Great Plains Art Museum to host 2 youth art exhibitions

            The Great Plains Art Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will offer two exhibitions of artworks created by students in the Lincoln Public Schools Visual Arts Mentoring Program and Omaha Public Schools. The exhibitions run April 5-21 with a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. April 5.

            "This is the Visual Arts Mentoring Program's 15th year, and our 10th year partnering with the Great Plains Art Museum for an exhibition venue," program facilitator Tina Spomer said. "It is very powerful for the young artists to create and direct their own work knowing it will hang in the professional atmosphere of the Great Plains Art Museum."

            The program invites applications from elementary school children gifted in the visual arts. Selected students are partnered with an artist mentor who works with the student two hours per week.

            This popular returning exhibition will be paired with artwork from Omaha Public School students, ages 8 to 18, who learned traditional teepee painting in the styles of the Omaha, Lakota and Ponca tribes. Artist Steven A. Tamayo led the workshop at the Therman Statum Studios in partnership with Tami Maldonado of the Omaha Public Schools Native American Indian Education Program, and sponsored by The Kaneko Foundation. Three full-sized painted canvas lodges will be on display with related artworks displayed within.

            "We're very excited about the opportunity to have our student's work on display at the museum," Tami Maldonado said. "This is a great time for them to be able to share their talents with the community. The purpose of our collaboration is to help our Native American youth expand their leadership and academic skills through developing a deeper understanding of their rich culture through the arts."

            "This is always a favorite exhibition," said Amber Mohr, curator of the museum. "Many of these students have participated in the program and been exhibited in earlier years, so I always enjoy the opportunity to see how each artist has developed.

            "The Great Plains Art Museum is extremely happy to be a small part of encouraging these talented young people. Not many artists already have a group exhibition on their resumes before graduating from elementary school."

            Collaborators would like to thank the following for their support and assistance: Jordan Menard, Josh Frazier Sr., Josh Frazier Jr., Nikki Maldonado, Diego Gil, Jaylen Grant, Katie Menard, Steven Menard, Thomas Menard, Wendy Menard, Andrea Montana, Timothy Robeck and Izzy Tamayo.

            The Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q St., Hewit Place, is open to the public 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1:30-5 p.m. Sundays (closed Mondays, holiday weekends and between exhibitions). There is no admission charge. For more information, telephone (402) 472-6220, e-mail gpac2@unl.edu or visit http://www.unl.edu/plains/gallery/gallery.shtml.