Quilting queens Diana Sorensen (left) and her daughter Leah Sorensen-Hayes stand with their third place quilt, "Let the Children Play," at the International Quilt Study Center.

Quilt Project Stitches Together Expressions of Freedom

With 130 entries from around the world, judges for the International Quilt Study Center's Expressions of Freedom quilt contest had a surplus of outstanding works.

The center, along with the Robert and Ardis James Foundation and Quilter's Newsletter Magazine, co-sponsored the contest that marked the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The winning entries were displayed Dec. 10 at the quilt study center in the Home Economics Building.

All entrants submitted original quilts that addressed issues of human rights, such as religious and ethnic differences and conflicts or the exploitation of women and child labor.

The first place award, $10,000, went to Gisela Rikeit and the Saalbach Quilter Bruchsal (quilt group) of Graben-Neudorf, Germany. Second place ($5,000) was awarded to Kerry Nagel of Whitefish, Mont. Leah Sorensen-Hayes and Diann Sorensen, a mother-daughter quilt-team from Lincoln, won third place ($2,500).

The best group quilt award of $2,500 went to three women from Wichita, Kan. They are Jill Rumoshosky Werner, Jane Ghilino Bates and Margret Graber. Regional prizes were awarded to quilters from Bombay, India, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Costa Rica.

The contest finalists addressed many varied human rights issues in their quilts, from the practice of female circumcision to the Middle East conflict.

The Kansas women named their quilt "Breaking Free" and wrote in an accompanying essay that the "small pieces of fabric represent the many battles we've fought to gain the light of knowledge . . . We continue striving for justice, for rights for all humans, one peace at a time."

Negotiations are under way to exhibit Expressions of Freedom finalists' work in the lobby of the United Nations General Assembly building next summer. For future exhibitions, 20 to 25 quilts will be displayed, including all the winners and several honorable mention quilts.

BRIDE & GROOM by William Wegman, 1994 shown at right.

Recent Photo, Print Acquisitions Comprise Sheldon Showing

The Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden presents Selected Acquisitions in Photography and Prints, an exhibition featuring 31 works that have been acquired recently through purchase and donation.

Selected Acquisitions, which continues through March 14, offers an opportunity to experience the cultural and aesthetic diversity of 20th-century American art.

Important acquisitions on paper consist of a four-color woodcut by San Francisco Bay Area artist Christopher Brown, a humorous super-realist portrait by Pop artist Mel Ramos, a color lithograph landscape by University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty member Keith Jacobshagen, a Surrealist-inspired print by Native American artist Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, and impressive works by African-American artists Willie Cole, Robert Colescott, and Renee Stout.

In addition, the Sheldon Gallery's continued commitment to artists and artworks of historical significance is evidenced by the acquisitions of a 1939 print of John Brown by the American Regionalist John Steuart Curry, a rare 1953-55 figurative etching by sculptor Louise Nevelson, a 1968 color etching of Jim Dine's famous heart image, and a print from Andy Warhol's well-known Campbell's soup can series.

Recent acquisitions in photography consist of powerful social commentaries by Lauren Greenfield and Larry Clark, who document the vanities and darker sides of modern society. The use of manipulated photographic images can be observed in the work of Mike and Doug Starn and Patty Gallimore. Humor is suggested in the canine and bovine "portraits" of William Wegman and Charley Friedman. Recent acquisitions in photography also reveal the strength of regional photographers, including Peter Brown's color landscape, Bill Ganzel's photograph of a New Mexico electrical storm, Charles Guildner's photograph of a decayed and graffiti-covered barn, Michael Johnson's impressive interior scene, and Molly Romero's atmospheric photograph of the Garden of Versailles in Paris.

The Sheldon Gallery's commitment to the broader history of photography is exemplified by the inclusion of two prints from a recently donated collection of over 2,000 photographs by the modernist painter/photographer Harry Bowden.

The mission of the Sheldon Gallery consists of the acquisition, exhibition, and interpretation of 19th-and 20th-century American art in all media, including photographs and works on paper, both of which comprise considerable parts of the Sheldon Gallery's collection as they contribute to understanding the visual arts in the United States.

Wood Beauty Exhibited at Sheldon

Within the tradition of presenting exhibitions with broad appeal to our public during the holiday season, the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden is presenting Working with the Grain: Wooden Bowls and Boxes through Jan. 17. This special exhibition includes more than 40 works of great aesthetic variety and techniques of wood turned and hand carved examples of beautiful vessels, bowls and boxes. Drawn from more than 20 artists' studios from Pennsylvania to Hawaii, this exhibition showcases some of the most respected and noted American craftsmen who create unique expressions in the art of wood.

Sheldon's own collection of wooden bowls and boxes are highlighted - featuring the extraordinary works of the nationally respected West Coast artists James Prestini and Robert Stocksdale. In addition some of the best and most creative local craftsmen of our region are included such as Steve Haack and Neil Munson of Lincoln and Doyle Howitt of Kearney.

This presentation reflects the expanding and blossoming field of practitioners of fine art wood working/craftsmanship which until recently has been in the shadows of glass and ceramics as a medium for artistic expression. However, now many of these objects have the artistic ambition, flair and appeal of other craft media.

Exceptional Piano Student Featured on NPRN Program

Becky Lu, a 16-year-old classical pianist from Lincoln, is a featured performer on From The Top, a new showcase of America's most exceptional young musicians airing at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 on the Nebraska Public Radio Network.

Hosted by Christopher O'Riley, a world renowned concert pianist, the program airs on public radio stations across the country. Lu's performance was taped Oct. 31 at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall.

A student at Lincoln Southeast High School, Lu was selected for the show from a nationwide pool of applicants and was one of five young soloists to perform before From The Top's live audience. She performed Etude #4 from Opus 10. Lu also performed a piano piece for four-hands with O'Riley.

After her performance, Lu, who began playing piano when she was three, was interviewed by O'Riley. In his lively interview segments, O'Riley talks to the young performers about everything from a particular musical idea to their favorite breakfast food to what matters most to them in the world. By talking about a broad range of subjects, these segments help paint a multi-dimensional picture of the program's talented young people and open a window to their musical abilities and their lives as teen­agers.

In addition to Lu and four other young performers, the program's special guest artist is Grammy-winning violin virtuoso, Mark O'Connor.

Accompanying Lu to Boston for the taping were her teacher, Paul Barnes, co-chair of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music; Steve Robinson, Nebraska Public Radio Network manager; and her mother, Sarah Xu.

From The Top is a new series produced by the Boston-based Concert Productions, Inc. in partnership with the New England Conservatory of Music and WGBH/Boston.

Lentz Exhibition Features Collection, Photos by Leung

The Lentz Center for Asian Culture will present a double exhibition containing about 50 examples of Chinese ceramic art from the collection of Kam-ching Leung, professor of physics and astronomy at NU, and photographs of Asia taken by Leung.

Leung has chosen some of the most arresting ceramic pieces from his collection, which he began to assemble in the 1970s. The ceramics include not only vessels but figural and animal sculptures as well. They span 6,000 years of Chinese history, including three prehistoric vessels that open the exhibit, followed by representative pieces from all major historical periods.

Many pieces date from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 A.D.), well known for its ceramic achievements, including some black ceramics with reddish brown patterns in the glazes known as hare's fur and tortoise shell. Celadon is represented by a Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 A.D.) vase with elephant-headed handles and a tall vase from the Qianlong reign (1736-96 A.D.) of the Qing Dynasty on which celadon is combined with blue and white.

Most dynamic are the Han (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) small dancing figures, lively in outline and expression, and the stark Tang fantastic animal guardian figure glazed with only a streak of green. Two Ming officials dutifully observe all that passes.

The photographic exhibit subjects include scenes, people and still life. Many recognizable scenes are included as well as potent pictures of individual indigenous people.

The Lentz Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1:30-4 p.m. Sunday. There is no admission charge, but a $2 donation is encouraged for Morrill Hall visitors over the age of 2.

Eric Hermannson's Soul on Nebraska Public Radio

An opera based on Willa Cather's short story Eric Hermannson's Soul will be broadcast at 2 p.m. Jan. 1 on the Nebraska Public Radio Network.

Grammy-Award winner Libby Larsen, a recent day-long guest on Nebraska Public Radio, is the composer of the Opera Omaha production which had its world premiere this past November at the Rose Theatre in Omaha. In 1994, the Minneapolis composer came to Nebraska for an 11-day residency at the three campuses of the University of Nebraska. Out of this successful residency came the idea to create on opera in cooperation with the University of Nebraska and Opera Omaha. The opera, like Cather's short story, is a metaphor for the individual human being's struggle to own his or her soul. The opera centers on Margaret Elliot, a refined young Easterner, and Eric Hermannson, a Norwegian folk violinist torn between his love of music and the uncompromising strictures of the Free Gospel Church.

The Nebraska Public Radio Network broadcasts on the following frequencies: Alliance/91.1 FM; Bassett/90.3 FM; Chadron/91.9 FM; Columbus/90.3 FM; Falls City/91.7 FM; Harrison/89.5 FM; Hastings/Grand Island/89.1 FM; Lexington/88.7 FM; Lincoln/90.9 FM; Max/93.3 FM; McCook/92.7 FM; Merriman/91.5 FM; Norfolk/89.3 FM and North Platte/91.7 FM.

Silk Painting and Resist Dye Workshop Slated for February

The Textiles, Clothing and Design Department announces a silk painting and resist dye workshop. Guest artist Akemi Cohn will teach the course from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 15-17. This evening workshop is called NASSEN: Color Rice Paste Resist Printing on Silk. Cohn's work will be featured in the Hillestad Textiles Gallery in a show called Habitat from Feb. 15 to March l9.

"Nassen" means colored rice paste resist printing. It is based on a Japanese rice paste technique and is a new hybrid of traditional and contemporary applications. In this workshop students will experience the entire process of color rice paste resist printing including making rice paste and color paste, and applying color paste with various stamps onto silk. The stamping technique creates extraordinary effects because color rice paste both colors and resists at the same time. Participants will see samples of katagami and fabric created with katagami technique. The class emphasis will be to develop the students' own ideas.

Cohn, received her BFA from Tama Art University in Tokyo, Japan, and her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her work is in many private and corporate collections and is exhibited internationally. She has taught at the Art Institute of Chicago, Split Rock Arts Program, Arrowmont as well as other programs.

To register contact Wendy Weiss, Hillestad Textiles Gallery Director, 234 HE Building, University of Nebraska Lincoln NE 68583 0802 or call 472-2911.

Fees $55/general registration; $35/Friends of the Gallery; $25/students. Registration deadline is Jan. 22 or until filled. Enrollment is limited to the first 20. A supply list will be provided to registered participants.

Holiday Programming Featured on Nebraska ETV

December brings a dazzling line-up of holiday music and seasonal performance specials to the statewide Nebraska ETV Network.

Following are some of the highlights:

o Dec. 19, airing at 8:30 p.m., an all-star cast performs the Lux Radio script of the It's a Wonderful Life story on Merry Christmas, George Bailey, followed at 9:30 p.m. by It's a Wonderful Red Green Christmas and Royal Canadian Air Farce Holiday Special at 10:30 p.m.

o Dec. 20, Betty White stars as Mrs. Santa Claus in the Noddy Holiday Special: Anything Can Happen at Christmas, airing at 7 a.m., with Hanukkah broadcast at 11 a.m., The U.S. Naval Academy Presents Handel's Messiah at 5 p.m. and the Royal Canadian Air Farce Holiday Special at 11:30 p.m.

o Dec. 21, Handel's Messiah: 80th Anniversary Performance is performed at 1 p.m., followed at 2 p.m. by Carols for Christmas, Robert Bonfiglio: Home for the Holidays at 3 p.m., Christmas at St. Olaf (1997) at 7 p.m. and Jessye Norman-A Holiday Homecoming at 8 p.m.

o Dec. 22, seasonal sounds are featured in the 1997 Concordia College Christmas Concert: Let Heaven and Nature Sing at 1 p.m., with Purdue University Christmas Show, 1997 at 2 p.m. and Yuletide Treasures at 3 p.m.

o Dec. 23, an encore broadcast of Christmas at St. Olaf (1997) airs at 1 p.m., followed at 2 p.m. by A Celebration of Christmas, Notes Alive! Nutcracker: The Untold Story at 3 p.m., A Christmas Gloria with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Canadian Brass at 7 p.m. and Atlanta Symphony: Christmas with Robert Shaw at 8 p.m.

o Dec. 24, holiday favorites are in the offing when Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert airs at 1 p.m., followed at 2:20 p.m. by The Nutcracker with the Moscow State Ballet.

Later that evening, Denyce Graves-A Cathedral Christmas airs at 7 p.m., with Christmas in Vienna at 9 p.m.

o Dec. 25, that lovable furry Sesame Street favorite Elmo is featured in Elmo Saves Christmas at 11:30 a.m., with Atlanta Symphony: Christmas with Robert Shaw airing at 1 p.m., a repeat broadcast of A Christmas Gloria with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Canadian Brass at 2:30 p.m., Caroling, Caroling at 3:30 p.m. and Christmas Glory with Kiri Te Kanawa airing at 8 p.m.

Kick Off New Year's Eve Indoors With Outdoor Nebraska

Spend some time reminiscing on New Year's Eve when Outdoor Nebraska flashes back to visits to several state parks at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 31 on the statewide Nebraska ETV Network.

The outdoor news magazine series repeats at 8 a.m. Jan. 2.

Outdoor Nebraska visits Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park near Ord where viewers can watch Buck Newbury bake bread in a brick oven as it was baked at the fort many years ago. Visitors to the park get to sample Newbury's bread and get a glimpse into how bread was the staff of life for enlisted men in the 1800s.

At Fort Atkinson State Historical Park near Fort Calhoun viewers will learn about coopers and what they do. The cooper demonstrates how wooden barrels, casks and buckets were historically made.

In the Wilderness Workshop segment, outdoor expert Dick Turpin provides an outdoor cooking tip involving hog pans that makes it easy to cook by stacking dutch ovens on top of one another. This technique can easily be done in the backyard as well as on a campsite.

Climb aboard a horse drawn wagon at Fort Robinson State Park for a breakfast hayrack ride. The trail rumbles across grassy plains into the shadows beneath the pine ridge buttes of the region where wildlife is frequently seen. The ride ends up in a pristine spot of wilderness where riders enjoy a cowboy breakfast.

While many observe wildlife and nature during the day there are some "jewels of the night." A Lincoln father and son will reveal how to "bait for underwings." Underwing moths are characterized by top wings that resemble tree bark. Their underwings dazzle the eye with bands of red, orange, yellow or white.

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New Edition of In the Life Telecast on EduCable

The rise of violence directed against gays and lesbians is examined in this month's In the Life, a gay and lesbian newsmagazine, airing at 9 p.m. Dec. 20 on EduCable, the cable television service of the Nebraska ETV Network.

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard, gay men and lesbians have reacted with grief, shock and anger. In the Life looks at the rising trend in anti-gay violence around the country and how Shepard's death has become a rallying cry for the gay and lesbian community. The series also talks with hate crime experts about anti-gay crime and what steps are needed to stem such violence.

Other topics include: a profile of the Emmy Award-winning NYPD Blue director Paris Barclay; an examination of new research and clinical breakthroughs in healthcare for lesbians; and a wrap-up of the 1998 Gay Games held in Amsterdam last summer.

Osborne Documentary Premieres Nationally New Year's Day

Now Husker fans across the country can watch the documentary that recently premiered in Nebraska when PBS broadcasts Coach Osborne: More Than Winning, at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 1 on the statewide Nebraska ETV Network. The hour-long documentary examines the private side of a man who built character along with muscle in the University of Nebraska football program and became a father figure to hundreds of players.

Coach Osborne: More Than Winning premiered on the Nebraska ETV Network on Dec. 6 and set a record as the most successful pledge program in the Network's history.

"It is very unusual for PBS to broadcast documentaries with sports themes," says Leta Powell Drake, Nebraska ETV acting program director. "I think PBS recognized the national significance of the Osborne documentary because it tells a bigger story. It's not just about football-the show focuses on Tom Osborne's character as a coach and a person and how it affected the young men who played for him."

Emmy Award-winning ABC sportscaster Keith Jackson narrates the documentary. Jackson will retire from ABC sports following his broadcast of the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4.

"We hope people in Nebraska will let their out-of-state family and friends know that they can catch this program on their local PBS station," says Joel Geyer, the documentary's producer. "It's a great way to start a traditional day devoted to football."

The documentary also chronicles the championship seasons in which the triumphs on the field were sometimes matched by intense human dramas unfolding off the field. Interviews with coaches such as Bobby Bowden, Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson, and players, including Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers and Trev Alberts, reveal their unique relationships with Osborne.

Coach Osborne: More Than Winning documents how his philosophy of focusing not on the win, but the road to victory made Osborne one of the winningest coaches in America. Osborne recently joined the ranks of football's elite when he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

A companion web site to the program at http://net.unl.edu/osborne is an interactive exploration of Osborne's life.