian Dance/Music Group

Brazil's Bale Folclorico da Bahia, the only professional folk dance company in that country, will provide a lively evening of entertainment beginning at 8 p.m. March 29 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

The 30-member company of dancers, singers and musicians has earned much acclaim throughout its own country, including Best Dance Company in Brazil awards in 1990 and 1993. Because Brazil's Bale Folclorico da Bahia focuses on authentic folkloric dance and music, the company represents the culture, traditions, beliefs and history of the Brazilian people.

The Brazilian traditions were strongly influenced by three distinct cultures: Indian (the indigenous people of Brazil), European (through Portuguese colonization), and African (resulting form the introduction of slavery in the 16th century). Each of these influences can be recognized in the music and movement of Brazil's Bale Folclorico da Bahia.

Two pre-performance talks will be given by Laura Partridge Nedds, director of cultural arts program for the Omaha Housing Authority and project director of the Ruth K. Solomon Girls Center Performing Arts Conservatory. Nedds will speak in the Lied Center's Steinhart Room 55 minutes before the performance and again at 30 minutes before curtain.

Tickets are $24, $20 and $16; half-price for those 18 and under or UNL, Wesleyan and Doane students who present identification. Target Treatseats discount coupons are available at participating Target stores.

The Lied Center box office is open for walk-in sales on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 90 minutes before the performance. Phone orders may be place by dialing 2-4747 or 800-432-3231.

'Living in Oblivion' at the Ross

Tom DiCillo's gleefully clever satire, Living in Oblivion, opening at the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater on March 21, is set on a New York soundstage where director Nick Reve is shooting his latest opus. Living in Oblivion celebrates the very act of filmmaker as grand folly, a triumph of absurdist heroism.

Also showing is a short feature titled Qiana by Sara Knight, a graduate of UNL's College of Journalism and Mass Communications, who now works for Warner Brothers Studios.

Living in Oblivion and Qiana are showing March 21 through 24 and March 28 through 30. Screenings are at 7 and 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays; at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. on Saturdays; and at 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $5.50; 4.50 for students; and $3.50 for senior citizens, children and members of the Friends of the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater.

For questions regarding these Scarlet pages, contact:
dtaurins@unlinfo.unl.edu
(402) 472-8518, Fax: (402) 472-7825