'Sheldon Connections 3' opening Sept. 14; multimedia artistry highlighted

Surprises await visitors at Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery's opening reception for "Connections 3" on Sept. 14, from 5-7 p.m. Among the expected highlights:

- Artist Leslie Iwai performs and simultaneously creates her installation "Rend."

- Characters from a painting come alive in "Time's Winged Footstep," an original one-scene play.

- Howlooseanation vibrates the Great Hall for a 15-minute jam.

Sheldon Connections takes advantage of exterior repairs to the museum, which have made traditional exhibitions impractical, to present work of regional contemporary artists and performers in three galleries. The Nebraska Art Association, Sheldon's dedicated nonprofit support group, has organized this initiative to bring new artists and audiences to the museum. Artworks in "Connections 3," the final session in the series this summer and fall, will be on view through Oct. 14.

The four major exhibitions in "Connections 3" will be:

- "The Alphabet Series." Artist Jake Gillespie presents new paintings, drawings and videos. The artist said, "This work is an effort to create an image based fictitious world. I am interested in the interaction between newer and older forms of media. My aim is painting + drawing + video = believable fantasticalism."

- "InsideOut." Eddie Dominguez and Caitlin Applegate explore distinctive approaches to the body as a vehicle for expression.

- "io." Using interactive displays, Nolan Tredway, in collaboration with Ryan Turner and Lindsey Jonak, seeks to close the distance between the viewer and art.

- "Rend." With an interactive performance in her installation, Leslie Iwai explores extreme emotions caused by wounds.

In addition to these exhibitions, Grant Brownyard and Diane Nelson's experimental videos will be on view coffee shop area, and visitors are invited to interact with them.

"Time's Winged Footstep," a play in one scene by Gene Fendt, will be presented in the Gallery C at 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Fendt describes the play as "a metaphoric meditation on a number of things: the old saying 'ars longa, vita brevis est,' how a work of art can reach across time and culture to grab us, and perhaps change our lives; how people who might not even look at each other in ordinary circumstances can connect with each other through a work of art."

Fendt is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Janice Fronczak, Associate Professor of Theater at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, directs the play. The actors include Fendt and UNK theater students Ashley Kobza and Joseph Knispel.

"Howlooseanation" will perform a 15-minute sound piece in the Great Hall beginning with a whistle at 6:30 p.m.

Appetizers, coffee and cash bars will be available to visitors.

Sheldon Connections 1 opened July 13 with three installation exhibits, and Connections 2, which includes works of 25 artists, continues through Sept. 9. The Nebraska Art Association and the Nebraska Arts Council sponsor the Sheldon Connections series.

Sheldon houses a permanent collection of more than 12,000 objects focusing on American art. The museum, located at 12th and R streets on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For information or to arrange a tour, please call (402) 472-2461. Additional information is available on the Sheldon web site, www.sheldon.unl.edu.

Contact: Tom White, public relations manager, Sheldon, (402) 472-1197 (twhite3@unl.edu)