News From Emspace

If you’re not familiar with the work of Omaha native Kent Bellows, you’ll want to head to Joslyn this fall to see a mind-blowing collection of his drawings and paintings. If you are familiar with his work, you’ve probably already been there. In fact, more than 2,000 visitors saw the exhibition, Beyond Realism: The Works of Kent Bellows 1970-2005, in the first week it opened .

Bellows’ realist style is truly realism beyond realism, inviting the viewer to examine his technical skill and explore the complicated narratives he created in each piece. However, you may want to leave the kiddos at home due to a wide range of subject matter.

Emspace Group was thrilled to be asked to create the exhibition catalogue, a project spearheaded by Stonehouse Publishing founder and friend of Bellows, Pat Drickey. Our creative team included Dr. Molly Hutton, curator; publication designer extraordinaire, Gail Snodgrass, and a great production team lead by Steve Hayes at Omaha Print. We were also lucky to have support from Bellows’ sisters and dedicated friends, who provided us with invaluable feedback throughout the process.

Beyond Realism: The Works of Kent Bellows 1970-2005 runs through January 16 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street, in Omaha

Our work with Live Well Omaha has introduced us to a lot of exciting new plans for our city — one of which is happening right under our noses at Emspace.

Donna Welchert, our production manager-designer-IT whiz and general fixer is also a produce farmer who, along with her husband Ed, is on the front line of Omaha’s growing new farm-to-school program.

Welchert Farms is currently providing fresh vegetables to Westside Community Schools, which has introduced quiche, falafel and a variety of other new healthier options to the elementary school menus. Westside is working toward sustainability by partnering with local growers so that students can understand their connection with our food chain.

My son and his friends have personally endorsed Monday’s roasted zucchini and are looking forward to zucchini sticks and watermelon next week.

It may not have made the Times Sunday Styles section, but the surprise hit of the summer season is Nebraska Book Company’s “Buy, Return, Reuse” tee shirt. Originally designed for the company’s 2010 corporate brochure by former Emspace intern Josh Schwieger, the shirt is now in production to meet the requests of college bookstores across the county. The bookstores plan to use the shirts to remind students that used books are not only cost-effective, they are a responsible use of resources.

This year’s report features a series of classic tee shirts reminiscent of the 70s and 80s — each carefully designed to support the message that students are the bookstores’ best means of advertising. Why not let them do the talking?

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And speaking of trend-setting interns, check out Virginia Fleming’s “toast purse” on Esty. We can’t wait to see the burrito bag.

Since 1941, UNO has kept alumni connected through a variety of publications. We’re proud to be a part of that tradition with the recent launch of the university’s newest publication, UNO Magazine.

It’s the first time the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Nebraska Foundation and the UNO Alumni Association have combined forces to produce a single publication. This new magazine is intended to connect, inform, educate, inspire and entertain an audience of nearly 75,000 readers.

But more than that, UNO Magazine endeavors to go deeper. Each issue will focus on a topic from multiple viewpoints – beginning in this issue with the economy. The Emspace team had a lot of fun with this concept, ultimately designing the magazine to be considered from both the front and the back covers. Award-winning illustrator Craig Larotonda visualized the theme with his interpretation of American Gothic from two distinct vantage points.

If you have a chance to pick up a copy, let us know what you think. The UNO team is committed to producing an award-winning publication and is eager for your feedback.

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While 2009 won’t go down as our favorite year ever, it at least provided Emspace with extra momentum to celebrate the new year. This year’s resolutions?  Enjoy more, keep learning, and make a difference along the way.

And despite the obstacles, we can’t forget that, in fact, we’re lucky. We work with businesses and non-profit organizations that truly enhance our community. Over the past year, we’ve had the opportunity to become involved with new areas of the health care community, help debut the development of a new live-work space for artists in Council Bluffs, and capture the installations of massive new sculptures in downtown Omaha. We continued our efforts to help our community (and ourselves!) become healthier and more active, and we were among the first to tour the long-awaited Kroc Center in South Omaha. One of my favorite moments of 2009 was sharing a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Ted Kooser at the Nebraska Book Awards luncheon, proving once again that delightful things happen when you least expect them.

While 2009 was full of detours for many of us, it provided a great road map for the future: find what’s real and follow that path; work with people who share your vision and learn from those who may not; and above all, connect.

So when it came time to usher out 2009, Emspace celebrated. We called up some old friends, introduced some new ones and made a mess of the office. It took a little cleaning up, but it was well worth it.

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