november/december 2015 omaha magazine

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

NOTRE DAMEFROM OMAHA

to

Rev. John Jenkins

LAUREN GARRISONSurly Lass, British Sass

BOBSLEDDING? IN NEBRASKA?Olympic Gold Medalist Curtis Tomasevicz

BEST DOCTORSOMAHA 2015-2016

V I R T U A L T O U R S A N D M O R E AT N P D O D G E . C O M

16009 Cornish Rd, Springfield, NE $675,000Beautiful executive home on 10 acres with 6 acres of old

growth forest, creek, huge backyard with large playset and tree house. Fully remodeled home with open floor plan,

main floor master suite, large deck, andwalk out basement!

Matt Rasmussen 402.657.1969

18901 Nicholas St, Omaha $565,922Huntington Homes 1 1/2 Story with 2 laundry areas,

2 fridges, hardwood floor in LR, DR & kitchen. All bedrooms have private bath, loft area upstairs, large covered patio off eat in - great for entertaining. Barrel roof entrance,

Anderson windows with transoms. Office on main.Marty Evans 402.968.1300

7407 N 116 Ave. Cir, Omaha $649,000Amazing home w/tremendous views on 6th tee in Deer Creek, Arnold Palmers Signature Hole! Open plan. Tall ceilings. Designer windows. Granite. Walnut wd flrs.

Exquisite master suite. 4 lovely fireplaces. Timbertech deck. Patio. Quiet cul de sac.

Denice Coenen 402.677.7538

17468 Ridgemont St, Omaha $549,900A Royal Homes walkout ranch with main floor flex room,

Bosch appliances, hardwood floors, covered deck, master with walk-in shower and whirlpool tub, walk-in pantry w/

coffee bar, drop zone area, rec room with wet bar backs to golf course. Certified high performance home.

John Greguska 402.612.0594

19258 Poppleton Ave, Omaha $565,000This nearly 4,900 sq ft 5 bedroom, 6 bath home is loaded, from the stunning cooks kitchen with dbl ovens, to the hearth room & living room off kitchen, main floor den,

formal dining room, 2 story entry, 5 bedrooms all upstairs & all w/ private bath access! Fully finished basement w/

family room, wetbar, and rec room.Johnathan OGorman 402.595.8857

17754 Bay Wood Dr, Omaha $690,000This beautiful executive ranch offers spectacular views

of wooded Zorinsky reserve. Natural light permeates this spacious home with 12 ceilings. Features stunning open

kitchen and hearth room with granite, breakfast bar, island and main floor office.

Johnathan OGorman 402.595.8857

3606 N 264 St, Waterloo, NE $550,000Lakefront estate situated on 5.01 acres. Texas style

ranch with all stone exterior, gourmet kitchen with Viking appliances, wood floors, garage space for six vehicles,

completely fenced with gated entrances, lushly landscaped grounds and heavily treed. No covenants. Lake and

additional land available to buyer.Jeff Villotta 402.598.4252

1508 S 182 Circle, Omaha $549,000Exceptional 2 story in prominent Ridges neighborhood.

New paint, designer carpet and hardwood throughout. Generous open floor-plan, including formal dining room and inviting hearth room area in kitchen w/beautiful granite and

high end finishes. Oversized deck.Brian Trude 402.212.7457

820 Key Circle, Carter Lake, IA $599,711 This home is a rare find offering both waterfront and shoreline golf course frontages! Open floor plan with formal and informal spaces, and a gorgeous chefs kitchen. Lower level walk out features family/media rooms, a wet bar, 3rd bedroom, office and just a few steps out to 2 fire pits and private dock!

The Jansen Team 402.330.5954

21303 Walnut Street, Elkhorn $597,000 Beautiful home, immaculately maintained and move in ready. Gourmet kitchen with large eating area, 2 sided fireplace. Newer flooring and appliances on main floor. Fully finished walkout basement with 5th bedroom and full kitchen. All appliances stay in both kitchens. Expansive lot!

The Real Estate PROs 402.305.8631

18716 N HWS Cleveland Blvd, Omaha $519,999New concept open 3 bed main floor split walk-out ranch. With 2 beds in lower level(5 bed total). Main floor laundry and home management center. 15 ft deep hidden pantry. Lower level wet bar & multi level theater. Over 3600 sq ft finished!!.

Phone app. controlled audio, thermostat & garage doors.Dirk Blume 402.672.0391

1745 N Nye Avenue, Fremont $529,000A refreshed, refurbished historical home.

Newer granite, refinished wood floors, original leaded glass, beautiful library. Truly an exquisite home.

Kori Krause 402.679.0007

Fourteen custom mews, spread over a half-acre development, will house up to 17 different raptor species. Over 120 feet of elevated boardwalk will guide visitors to treehouse cabins 30 feet above the forest floor to view the birds of prey in the forest canopy. Each visit is its own unique adventure, its own story, its own memory to share.

fontenelleforest.org

opening late 2015RAPTOR WOODLAND REFUGE

FF Omaha Mag Oct 2015.indd 1 9/30/15 11:58 AM

Start with a ticket. End with applause.

TicketOmaha.com | 402.345.0606All productions, performers, prices, dates and times are subject to change.

Vienna Boys ChoirChristmas in Vienna

November 19 | 7:30 PMHolland Center | Kiewit Hall

An Afternoon with Garrison Keillor

February 14 | 3:00 PMHolland Center | Kiewit Hall

The Sleeping Beauty featuring the Moscow Festival Ballet

January 23 | 8:00 PMOrpheum Theater | Slosburg Hall

Cyrus Chestnut TrioA Jazzy Christmas

December 2 | 7:30 PMHolland Center | Scott Recital Hall

Gregory PorterFebruary 4 | 7:30 PM

Holland Center | Kiewit Hall

A Celtic Tenors ChristmasDecember 2 | 7:30 PM

Holland Center | Kiewit Hall

Omaha Performing Arts Presents

Tickets as low as $15 Dont miss the show!

1200 CLUBS P O N S O R E D B Y M U T U A L O F O M A H A

LIVE AT THE HOLLAND

S P O N S O R E D BY F I R S T N AT I O N A L B A N KJAZZ 2015/2016 SEASONSERIES

November // December2015| 6 |omahamagazine.com

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OUT HERE, WE DONT PUT ANYTHING IN JUST ONE BASKET.

As part of the BNP Paribas Group, we have teams in markets worldwide giving us a first-hand global perspective.

Our approach represents up-to-date thinking that connects the dots between global insights and our clients.

We can adjust our investment strategies to current market conditions while remaining focused on your unique goals.

Speak to a Private Client Advisor 1-877-898-1003 or visit bankofthewest.com/wm

Let us help you make more out of your investment opportunities.

Securities and variable annuities are offered through BancWest Investment Services, a registered broker/dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial Advisors are Registered Representatives of BancWest Investment Services. Fixed annuities/insurance products are offered through BancWest Insurance Agency in California, (License #0C52321), through BancWest Insurance Agency in Utah and through BancWest Investment Services, Inc. in AZ, CO, IA, ID, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, WA, WI, WY, HI, GUAM and CNMI. Bank of the West and its various affi liates and subsidiaries are not tax or legal advisors.

BancWest Investment Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of the West and a part of the Wealth Management Group. BancWest Corporation is the holding company for Bank of the West. BancWest Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas.

This is not an offer or solicitation for fi nancial services, investment advisory services, or banking products or services where we are not authorized to do business or where such offer or solicitation is contrary to the laws and regulations of that jurisdiction.

Investment and Insurance Products:

Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. 2015 Bank of the West.

NOT FDIC INSURED NOT BANK GUARANTEED MAY LOSE VALUE NOT A DEPOSIT NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

T:8T:10.5

if the diagnosis is wrong?

What good is the

right treatment

Based on the medical cases reviewed by our physicians, 1 out of 3 diagnoses in the U.S. require correction or refinement. And 75% of the reviewed treatment plans need modification. In fact, medical errors are a leading cause of injury and even death in our country.

Best Doctors is out to change that. We help ensure the right diagnosis and treatment by providing patients with access to world-class medical experts for second opinions, treatment guidance and more. Our services are offered nationwide as an employee benefit by companies like The Home Depot and many other Fortune 500 companies. Find out if your company offers Best Doctors and keep your health care on the right track.

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Helping patients get the right diagnosis and the right treatment.

Marion was involved in a serious car accident and began experiencing headaches, neck pain and

dizziness. Medical test results revealed nothing, yet her condition worsened. A Best Doctors

specialist reviewed her case and discovered an undetected brain injury, as well as soft tissue injury

and even a possible concussion. The expert provided a step-by-step plan to put Marion on the right

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A lump on Simons hand was diagnosed as a noncancerous ganglion cyst. Less than two weeks after

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Alex, a runner and mother of two, lived for years with a malfunctioning heart valve. She always took

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is on the path to recovery, grateful for the services Best Doctors provided.

Below are a few case studies where Best Doctors made an impact.


30

50

52 44

FEATURES

39 Where the Arts Come Together Creighton Celebrates 50 Years in the Arts

44 Rev. John I. Jenkins From Omaha to Notre Dame

60 A Castle in the Woods Life in the Wilds of Hitchcock Nature Center

64 Alberto Beto Gonzales His Little Corner of the Sky

68 Field & Dream Rhizophere Farm

OMAHA HOME 81

60 PLUS IN OMAHA 156

PEOPLE

40 Faces Lauren Garrison

50 Faces Ferial Pearson

52 Gen O Ponca Pride

56 Faces Tony Infantino

66 Style Monika Katarina Johannsen

152 Sports Curt Tomasevicz

FOOD

180 Mystery Review Dolce

182 Dining Amsterdam Falafel

184 Dining Time Out Chicken

193 Dining Guide

SPECIAL SECTIONS

73 Holiday Gift Guide

133 Best Doctors in America 2015

ARTS & CULTURE

26 Visual Project Project

30 Music Laura Burhenn

36 Performance Leanne Hill Carlson

GIVING

186 Radical Simplicity Ron Dotzler and Abide

190 Giving Calendar

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

12 From the Editor

15 Between the Lines

16 For Starters

19 Calendar of Events

146 Instagram - Be Social

147 The Best of Omaha Festival

150 History The Sunks

179 Obviously Omaha Rutgers Game Day Guide

207 Explore!

210 Not Funny

November/December 2015

VOLUME 32 ISSUE 5

EDITORIALEditor

DAVID WILLIAMS

Associate Editor

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN

Editorial Intern

HALLE MASON

Contributing Writers

LEO ADAM BIGA KIM CARPENTER ANTHONY FLOTT ROBYN MURRAY

DOUG MEIGS CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI

NOLAN SEARL GARRETT STEPIEN

JAMES VNUK JAMES WALMSLEY ANDY WILLIAMS SARAH WENGERT

OTIS TWELVE

CREATIVECreative Director

BILL SITZMANN

Art Director

KRISTEN HOFFMAN

Senior Graphic Designer

RACHEL JOY

Graphic Designer

MATTHEW WIECZOREK

Graphic Design Intern

DEREK TAUBERT

Contributing Photography & Illustration

KEITH BINDER COLIN CONCES SCOTT DRICKEY

LAURIE AND CHARLES PHOTOGRAPHS SARAH LEMKE BEN SOLOMON

MARLON WRIGHT

November // December2015| 11 |bestofomaha.com

Expanded Content On Your DigitalDeviceWatch videos, and view photo galleries of select editorial from OmahaHome magazine.

After loading the LayAR app on your digital device, hold your phone/tablet over the entire page to load content.

Scan the page3

Youll see the ar iconon pages with expanded content.

Look for the icon2

Download the AppBrowse the Apple App Store or shop Google Play for the LayAR app.

1

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Come celebrate one of the regions most cherished traditions, Christmas at Union Station! The holidays are always a magical time at The Durham Museum.

From the areas largest indoor Christmas tree, holiday concerts and Santa himself, you wont want

to miss all of the festive family fun.

Visit DurhamMuseum.org for event details including times when

Santa will visit the museum.

WE LIKE TO think that Omaha Magazine has the power to put a smile on the faces of our readers. Our favorite smile of late is shown in the photo above. It was taken July 9, 2014, at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, but we learned of it only recently.

Thats Itsunori Onodera, Japans minister of defense, beaming as he holds a copy of our July/August 2014 issue featuring then-Sec-retary of Defense Chuck Hagel. The cover story was written by then-managing editor Robert Nelson, and it would later bring home a trophy at the 2015 Great Plains Journalism Awards.

Onodera was en route to Washington for sensitive talks with Hagel, and he was on a mission to learn all he could about the states-man who graduated from UNO. Onoderas appearance at the school came as a complete surprise. The university was alerted just four hours before his arrival, and an event that was to take place at Mammel Hall was quickly planned. Not to worry, it was explained. Onodera would not even be getting out of the car elsewhere on campus. Except he did.

When the slow-motion motorcade arrived at the schools iconic Henningson Memorial Campanile, it ground to a halt and Japans minister of defense suddenly popped out of one of the vehicles. A phalanx of startled security personnel and military brass from both nations popped out right behind him. But more surprises were yet to come.

The minister, an interpreter explained, wanted to see the schools U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel Archives. When Erin Owen, UNOs execu-tive director of university communications, led the entourage to the archives she discov-ered that a remodeling effort had just been launched. The group was confronted by an empty skeleton of a room. Insert crickets here.

Luckily, Owens staff had scrambled the moment they were first informed of the visit. They collected every shred of Hagel ephemera they could scrounge. They even snatched pictures from walls. One astute staffer had the presence of mind to grab the copy of Omaha Magazine you see in the photo aboveone that was snapped just moments before the motorcade departed for Offutt Air Force Basethe one that captures what Owen describes as Onoderas biggest smile of the day.

FROM THE EDITOR

Itsunori Onodera, JapansMinister of Defense, with Scott Snyder, Ph.D., University of Nebraska at Omaha Chief Research Officer and Interim Director of the Peter Kiewit Institute July 9, 2014

November/December2015| 12 |omahamagazine.com

EDITOR DAVID WILLIAMS

All versions of Omaha Magazine are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 68046-1208. Telephone: (402) 884-2000; fax (402) 884-2001. Subscription rates: $19.95 for 6 issues (one year), $24.95 for 12 issues (two years). No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photo-graphs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations. Best of Omaha is a registered tradename of Omaha Magazine.

Publisher TODD LEMKE

ACCOUNTSPublishers Assistant &

Omaha Home Contributing Editor SANDY MATSON

Vice President GREG BRUNS

Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN

Senior Sales Executive & 60Plus in Omaha Contributing Editor

GWEN LEMKE

Branding Specialist SHELBY DEVENY

KYLE FISHER ANGIE HALL

GEORGE IDELMAN

Sales Associates JESSICA CULLINANE

DAWN DENNIS ALICIA SMITH HOLLINS

JUSTIN IDELMAN JESSICA LINHART

OPERATIONSVice President of Operations

TYLER LEMKE

Event Director ERIN COX

Accountant HOLLEY GARCIA-CRUZ

Distribution Manager MIKE BREWER

For Advertising & Subscription Information: 402.884.2000

November/December 2015

VOLUME 32 ISSUE 5


YESTERDAY AND TODAY

NOV. 27DEC. 31, 2015

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

NOV. 20DEC. 23, 2015sponsor: First National Bank

orchestra sponsor: KPMG LLP effects sponsor: Childrens Hospital and Medical Center

media sponsor: Cox

sponsors: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska and WoodmenLife

media sponsor: KETV

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LUXURY, VALUE, AND BORSHEIMS

ONLINE BORSHEIMS.COM | BY PHONE (800) 642-GIFT | FLAGSHIP REGENCY COURT

The season looks amazing in silver. But unwrapped is when it shines.

Serve Up A Jolt of Joy

Omaha Mag_Holiday_Nov2015.indd 1 9/16/15 11:29 AM



Between THE LINES

ANDY WILLIAMS is the epitome of a guy trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up (his wife is convinced he never will!). Andy has been a sports writer, pastor, entrepreneur, marketing executiveand now he makes cartoons (animated videos, actually) for a living with Omaha marketing firm Napkin.tv. Andy has always loved unearthing and telling great stories that move peoplethats the constant thread running through it all. So fleshing out the tales of Omahans who mold our community fuels his storytelling passion. And it might just help him with his growing up dilemma.

JAMES VNUK, as best as medical science can tell, is little more than a sham-bling mound of pop culture effluvia. Though he teaches composition, rhetoric, and English as a second language at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, lately it would seem his preferred genre is the brevity afforded by social media witticisms, endlessly searching for that perfect groaner. He spent a season or two behind the Great Firewall of China, but journeyed back to Nebraska to burden the prairies with his ruminationsof varying credulityon media and culture. He loves low art, German opera, and his two guinea pigs.

CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI grew up in Philadelphia where she started playing cello at age 9. She majored in Latin and Greek at a small womens college in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, but didnt see herself as a teacher. She got her first job at a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, radio station and continued in broad-casting for the next three decades as the main anchor for the CBS affiliate in Buffalo, N.Y. After marrying now-KMTV Action 3 News anchor Craig Nigrelli, Carol left one part of the biz for anotherthat of taking on many of our meatiest assignments. The mother of two girls and a Red Sox fanatic, Carol takes lessons from Omaha Symphony cellist Mark Motycka and enjoys playing at St. Johns Church on the Creighton campus.

A LOOK AT THREE OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS

A CHRISTMAS CAROL 40TH ANNIVERSARYOmaha Community Playhouse Nov. 20 - Dec. 23

God bless us, everyone! For 40 years, A Christmas Carol has been one of Omahas favorite holiday traditions. The familiar and beloved story of Ebenezer Scrooge comes to life on stage like youve never seen it before. As three ghosts visit the miserly Scrooge in his bed chamber one fateful night, he takes audiences on a life-changing journey through the past, present, and future that ends on Christmas morning. In 40 years of performances, only two men have played the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Volunteer Dick Boyd played the role for 30 years without ever missing a performance. For the past 10 years, Jerry Longe has performed the signature role. Omaha-area volunteer performers bring this timeless story to life on OCPs Hawks Mainstage.

There are also annual national tours of this production. Professional per-formers from around the country rehearse at the Omaha Community Playhouse for two weeks in November and then perform in venues around the country from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve.

It just isnt Christmas without A Christmas Carol. Beautiful costumes, exquisite music, perfectly crafted sets, and special effects second to none make this show a one-of-a-kind. Perfect for the whole family!

Omaha Community Playhouse6915 Cass St.Tickets: Adults $36/ Students $25 before Dec. 15, Adults $40/Students $29 after Dec. 15omahaplayhouse.com

CHRISTMAS AT UNION STATIONThe Durham Museum Nov. 27 - Dec. 31

Come celebrate one of the regions most cherished traditions, Christmas at Union Station. The holidays are always a magical time at The Durham Museum. From the areas largest indoor Christmas tree, holiday concerts, and Santa himself, you wont want to miss all of the festive family fun.

It all begins with the November 27 Tree Lighting Ceremony. All the good tidings and cheer lead up to the signature tradition of the nightthe community countdown to lighting the regions largest indoor Christmas tree. Every Tuesday in December is a Family Night with Santa.

Learn how the world celebrates this joyful time of year on December 4 at the Ethnic Holiday Festival, where more than 20 local cultural organizations proudly display their crafts and traditional dress while musicians and dancers perform throughout the evening.

The first three weekends of December feature the Holiday Concert Series. The season reaches a crescendo with Noon Years Eve on December 31. Children of all ages will enjoy this fun-packed party with live music, special crafts, and activities. ThreetwooneHappy New Year!

Durham Museum801 S. 10th St.Admission prices vary by eventdurhammuseum.org


MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMASOrpheum Theater Dec. 22 & 23

Grammy Award winner Chip Davis, composer and creator of Mannheim Steamroller, has twice proved the music industry wrong.

His Fresh Aire music, characterized as 18th Century Classical Rock, was received favorably, but no label would take it because of its unique style. So he formed American Gramaphone in 1974 and released his first Fresh Aire album which catapulted Mannheim Steamroller to fame. American Gramaphone went on to become the nations largest independent record label.

Today Chip is the No. 1 Christmas music artist in history with sales of 28 million holiday records.

Mannheim Steamroller always returns home to play in Omaha every December.

The success of this local group is told in a PBS special Mannheim Steamroller 30/40 Live. Filmed at the Orpheum Theater, the show celebrates 40 years of Davis iconic Fresh Aire series and 30 years of groundbreaking Christmas music, all produced out of American Gramaphones headquarters in Omaha.

Orpheum Theater409 S. 16th St.Tickets $38.25 to $78.25ticketomaha.com

GO WEST! ART OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIER FROM THE BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WESTJoslyn Art Museum Nov. 15 - April 17

Go West! Art of the American Frontier considers evolving notions of the American West through more than 85 artworks and artifacts from the collection of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. Opening with work by early artist-explorers, the exhibition traces the transformation of the western U.S. from someplace distant and unfamiliar to a land of opportunity.

Following the Civil War, Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran cap-tured spectacular landscapes beyond the Rocky Mountains, fostering a new vision of the American wilderness. But by the turn of the 20th century, the frontier was fading into the past, and the creation of its myths and legends began in earnest. The cowboy emerged as a symbol of individuality and strength born of the frontier, and no artists better captured their spirit than Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, whose rough-and-tumble scenes defined life on the range.

Go West! also features a selection of objects from the Buffalo Bill Centers Plains Indian Museum that offer an intimate perspective into Native American cultures and experiences at a time of great social change. Go West! reveals the complex history of the West, from the territorys earliest explorers to the invention of heroic legends.

Joslyn Art Museum2200 Dodge St.Tickets $10 for general public adults; free for Joslyn members, youth ages 17 and younger, and college students with ID.joslyn.org



DECEMBER 12 - 20

SATURDAYS AT 7:30 PMHOLLAND CENTER

Saturday, Dec. 12 at 2 pm Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 pmSunday, Dec. 13 at 2 pmSunday, Dec. 13 at 7 pmThursday, Dec. 17 at 7 pmFriday, Dec. 18 at 7:30 pmSaturday, Dec. 19 at 2 pmSaturday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 pmSunday, Dec. 20 at 2 pmSunday, Dec. 20 at 7 pm

PERFORMANCES AT THE HOLLAND CENTER

TICKETSSTART AT

$19

Please donate non-perishablefood items at the Holland Centerduring November and December.

ART AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS

DYNAMIC SINGULARITIES, SUBTLE DICHOTOMIESThrough Nov. 12, Lauritzen Gardens100 Ban-croft St.Omaha artist Alicia Armentrouts images of the exotic taken in the oft-overlooked areas of rural and urban Nebraska ditches and prairies. 402-346-4002 - lauritzengardens.org

DESIGN IN MOTIONThrough Jan. 2, Kaneko1111 Jones St.In this show, the vehicles will be displayed and celebrated as works of art while also exploring the designers and design process behind their creation. 402-341-3800. -thekaneko.org

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEARThrough Jan. 3, 2016, Durham Museum801 S. 10th St.View entries from the annual Wildlife Photog-rapher of the Year competition, co-owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide. This exhibit offers a unique peek into the drama and splendor of the natural world, accompanied by captions that reveal the story behind how the photograph was taken. 402-444-5071 - durhammuseum.org

UNION STATION: BUILT TO LASTThrough Jan. 3, 2016, Durham Museum801 S. 10th St.For 40 years the Durham Museum has cele-brated, and kept alive, Omahas history. In celebration of its anniversary, this exhibit explores Durhams homeUnion Stationand what makes it so special. 402-444-5071 - durhammuseum.org

MY FRIEND ERIC ROHMANNThrough Jan. 3, 2016, Joslyn Art Museum2200 Dodge St.Paintings, drawings, and prints from 12 picture booksincluding Eric Rohmanns Caldecott Medal winner My Friend Rabbit and Caldecott Honor book Time Fliescomprise this Minds Eye Gallery exhibition. 402-342-3300 - joslyn.org

THIS MAY HURT A BIT: MEDICINE IN OLD OMAHA EXHIBIT

Through Feb. 16, 2016, Durham Museum

801 S. 10th St.This exhibit takes visitors to just after Oma-

has founding, exploring the colorful world of medi-cine that early settlers encountered. 402-444-5071 - durhammuseum.org

BRAD KAHLHAMERNov. 14-April 17, 2016, Joslyn Art Museum2200 Dodge St.Kahlhamer is an artist influenced by a variety of sources, including Native American traditions, graffiti, comic books, and much more. A Riley CAP Gallery exhibition. 402-342-3300 -joslyn.org

GO WEST! ART OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIER FROM THE BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WESTNov. 15-April 17, 2016, Joslyn Art Museum2200 Dodge St.Explore the exciting western frontier in this exhibit, featuring more than 90 paintings, sculptures, and American Indian artifacts dating from the 1830s to the 1920s. 402-342-3300 - joslyn.org

BEMIS CENTERS 17TH ANNUAL ART AUCTIONNov. 21, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art724 S. 12th St. Eat. Drink. Buy art. 402-341-7130 - bemiscenter.org

NOLAN TREDWAYNov. 30-Jan. 8, 2016, Fred Simon Gallery1004 Farnam St.The Lincoln-based painter brings his work to the Fred Simon Gallery. Tredway is cur-rently the co-director of Tugboat Gallery in addition to running his own studio/gallery. He is a winner of the Ida M. Vreeland Award and a Nebraska Arts Council Individual Fellowship Award. 402-595-2122 - artscouncil.nebraska.gov

GREAT LAKES TO GREAT PLAINSDec. 29-Feb. 6, 2016, Fred Simon Gallery1004 Farnam St.Nebraska-based artists Linda Stephen and Iggy Sumnik display their work. The exhibition features origami collages made by Stephen during her artist-in-residence stint with the National Parks Service in Beatrice, Nebraska. Sumniks ceramic sculptures merge the natural world with cultural trends. 402-595-2122 - artscouncil.nebraska.gov

SUPER POWERSThrough April 10, Omaha Childrens Museum500 S. 20th St.Experience the thrilling sights and sounds of a superheros world in this immer-sive experience. Learn how courage and true grit can make anyone a real-life superhero. 402-342-6164 - omc.org

GANGSTERS AND TUNNELS: DOUGLAS COUNTY AND PROHIBITION EXHIBITThrough April 19, 2016, General Crook House Museum5730 N. 30th St.Take a trip back through the history of prohibition in Omaha. Omaha was one of the first states to take action against legal alcohol, banning the sale of liquor in 1917, three years before the rest of the country followed suit. 402-455-9990 - omahahistory.org

Design in Motion Brad Kahlhamer at the Joselyn Art Museum


CALENDAR EVENTSof

THE MADRIGAL CHRISTAMASSE FEASTEDec. 1-4, Omaha Marriott Hotel10220 Regency Cir.Come experience an evening of food, music, and merrimentRenaissance style! Ibsen Costume Gallery performs its 23rd-annual Christmas production. With its magnificent singing, theatrical toasts, and outstanding costumes, its not an event to be missed. 402-556-1400 - ibsencostumes.com

...READY, FIGHT! Dec. 4-19 (Fridays and Saturdays), Apollon Theatre1801 Vinton St.Video games are intri-cately designed, making them on of the most inten-sively co-created things in the world. Theyre a combi-nation of traditional art forms, like painting, writing, sculpture, music, and storytelling. Its no wonder that so many find them addicting! This event is a themed, interactive performance, complete with food. Come on down and get your video game geek on. 402-884-0135 - apollonomaha.com

WELLS FARGO FAMILY FESTIVALDec. 7, various places.Listen to holiday music and participate in family-friendly holiday activities. A free trol-ley service will shuttle people to the participating venuesWells Fargo Bank, Omaha Childrens Museum, Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn, the Durham Museum, W. Dale Clark Library, and Joslyn Art Museum. 402-345-5401 - holidaylightsfestival.org

BOYS TOWN CHRISTMAS FAMILY FESTIVALDec. 12, Boys Town137th St. & West Dodge Road. Enjoy the wonder of Christmas with cookie-deco-rating, gift-making for teachers, ornament creation, and a visit from a North Pole icon. 402-498-1300 - boystown.org

VICTORY FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPDec. 12, Ralston Arena7300 Q St.A premier mixed martial arts organization in the Midwest, Victory has provided competitive and entertaining fights since 2002. 402-934-9966 - ralstonarena.com

FAMILY & MORE

AUTUMN FESTIVAL. AN ARTS & CRAFTS AFFAIRNov. 5-8, Ralston Arena7300 Q St.The Ralston Arena welcomes its annual Autumn Festival, featuring vendors from all over the country. Patrons will enjoy shop-ping for handcrafted artwork, unique furniture and decor, and personalized goodies for any occasion. 402-331-2889 - hpifestivals.com

TREE LIGHTING & SANTAS ARRIVAL AT SHADOW LAKENov. 25, Shadow Lake Towne Center7775 Olson Dr.Santa Claus is coming to town, and hes bringing a whole bunch of Peppermint Elves to help him light the tree. Kick off the holiday season with bright lights and cheer. 402-537-0046 - shadowlakeshopping.com

HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL: THANKSGIVING LIGHTING CEREMONYNov. 26, Gene Leahy Pedestrian Mall1302 Farnam on the Mall. An Omaha traditioneat a big meal, then wander downtown to Gene Leahy Mall. Mayor Jean Stothert will take the lead as hun-dreds of thousands of lights twinkle for the first time in 2015. Watch as downtown dazzles! 402-345-5401 - holidaylightsfestival.org

SANTAS MAGICNov. 27-Dec. 23, Omaha Childrens Museum500 S. 20th St.Children can share their hol-iday wishes with the Big Man himself. Meet Snow Queen and sing holiday songs to make it snow! (Snow days not guaranteed.) 402-342-6164 - ocm.org

LAURITZEN GARDENS HOLIDAY POINSETTIA SHOWNov. 27-Jan. 3, 2016, Lauritzen Gardens100 Bancroft St.Explore a holiday tribute filled with vibrant poinsettias. A 20-foot tall poinset-tia tree stands at the center of it all. 402-346-4002 - lauritzengardens.org

CHRISTMAS AT UNION STATIONNovember 28-January 4, 2016, Durham Museum801 S. 10th St.Celebrate the joy of the holidays at Union Station with the regions largest indoor Christmas tree and many family-friendly events. 402-444-5071 - durhammuseum.org

SOUNDS OF THE SEASONNov. 29-Dec. 27 (Saturdays), Gene Leahy Pedes-trian Mall & the Old Market1302 Farnam on the Mall.Local music groups from youth to professionals perform treasured holiday songs to put Omahans and vistors alike in the mood for the season of giving. 402-345-5401 - holidaylightsfestival.org

CONAGRA FOODS ICE RINKDec. 12-Jan. 4 , 2016, ConAgra Foods Campus10th & Harney Sts.This ben-efit for Food Bank for the Heartland is afford-able fun for the whole family. 402-345-5401 - holidaylightsfestival.org

NCAA DIVISION I WOMENS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPDec. 17, CenturyLink Center455 N. 10th St.The best college athletes will compete in the 2015 NCAA Division I Womens Volleyball Championships. Dont miss out on an opportunity to see the nations top teams fight for the National Championship title. 402-341-1500 - centurylinkcenteromaha.com

HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL: NEW YEARS EVE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR Dec. 31, Gene Leahy Pedestrian Mall1302 Farnam on the Mall. Kick off the new year right! Head down to witness a dazzling fireworks display. 402-345-5401 - holidaylightsfestival.org

CONCERTS

THAT1GUYNov. 7, The Waiting Room Lounge6212 Maple St. A consistent festival favorite, Mike Silverman, aka That-1Guy, joins the Waiting Room for a night of unique and imaginative performances. That1Guy is known for his originality, as well as his curious choice of a main instrument, The Magic Pipe, an enormous jumble of metal, strings, and electronics. $15. 9 pm. 402-884-5353 - waitingroomlounge.com

ConAgra Food Ice Rink

New Years Eve Fireworks Spectacular


Omaha MagazineCalendar of Events

PURE BATHING CULTURENov. 9, Reverb Lounge6121 Military Av.Port-land-based American indie pop band Pure Bathing Cul-ture brings their unique sound to Reverb Lounge. The band dates back to 1999, when Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman befriended one another on the first day of fresh-man orientation at William Patterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. $10 Adv. / $12 DOS. 9 pm. 402-884-5707 - reverblounge.com

MARTIN SEXTONNov. 11, The Waiting Room Lounge6212 Maple St.Sexton hits the road in promotion of his new album Mix Tape of the Open Road. His album takes you on a musical cross-country tour, hitting all types of styles. $25 Adv./ $29 DOS. 8 pm. 402-884-5353 - waitingroomlounge.com

AN EVENING WITH LUCERONov. 11, The Slowdown729 N. 14th St.American country-punk rock band Lucero brings its unique musical stylings to Omaha for one night. $20 Adv./ $22 DOS. 9 pm. 402-345-7469 - theslowdown.com

IRIS DEMENTNov. 19, The Waiting Room Lounge6212 Maple St.American singer/songwriter Iris DeMent is a perfect combination of country and folk music. She was initially inspired by poet Anna Akhmatovas Like a White Stone. Folk singer/song-writer Pieta Brown opens. $30. 8 pm. 402-884-5353 - waitingroomlounge.com


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CHEAP TRICKNov. 20, Baxter Arena6001 Dodge St.Often referred to in the Japanese press as the American Beat-les, Cheap Trick ranked No. 25 in VH1s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. 8 pm. 402-554-2129 - unomaha.edu

HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL: MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT HOLIDAY CONCERTNov. 26, Holland Performing Arts Center1200 Douglas St.Get into the holiday spirit with this annual concert, performing after the annual lighting ceremony. Free. 7 pm. 402-345-0222 -omahaperformingarts.org

YESTERDAY AND TODAY BEATLES TRIBUTE SHOWNov. 27-Dec. 31, Omaha Community Play-house6915 Cass St.Jam out to the music of one of the most famous bands of all time. Yesterday and Today recreates the iconic rock and rollers magical and historical songs. Times vary. $38. 402-553-0800 -omahaplayhouse.com

OMAHA SYMPHONY: STAR TREKNov. 28, Holland Performing Arts Center1200 Douglas St.The full symphony orchestra will play Michael Giacchinos score, while J.J. Abrams 2009 film starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto plays in its entirety. Experience Star Trek in an entirely new way. Starting at $19. 7:30 pm. 402-342-3836 - omahaperformingarts.org

A CELTIC TENORS CHRISTMAS Dec. 2, Holland Performing Arts Center1200 Douglas St.Join the Celtic Tenors in the Kiewit Con-cert Hall as they ring in the Christmas season, with tradi-tional Christmas tunes, lyrical Celtic music, and thrilling operatic classics. Starting at $20. 7:30 pm. 402-345-0222 - omahaperformingarts.org

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CYRUS CHESTNUT TRIO: A JAZZY CHRISTMASDec. 2, Holland Performing Arts Center1200 Douglas St.Vince Guaraldis iconic tunes from A Charlie Brown Christmas will come to life through this jazz trio. $25. 7:30 pm. 402-345-0222 - omahaperformingarts.org

DIGITOUR SLAYBELLSDec. 22, Sokol Auditorium2234 S. 13th St. Experience the worlds first all-ages social media tour and music festival featuring popular You-tube and Vine stars. $25. 6:30 pm. 402-346-9802 - sokolunderground.com

PERFORMING ARTS

SHAPING SOUND: DANCE REIMAGINED Nov. 5, Orpheum Theater409 S. 16th St. Americas hottest new dance show, Shaping Sound: Dance Reimagined, performs with a focus on contemporary dance and choreographic art-istry. Starting at $33. 7:30 pm. 402-661-8501 - omahaperformingarts.org


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BEERTOWNThrough Nov. 15, Omaha Community Play-house6915 Cass St.Beertown explores history and identity in the portrayal of small-town life. Audi-ence participation is key in this play, which claims to be about 40 percent unscripted improvisation. Tickets and performance times vary. 402-553-4890 - omahaplayhouse.com

DON WILLIAMSNov. 9, Holland Performing Arts Center1200 Douglas St.American country singer/songwriter Don Williams, a 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, is sure to take peoples breath away. Starting at $39. 7:30 pm. 402-345-0222 - omahaperformingarts.org

RAT PACKNov. 14, Orpheum Theater409 S. 16th St. Experience a tribute to a group of talented stars of the 1960s. Joey Bishop, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra will come alive. Starting at $35. 8 pm. 402-661-8501 -omahaperformingarts.org

DIRTY DANCINGNov. 17-22, Orpheum Theater409 S. 16th St. Experience the electric music, passionate romance, and rhythmic movement of the classic story Dirty Dancing in a whole new way. Youll have the time of your life. Starting at $30. Times vary. 402-661-8501 - omahaperformingarts.org

CHRISTMAS CAROLNov. 20-Dec. 23, Omaha Community Play-house6915 Cass St.The classic tale A Christ-mas Carol by Charles Dickens is brought to life by the Omaha Community Playhouse. Watch the Dickens character of Scrooge as his heart is restored to inno-cent good will. Prices and times vary. 402-553-0800 -omahaplayhouse.com

HANDELS MESSIAHNov. 22, Holland Performing Arts Center1200 Douglas St.Voices of Omaha is proud to present its 47th annual performance of Han-dels Messiah with a chorus of 235 singers, solo-ists, and orchestra. Free. 3 pm. 402-345-0222 - omahaperformingarts.org

LITTLE NELLYS NAUGHTY NOLNov. 27-Dec. 20, The Blue Barn Theatre1106 S. 10th St.Written by Tim Siragusa with songs by Jill Anderson, Little Nellys Naughty Nol is a perversion of all we hold dear at the most wonderful time of the year. The play takes a rather wild, unexpected trip through Nebraska of old. Tickets $30. Times vary. 402-345-1576 - bluebarn.org



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BALLET NEBRASKA PRESENTS: THE NUTCRACKERDec. 5-6, Orpheum Theater409 S. 16th St. Celebrate the holiday season with a trip to the ballet. It is one of the only shows where candy canes dance. Tickets from $25. Times vary. 402-541-6946 -balletnebraska.org

THE WIZARD OF OZ Dec. 8-13 at Orpheum Theater409 S. 16th St. Explore the wonderful world of Oz as Dorothy leads you down the yellow brick road, accompa-nied by Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and, of course, Toto. Tickets from $25. Times vary. 402-661-8501 - omahaperformingarts.org

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS BY CHIP DAVISDec. 22-23, Orpheum Theater409 S. 16th St. Mannheim Steamrollers sound is a blend of classical and rock and roll. The Omaha-based band has sold more than 28 million albums in the U.S. alone. Come celebrate the holiday season. Tickets from $38. 7:30 p.m. 402-661-8501 - omahaperformingarts.org


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Once Nomadic Duo Puts Down Roots

words by James Walmsleyphotography by Bill Sitzmann

THEIRS WAS A passion born from a common frustration framed by a Great Recession America, one that had stricken Omaha with a bounty of empty store-fronts and too many starving artists.

So when visual artists Joel Damon and Josh Powell began to liaise the two under the col-laborative guise Project Projecta roaming, repurposing art gallery that now has a perma-nent home in the heart of the Vinton Street Historic Districtit was to help those left behind in the local arts community. They had no idea that theyd be transforming the act of showing artwork into an art form all its own.

I was getting really upset about the level of support for young, emerging artists in the city, Damon, 32, says in reflecting back on the 2008 epiphany that would eventually launch the initiative. And so I decided to find some artists who were super rad and put up an exhibition of their work.

The former curator of the Bemis Underground says one of those artists happened to be Powell, 34, a Myspace friend (or acquaintance in real-life speak) whose artwork caught his eye and whose ethos resonated with his own.

While he was setting up his work, Damon says, there was this immediate sense of col-laboration with other things happening with the show. We just hit it off.

Most events, Damon recalls, gave local aes-thetes the opportunity to appreciate artwork from virtually unknown Omaha-area artists.

You were also given the chance to go into these vacant, beautiful spaces that you proba-bly never would have had a chance to, Powell adds. The duo would go on to co-curate a half dozen pop-up art shows in unlikely places across the city over the next half decade before landing a space of their own last year.

THAT KIND OF SUPPORT, DAMON BELIEVES, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE PUBLICS DESIRE FOR AN ART SPACE WHOSE VERY NATURE

JUST LIKE IN THEIR POP-UP DAYS IS DEFINED BY AN ELEMENT OF RISK IN

SHOWING STUFF THAT CANT BE SOLD OR STUFF THAT PROBABLY WOULDNT SELL.

Project Projects Joel Damon and Josh Powell


Omaha MagazineArts & Culture | Visual

The repetitively named Project Project gallery doesnt stray much from that sentiment: Its a former alleyabout the width of a covered wagonturned butchery, with a floor that intentionally declines 3 inches on one side so that blood would flow away from work areas. The horse door, as Damon jokingly puts it, connects the gallery to a pseudo-atrium, which was once a livery stable.

It was just going to be another one-night deal, Damon confesses about the space. After we thought, Lets give it a shot next month, and then the next month came, and then the next.

After a year of free rent, the gallery held a $100 art sale last summer to finance their 2015 campaign. Damon says they met their goal in one night after hosting a turnout in the hundreds.

That kind of support, he believes, is a testa-ment to the publics desire for an art space whose very naturejust like in their pop-up daysis defined by an element of risk in showing stuff that cant be sold or stuff that probably wouldnt sell.

This is not a business, Damon says. This strains both of our pocketbooks. This strains both of our times with our wives. This is some stupid compulsion. I dont know what this is, but its what we enjoy doingwe enjoy helping other artists.

O

Visit projectprojectomaha.com to learn more.

THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THEYD BE TRANSFORMING THE ACT OF SHOWING ARTWORK INTO AN ART FORM ALL ITS OWN.

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LOVER IN EXILE

THERES A LYRICAL tradition that seems to stem from popular songs titled Omaha. Its a tradition that often involves the personifi-cation of the flyover city as a dependable friend or even a former lover waiting to be rediscovered for its less-exciting comforts. Waylon Jennings defects to San Francisco in his narrative but admits he never really left it all when crooning about Omaha. The Everly Brothers find D.C. and L.A. uninspiring compared to an Omaha that comprises every-thing that [they] wanted. And the Counting Crows are coming home to roll a new love over.

While Laura Burhenns Omaha perhaps involun-tarily participates in this same ceremony on her latest Saddle Creek release Lovers Know, the Mynabirds singer-song-writer breaks one major trope: Her melancholy ren-dition makes no assumptions that the community she left two years ago would welcome her back if she wanted to return.

That song was the hardest song for me to write and I almost didnt even want to put it on the record because its so personal, Burhenn, 35, says on the phone from her L.A. home. Here I am, my heart is totally broken open and its like, Here you go, guys!

The D.C. native who moved to Nebraska in the late naughts says she wrote most of Omaha upon return-ing to the city after a grueling world tour with The Postal Service in 2013. At the time, Burhenn says she was having difficulty reconciling her lifes purpose of traveling as a touring musician with sustaining a relationship with her community.

I feel like this is what the universe always does to you, she explains, describing the budding disconnect she began to experience with Omaha. Youre riding this wave of optimism and power and everything is amazing and perfectand all of a sudden you just get crushed.

Windows down, music loud, Burhenn says she took off in her car as a sort of therapeutic response to her existential pains, prompting a two-year odyssey that she would eventually package as Lovers Know.

This record is probably my midlife crisis, she says with a laugh. Instead of buying a sports car, I took my dog and went camping all over the U.S.

Burhenns journey, she says, reacquainted her with 90s shoegaze and R&B, both of which stylistically pervade what she describes as her most emotionally unguarded material to date. And then theres Omaha, which soni-cally sticks out like a logo-clad Woodmen Tower.

The minimalistic ballad, relying heavily on a tear-in-ducing piano lick and a sentimental ambiance, con-fronts the city, asking, Will you still call me darling? and Will I still be your girl? But Omaha is more than just an introspective look into Burhenns fear of letting down her former community: Its also a love letter, a runaway note, a spiritual confession, a eulogy, an ode, and even a brochure. And ultimately, the song is a clue to unlocking its hosting albums mysterious title:

Lovers know that sometimes real intimacy can be beautiful and wonderful, but it can also be heartbreak-ing and treacherous, says the artist who appeared at Slowdown in September.

But even as dark as it gets, Burhenn adds, you still have this seed of hope.

O

Visit themynabirds.com to learn more.

THIS RECORD IS PROBABLY MY MIDLIFE CRISIS.

INSTEAD OF BUYING A SPORTS CAR, I TOOK MY DOG AND WENT CAMPING ALL OVER THE U.S.

-Laura Burhenn


Omaha MagazineArts & Culture | Music


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IN THE SPOTLIGHT(No. Literally. Look out for those lights!)

WORDS BY ANDY WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

THERE ARENT MANY actresses who could say they sculpt faces by day and shape the local theater scene by night.But thats the story of leading lady Leanne Hill Carlson of Omaha, who has squeezed in more star-ring roles, costume changes, and hair colorings than she can countall while building a family and a medical career.

I have been so blessed with all the opportunities Ive had here in Omaha, Carlson says. Its not the plan I would have picked from the beginning, but its been amazing.

Thats a good word for the star performances Carlson has logged since getting her start as a sophomore at Papillion-La Vista High Schoolone of five times she has played Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof (all requiring dye for hair that is naturally perfect for a lead in Legally Blonde).

Carlson knew she desired a career in musical theater after that role and others in high school that included Sandy in Grease and Ado Annie in Oklahoma. I had two wonderful teachers who fostered my interest in theater and music, Carlson says. I was hooked.

From there, Carlson pursued a musical theatre degree at Sam Houston State. She was part of the College Light Opera Company, which performed nine shows in 11 weeks on Cape Cod and gave her the chance to play Nellie in South Pacific and Lalume in Kismet.

Carlson had aspirations of making a theatrical run in New York City, but the cards never turned that way for me, she says.

Instead, she came home to Omaha and turned an interest in medicine into a masters of physician assis-tant studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She is a physician assistant at a dermatol-ogy clinic and uses her artistic eye to change the faces of Omaha.

Ive had a few patients recognize me from the the-ater, says Carlson, who also performs regularly as an in-demand vocalist. Theyve asked me to sing and dance in the office, and Ive done it a couple times.

The proverbial go-to leading lady thrives on the big stage. She has played in roles at the Omaha Community Playhouse, The Rose, the Orpheum, and others.

Along with playing the role of Pitti-Sing in Opera Omahas The Mikado, Carlson has starred in Annie, 42nd Street, Beauty & the Beast, The Sound of Music, A Streetcar Named Desire, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and has been cast in two movies.

Her favorite theatrical role has been Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, probably because that character most mirrors her personality. That was so intense, says Carlson, who is married to physician Mark Carlson and has two children. I never had a moment off stage, and there were 14 costume changes. But it was so fun!

Carlson recently had the chance to fly as Mary Poppins in a blockbuster run at The Rosea feat that went smoothly until the last of 13 songs in her final perfor-mance. Carlson was ready to soar when she got stuck in the lights. Making a quick midair maneuver, she avoided a serious mishap and brought down the house.

The whole cast was waiting for me backstage, and we got a huge ovation, she says. It was wonderfulthe kind of moment you relish when you love something as much as this.

O

Omaha MagazineArts & Culture | Performance


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Omaha MagazineFeature

WHERE THE ARTS COME TOGETHER Creighton University Celebrates 50 Years

of Fine and Performing ArtsWORDS BY KIM CARPENTER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN


ITS BEEN A big year for Creighton Universitys Fine and Performing Arts Department. Its spring production of Cabaret received 13 Theatre Arts Guild nomi-nations and took away a whopping five, includ-ing Outstanding Musical. The Midlands Mentoring Partnership named ceramics pro-fessor Amy Nelson Mentor of the Year for her commitment to helping teens through the Joslyn Art Museums Kent Bellows Mentoring Program and her exhortation for Creighton students to engage their community in similar ways.

The year has, in short, been phenomenal for the department, which is unique among Jesuit universities for offering a full complement of fine and performing arts programs, including photography, printing, dance, and music.

But 2015 is a big year for another, more important reason: it marks half a century of the departments commitment to bringing

all these disciplines together, and it plans to celebrate with public events that demonstrate its combined strengths.

The department started with a lot of guts and determination, notes John Thein, who began teaching drawing and printmaking at Creighton in 1975 and retired this past spring. We started in a building downtown and, over the years, the department has really grown. The chairpersons are due a tremen-dous amount of respect.

One of those chairpersons is professor of music Frederick Hanna, who has held the position for the past decade. We put a task force together two years ago to discuss how to celebrate the anniversary. All of us became involved. We wanted to do a col-laboration between studio and performing arts. Its unusual and rare to bring in the complete department.

This collaboration is taking the form of the fittingly and simply titled A Creighton Exhibition, which in addition to Nelson and Thein includes work by three other fine arts faculty members: photographer the Rev. Michael Flecky, painter Bob Bosco, and sculptor Littleton Alston. It also features a symphony that Hanna composed to com-memorate the anniversary.

My inspiration was each faculty member, explains the music professor. The piece opens with thematic material that reoccurs through-out and weaves five major sections together, which are depictions of the five studio artists in the department. They were my inspira-tion. I know these artists and created melodic material for each. The 50th anniversary is a big deal.

Bridget Keegan, dean of Creightons College of Arts and Sciences, agrees. Its definitely exciting, she remarks. The exhibitions a showcase.

For her, the 50th anniversary celebration also underscores the universitys mission regarding fine and performing arts. One thing to note is that, historically, Jesuit spirituality empha-sizes the importance of imagination. If you go back to the 17th and 18th centuries, Jesuits were putting on plays and operas. They really cultivate imagination through the arts. They educate through creativity.

She notes that Creightons Fine and Performing Arts Department more than achieves this goal. We are so proud of our department, she emphasizes. We started the year on a roll. Its very inspiring. Were so fortunate to have these programs where students can cultivate their creative passions.

A Creighton Exhibition runs Nov. 2 through Dec. 5. An artists reception takes place on Friday, November 13, with a per-formance by the student orchestra conducted by Hanna. The event is free and open to the public, although the Fine and Performing Arts Department encourages people to bring boxed or canned food for donation to the Siena Francis House.

O

Visit creighton.edu to learn more.

Su_rly Lass,Bri t ish Sass

LAURENGARRISON

wds by D O U G M E I G S

photos by B I L L S I T Z M A N N

THE SURLY CHAP BARBERS OFFER A TRADITIONAL BARBERSHOP EXPERIENCE AFFORDABLE MENS HAIRCUTS, SHAVES, AND BEARD TRIMMINGTHAT HAVE ATTRACTED A RAPIDLY GROWING CLIENTELE.

and other bloody irritating comments con-versely familiar to any Omahan traveling afar, a la Did you ride a cow to school? Are you a farmer? Etc.

She misses British foodbangers and mash, curries, fish and chips, full English break-fastbut was pleased to discover elusive British-style Heinz beans in tomato sauce, Ribena, and a sparse selection of overpriced British fare at local groceries. She relies on annual trips back to see her mother to satisfy her homesick yearnings. In the meantime, she has come to appreciate the finer side of American cuisine: fast food, deep-fried Oreos, Twinkies, Gushers, and Fruit Roll-Ups.

I ask what the tattoo on her chest reads.

Dream like youll live forever and live like youll die today, she says.

For now shes content in Omaha. If I was home, I wouldnt have gone to barber school, or met the boys from the shop, or even real-ized how much I love Omaha, Garrison says. Ill definitely be setting up my nest here for a while.

Thats good news. My hair grows pretty fast and Ill need to see her soon for my next haircut.

O

Visit surlychapbarbers.com to learn more.

Her fathers side of the family hailed from Nebraska, and she had visited before. A Navy man, he relocated to Colorado. Garrison moved to be with him after finishing high school in 2012. Culture shock didnt fully set in until she later moved to Lincoln.

Oh my gawwwd, she says. Im out in the sticks!

Still interested in pursuing a career related to fashion, she decided to study at the College of Hair Design in Lincoln. Thats where she met the Surly Chap Barbers. They were among the many professionals scouting for talent (only to overlook the female trainees, she says). Fatealong with Garrisons surly attitudeintervened.

They didnt pay much attention to us, so I threw a fit. she explains. I said Why arent there any barber shops interested in talking to me? And my teacher went and told them. Then, the recruiters came and talked to her. They liked her enough to invite her to a job shadowing session.

I ended up just loving them, Garrison says. Soon after graduation she had a job in Omaha. Here Garrison found the pace of life more agreeable, faster than Lincoln but still fairly relaxed. She fell in love with neighbor-hoodsBlackstone and Benson with their plethora of hip barswhich reminded her of home.

Unfortunately, a day doesnt pass without unwelcome commentary on her accent, questions about her kinship to the Queen of England, whether she lived in a castle, teasing about the Revolutionary War (she admits history was not her best subject in school),

DEMAND FOR HAIRCUTS begins early in Omahas up-and-coming Blackstone District. Its 10 a.m. on a Wednesday, and customers have already begun queuing inside the Surly Chaps renovated store-front near the intersection of 40th and Farnam streets.

The Surly Chap Barbers offer a traditional barbershop experienceaffordable mens haircuts, shaves, and beard trimmingthat have attracted a rapidly growing clientele. They dont offer reservations. Its first-come-first-serve only.

So, with obvious need for more manpower, they hired a British fashion model to bolster their crew of tattooed, male barbers with slicked-back hair. Lauren Garrison isnt a chap, but she is a barber with plenty of sass. It rolls off her lips in a thick British accent that she describes as a mix between East End and country.

Have a seat, darling, she beckons. I catch a glimpse of tattooed cursive script inching across her chest. Her hair is tied up in an immaculate top knot. She has bright red lipstick, long painted eyebrows and big eye-lashes; huge hoop earrings, designer sneakers, and a chic black-and-white outfit inspired by the latest London fashion.

Garrison describes her own style as a little bit of everything: classy, modern, retro; inspired both by English trends and passersby on the street. But with her clippers now readied, she is all about the customer. She asks what I want to do with my hair. Garrison cuts conservatively, then re-trims as needed to ensure satisfaction.

Garrison was born in the British countryside and spent most of her youth in London. Her mum helped her get into modeling at age 14. After various gigs, she hit the catwalk of London Fashion Week as a high-schooler. At 18, she narrowly missed the final cut to advance to Britains Next Top Model.


Omaha MagazineFaces

ON A SEASONABLY pleasant Friday evening last July, members of the Jenkins and Wessling families gathered at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church for a wedding. The brides uncle had traveled back to his hometown to officiate. Dr. Erin Jenkins and her dozens of cousins know the priest simply as Uncle John. You know him more formally as the Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. (Congregation of Holy Cross), president of the University of Notre Dame.

As leader of the most renowned Catholic school in the countryperhaps in the worldJenkins responsi-bilities and schedule leave little room to breathe. Yet he found time to honor a twin daughter of his older brother, Tom, and to squeeze in another opportunity to visit with his beloved 86-year old mother, Helen.

My father, Harry Jenkins, was a gastroenterologist who taught at Creighton Medical School and mother went to nursing school, says the Rev. Jenkins. Dad died in 2004, shortly after his sons election as Notre Dames president. Our parish was St. Pius X and then St. Leos. My mother still lives in the family home.

Omaha is still very important to him, says Tom Jenkins. Even though he has another family [the priests], hes very interested in coming back here and spending time with Mom and our family. Hes humble that way. Genuine.

Returning to the city that formed his Catholic faith and to the family that molded him as a man seems to agree with Jenkins. Laughter and a relaxed mood punctuated the wedding weekend.

John has always been kind of quiet and calm, Tom says. People dont realize hes also a lot of fun and quick to laugh. Hell be the first one to share a joke or a story.

The Holy Cross priests sense of humor has served him well since assuming the helm of the 12,000-student campus near South Bend, Indiana, a decade ago. Under his leadership, Notre Dames reputation as an academically elite undergraduate program and a top research school has ballooned, its endowment has tripled to $10 billion, and the Fighting Irish football team has fought its way back into the conversation.

As president, how does he balance the decidedly secu-lar issues of academics and research with the schools Catholic identity?

Notre Dame is a place of faith, Jenkins says. That gives it a distinctive role in being a place of conver-sation, of inquiry that can take up issues of faith and morality in ways that are powerful. We have a set of Catholic principles that guide our educational efforts as well as our work in the world. >

NOTRE DAMEFROM OMAHA

to

Guided by Faith...and Still Surrounded by KidsWORDS BY CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN


Omaha MagazineCover Feature

< Notre Dames Catholic identity, some would argue, has hit turbulent times.

Like many Catholic institutions, includ-ing Creighton University, Notre Dame has recently drawn fire for its response to hot-but-ton social issuesgranting employee mar-riage benefits to same sex couples, for example. Jenkins has absorbed the blows with grace, for beneath his quiet, thoughtful demeanor lies the steeliness of a man with a keen sense of

identity and mission. As Creighton theology professor Dr. Eileen Burke-Sullivan points out, Anyone who actually operates on behalf of the kingdom of God knows that you draw criticism on yourself. I dont think any reli-gious leader can have thin skin.

Jenkins quick wit, his seeming ease with everyone he meets, and his ability to listen and compromise no doubt spring from a childhood surrounded by what can politely be described as controlled chaos.

We had 12 kids in our family, six boys and six girls, says Jenkins, who checks in at number three in the lineup. Im very close to my brothers and sisters.

In 1966, when Jenkins was 12, the family moved from 75th and Blondo to a new, sev-en-bedroom home in a lively Catholic neigh-borhood on 100th Street, then the western edge of the city.

The friendship between the two Johns extended all through St. Pius X grade school and Creighton Prep, where Jenkins ranked high on the popularity meter. His classmates voted him Prom King senior year.

I got a lot from Creighton Prep, says Jenkins, whose middle name, Ignatius, honors the founder of the Jesuit order. Im very grateful to my Jesuit friends.

Jenkins popularity at Prep benefited from his athletic abilities. He was one of the top swimmers in the state and played on the schools inaugural soccer team, following his parents example of mental discipline and physical activity.

I would say on our block alone, there were about 50 kids, says Tom, an attorney. We never had any trouble getting baseball teams together. We usually had 11 to a side.

The Kizers lived next door and contributed nine children to the mayhem.

There was something different about John, something special, even when we were young, muses John Kizer, the Rev. Jenkins best friend growing up. He was a big thinker and was always looking for a place to get quiet time, which was tough in a household of 12 kids.

NOTRE DAME HAS RECENTLY DRAWN FIRE FOR ITS RESPONSE TO HOT-BUTTON SOCIAL ISSUESGRANTING EMPLOYEE MARRIAGE BENEFITS TO SAME SEX COUPLES, FOR EXAMPLE.


Omaha MagazineCover Feature

Our dad entered the Hawaii Ironman contest when he was 58, Tom marvels. And his triathlon buddies dedicated a steel-sculpted bench with depictions of bike riders along [Omahas] Keystone Trail to him.

Harry and Helen Jenkins also encouraged each child to follow their heart, opening the door for the third oldest to explore his desire to contribute to society. That desire became evident during a backpacking trip through Europe with Kizer the summer between their freshman and soph-omore years in college.

We had two different sets of inter-ests, laughs Kizer, president and chairman of Central States Indemnity Co. of Omaha. I had the beaches of Saint-Tropez and [golf s] Old Course at Saint Andrews on my list. John was more interested in Dachau [Concentration Camp] outside Munich, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and Saint Peters Basilica in Rome. We spent lots of time in Rome.

Following his continental adventure, Jenkins decided to join Tom at Notre Dame. He earned a bachelors degree in philosophy in 1976, followed by a masters degree in the same subject.

Notre Dame gave me a superb education, a very vibrant and robust intellectual life, and an ability to combine that with a serious faith, Jenkins says. I had questions about my life and what I should do with it. That eventually led me to prayer and to the semi-nary about a year after I graduated.

It didnt surprise me he became a priest and rose through the ranks, says Kizer. There are certain people that, when you meet them, you know theyre a cut above.

Jenkins decision to join Notre Dames found-ing community of priests necessitated a sepa-ration from his Omaha family and, according to a 2005 Chicago Tribune article, a difficult breakup with his [Omaha] girlfriend. After receiving his doctorate from Oxford, Jenkins returned to his alma mater in 1990 as a pro-fessor of philosophy.

Since he first stepped onto what is called the campus God Quad in 1973 as a sophomore transfer student from Creighton University, Jenkins goal has been to serve the school he loves in whatever capacity it needs. That he would reach the highest level of service makes for an impressive Omaha success story, but not an isolated one.

Jenkins joins several current, high-pro-file priests with doctorate degrees who call the Omaha area home. William Leahy, S.J., 67, the president of Boston College, was born in Omaha and raised across the Missouri in Imogene, Iowa. Leahy still has family here. Daniel Hendrickson, S.J., 45, is Creighton Universitys new president. He calls Fremont home and attended Mount Michael Benedictine High School in Elkhorn. His identical twin, the Rev. Scott Hendrickson, also a Jesuit, teaches at Loyola Chicago. Archbishop Blase Cupich (pronounced SOO-pitch), 66, was recently appointed by Pope Francis to head Chicagos archdiocese. He grew up in ethnically rich South Omaha. He and Jenkins first met in Rome during the aforementioned backpacking trip and remain friends.

Omaha produces not only heavy hitters in the Catholic Church, but heady intellects as well.

Omaha has always had an excellent system of Catholic schools, Jenkins says. It had a big impact on me, and Im sure it had a big impact on Bishop Cupich. Its a vibrant Catholic community.

Historically, we have had an unusually high Catholic population, explains Dr. Burke-

Sullivan. Much of that can be traced to the European and Eastern European immigrants who came to work in South Omahas meat packing plants. They brought with them a rich, progressive Catholicism, plus the belief that hard work and cooperation with others is the norm. She says Omahas Jesuit and Benedictine

communities influence intellectual pursuit. And I would not discount the importance of the excellently educated orders of religious women who set up the lower school system.

The belief in civil, open discourse character-izes much of President Jenkins response to a seismic shift in this countrys social think-ing. Unlike many of their brethren, neither Archbishop Cupich nor Jenkins condemned the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling legal-izing same-sex marriage. Cupich, in a letter, pointed out the high court had redefined civil marriage, with no bearing on the Catholic sacrament. He cautioned against discrimina-tiona sentiment echoed by Jenkins.

Its incumbent on us to articulate our views clearly and in a persuasive way, but at the same time to respect those who disagree, he says. Thats one of the great challenges: to nurture a more healthy exchange of ideas.

That exchange of ideas turned testy in 2009 when Notre Dame invited President Barack Obama to speak at graduation. Because of Obamas stance on abortion and embryonic stem cell research, his presence at the school caused a furor. Some Catholic bloggers and newsletter editors hurled verbal vitriol at Jenkins. More than 70 bishops >

OMAHA HAS ALWAYS HAD AN EXCELLENT SYSTEM OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. IT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON ME, AND IM SURE IT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON BISHOP CUPICH. ITS A VIBRANT CATHOLIC COMMUNITY.


< condemned the Obama appearance, call-ing it a scandalous decision, as did many faculty members, students, alums, and activ-ists. The emails, letters, and phone calls piled up and piled on.

The backlash was greater than I expected, admits Jenkins, who went on to explain the tradition behind the invitation. From the very beginning, Notre Dame has always invited newly elected presidents to come and receive an honorary degree; just about every one, except for Johnson and Nixon in the 60s, which corresponds to campus unrest during the Vietnam War. I thought it was particularly important to invite the first African American president, but for a number of reasons it created a tense controversy in the Catholic community and the wider world, he says in a calm, measured manner.

Through tough times and good, Jenkins relies on his faith to get him through and uses it for guidance, says his brother, Tom.

Jenkins quiet time, once found in the corner of a basement on 100th Street in Omaha, has moved to a chapel on the Notre Dame campus. His apartment in the Graduate Student Residence also provides solitude.

Known on campus as Father John or simply JJ, Jenkins, wholl turn 62 in December, looks fit, lean, and youthful. He works out in the gym and takes daily walks. Exercise, he says, continues to be an effective stress reliever.

The recent success of the schools storied foot-ball team also helps relieve stress. When asked if he has gotten over last seasons offensive pass interference call that cost the Fighting Irish the game against Florida State, the priest chuckles andever the tactful diplomat refuses to criticize the higher power that is a referee.

We were kind of thin and had some injuries, but thats football, as anyone from Nebraska knows. Jenkins takes pride in a great foot-ball team and in the fact the players are also serious students. The most important thing I tell them is, national championships are great, but get a degree.

Amen to that. O

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B A I L E Y L A U E R M A NArchdiocese of Omaha Excellence Notre Dame AdArchdi154437Pub: Omaha Magazine Color: 4-color Size: Trim 8.375" x 10.875"; Bleed 8.625" x 11.125"

Under Father John Jenkins leadership, Notre Dame has been a catalyst to the national movement to serve Latino families through the gift of Catholic education. Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Omaha are proud to be integrating Notre Dames work into our Latino outreach efforts.

Archdi154437 Omaha Mag Excellence.indd 1 9/21/15 2:48 PM

FERIAL PEARSONIts the Kenyan way.

WORDS BY NOLAN SEARLPHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

FERIAL PEARSON KNOWS what it is to be an out-sider. Born in Kenya, she is an ethnic Indian, and a Muslim. Growing up in Nairobi, Kenyas cap-ital, her family was no stranger to prejudice. Kenyans of Indian descent are a minority, and most Indians are Hindu, not Muslim.

Her mother was born in a hut. No one in her family had gone to college. Pearsons grandfather saved money for much of his life so that she could get a degree. Despite this, her family regularly opened their home to strangers if they needed a place to stay.

Pearson is an instructional coach and clinical practice supervisor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Before that, she taught English at Omaha South High School. Many of her students were outsidersimmi-grants, LGBTQ, low-income. Moved by the tragic 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Pearson challenged her students with a question.

Do modest acts of compassion have the power to change a persons life?

Her students reacted and banded together in taking on the guise of the Secret Kindness Agents.

Anonymous acts of random kindness became con-tagious, and Pearson chronicled the results in a book, The Secret Kindness Agents: How Small Acts of Kindness Really Can Change The World. Inspired by a classmate suffering from juvenile diabetes, Pearson allowed the class to decide that every dollar from book sales would be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She told the story last year in a TEDxOmaha talk.

Thats just the way I was brought up, says Person. If there is a need in the community, it is your responsi-bility. Whatever we havewhether its food, shelter, whateverthats a privilege. And we have to give back. Its the Kenyan way.

As a noted teacher, mentor, adviser, and advocate, Pearsons passion for inclusion has been felt by a broad array of often disparate constituencies, ones whose common thread is that of outsiderness.

In 2010, she received the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Networks Educator of the Year Respect award. The next year she was the recipient of RESPECTs Anti-Bullying Award. In 2014, Pearson was named one of Ten Outstanding Young Omahans by the Omaha Jaycees. This year she was the grand marshal of the Heartland Pride Parade.

She has also given her tim

november/december 2015 omaha magazine

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