Carver Artists-in-Residence, October 2013, Omaha, Nebraska; photo ourtesy of Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and Theaster Gates/Rebuild Foundation

Updates
In the first six months of Carver’s Artists-in-Residence program, all four artists have experienced significant growth in their studio practice and careers. The program’s flexibility has only encouraged them to focus more on their intended goals since starting the program last spring. Reflections highlighting the influx in productivity and invaluable networking opportunities and the benefits of their experiences were captured on film by a local graphics and videography company. Residents were able to share key encounters they have had with the community and media alike.

Recent Wins
Building stronger public awareness for resident artists
Two resident artists have recently received an increase in media attention since their acceptance. Bart Vargas has four exhibitions in the greater Omaha area, which include works he created while using the Carver studio space. Vargas also had the opportunity to be interviewed by the Omaha World Herald and featured in HGTV Magazine. Dereck Higgins has produced an entire soundtrack to “Flyover Country,” an independent film recorded locally with accompanying national artists.

Bart Vargas in studio space, October 2013, Omaha, Nebraska; photo courtesy of Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and Theaster Gates/Rebuild Foundation

Dereck Higgins in studio space, October 2013, Omaha, Nebraska; photo courtesy of Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and Theaster Gates/Rebuild Foundation

Encouraging resident artists to push past expectations
Each resident has experienced an increase in studio practice in the past few months. Shannon Marie often uses her space to write songs, which she then records in a local studio. She has also taken advantage of national recording opportunities with emerging vocal artists in Atlanta. Since her return to Omaha, Marie is challenging herself to produce more music while balancing motherhood and a daytime job. Portia Love has a different motivation to her studio practice. She uses the space to construct vintage frames and uses typography to display her writing. Her space is transformed into an assembly line and upon completing a set number of frames, she employs her entrepreneurial skills by selling them at local trade shows.

Portia in studio space, October 2013, Omaha, Nebraska; photo courtesy of Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and Theaster Gates/Rebuild Foundation.

Caption: Shannon hosting an event at Carver, July 2013, Omaha, Nebraska; photo courtesy of Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and Theaster Gates/Rebuild Foundation.

Adding value to the building through public events offered
All four artists have managed to empower the local community to take advantage of the Carver exhibition space. Whether they were hosting writing workshops or organizing performances with local musicians, each artist has contributed to the vibrancy of the gallery to show the public the potential of the space when employed with local talent. Marie often uses her MC skills and connections to bring other North Omaha vocal performers to the space. Often, other artists around the city notice the opportunities and events at the gallery and inquire about how to apply for the residency. Love teaches weekly poetry writing workshops to the community, which offers a convenient platform to share about communal experiences. There is also an ongoing dialogue between the resident artists and the community about what it takes to build success in the Omaha area. The artists are able to share their knowledge to help improve the quality of talent that represents the growing creative community.

Insight/Provocation
While serving as a creative hub for residential artists and allowing a diversity of talents to gain exposure in a new space, Carver is slowly growing into a popular place for those who seek extra guidance in growing their abilities. Although these artists vary in expertise and backgrounds, many people are witnessing the growth of the current Artists-in-Residence and want to mirror that development in themselves. The space has been transformed in many ways by allowing the artists to re-imagine how they might broadcast their artistic wisdom to the public. By working with local artists and having an open dialogue about their needs, Carver remains a reliable place to obtain resources and provide exposure for emerging talent.