upcoming.events

Spring Time Tea Registration Now Open!!!

Jenni Brant — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 04:30:19 +0000

Join me and local B&B owner, Jeanna Stavas, to celebrate Spring with tea at Whispering Pines Bed & Breakfast on Saturday, May 11 or Sunday, May, 12. Bring your appetite and enjoy an afternoon of tasty cakes, dainty sandwiches, and assorted sweets served with a variety of exquisite teas in one-of-a-kind handmade teacups. Considering treating a mom you love to this special event! Tea will be held in the gardens at Whispering Pines weather permitted.

Tea times of 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. on Sunday are available. Seating is limited; reserve your spots today!

Event fee is $35 (plus tax) for one adult and includes unlimited tea, delectable treats, and your choice of a handmade teacup. Adult registration without a teacup is only $15 (food/beverage only). Youth under 12 are $7 (food/beverage only) or $25 with teacup.

Contact Jeanna at 402-873-5850 or jeanna@bbwhisperingpines.com by May 3 to reserve seating.

Whispering Pines B&B is located at 2018 6th Avenue in historic Nebraska City.

UWW Creative Enterprise Symposium

Jenni Brant — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:36:38 +0000

I just returned from an invigorating trip to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where I had the honor of speaking at their Creative Enterprise Symposium and showing work at the University Center's Fiskum Gallery. The visit involved a flurry of presentations to beginning and advanced art students along side many fellow alum including Joseph Ravens (Chicago, IL), performance-artist and founder of Defibrillator (DFB) and Marti Gobel (Milwaukee, WI), actress and founding member of UPROOTED Theatre. Also presenting were Beth Russell (Madison, WI), author and arts & entertainment lawyer, Jane Wochos (Milwaukee, WI), Chief Financial Officer for the Milwaukee Art Museum, and Sara Young (Spring Green, WI), Director of Communications at the American Players Theatre. Fantastic group of inspiring presenters with a wealth of varied experience and insights to share with students!

The second component of my visit was a three-person exhibition entitled "Directions in Contemporary Clay", featuring pots fresh out of my kiln and some newly framed diptych prints. My fellow exhibiting clay artists were Carol Naughton of Dodgeville, WI and Barbara Reinhart of Dausman, WI. Funny story showing with Barbara! Didn't remember until seeing her enter the gallery, that we had indeed met before. In undergrad, a big gang from the pot shop got to fire at Jeff Noska's anagama wood kiln outside Dausman. Jeff is Barb's husband. We made this connection while setting up the show and when she and Jeff arrived at the reception the following evening he handed me something. It was a photo from that wood firing of Jeff, Karl Borgeson, and I squatting down in front of the bricked up door with a small pile of burning kindling. The funny part is that I look like I'm 10 - friends, family, and former teachers got quite the kick out of it.

Thanks to all my Creative Enterprise cohorts for a wonderful week! And thanks to UW-Whitewater for bringing us all together!!

NCTC Business After Hours Open Studio

Jenni Brant — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:05:26 +0000

I'm hosting an NCTC Business After Hours at my home ceramics studio on Thursday, November 15, 4-6 PM. My studio has recently been transformed into what I consider to be an 'official studio' with plans to start offering classes and private lessons.

Clay lovers of all ages are invited to stop by my studio open house to find out about these new offerings and see some of my newest ceramic creations; some pieces will be available for purchase. Refreshments and snacks will be served.

My studio and home are located 1615 2nd Avenue in Nebraska City. Studio access is on the south side of the property via the alley.

Visit my Etsy shop to preview work and get an idea of the goodies you can purchase!

Holiday Tea at Whispering Pines B&B

Jenni Brant — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:02:31 +0000

Join me and local Nebraska City innkeeper, Jeanna Stavas, to invoke your holiday spirit with tea at Whispering Pines B&B in the glow of festive decor. Bring your appetite on Saturday, December 1 or Sunday, December 2, to indulge in tasty cakes, dainty sandwiches, and assorted sweets served with a variety of exquisite teas in one-of-a-kind handmade teacups to kick off the holidays. Tea times of 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. are available on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. on Sunday (seating is limited both days).

Event fee is $35 (plus tax) for one adult and includes unlimited tea, delectable treats, and your choice of a handmade teacup. Adult registration without a teacup is only $15 (food/beverage only). Youth under 12 are $7 (food/beverage only) or $25 with teacup.

Contact Jeanna at 402-873-5850 or jeanna@bbwhisperingpines.com by November 15 to reserve seating. Whispering Pines B&B is located at 2018 6th Avenue in Nebraska City. For more information about the B&B and menu to be served, visit www.bbwhisperingpines.com.

Nebraska City Launches Public Art Call for Artists

Jenni Brant — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 03:53:19 +0000

As we have seen a multitude of public art projects pop up in cities everywhere, it is evident that their popularity is derived from the way they promote excitement in tourism and economic development, display artistic expression, build a feeling of community, and heighten awareness as well as support of the arts. We have seen fiberglass cows in New York, Chicago, and Kansas City, elephants and donkeys in Washington, D.C., the J. Does in Omaha and steel bikes in our own state capital's Tour de Lincoln.

Beginning in the Spring of 2013, Nebraska City will sprout a new kind of forest as 25 six-foot tall 'trees', designed by high school students and art professionals, and almost 40 four-foot 'trees', designed by Nebraska City public and parochial school students, will appear and promote Nebraska City, Where Great Ideas Grow.

Interested area professional and emerging artists are encouraged to attend an informational artist meeting:
Thursday, September 27 at 7 p.m.
Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts
801 3rd Corso, Nebraska City, NE

Tuesday, October 2 at 7 p.m.
Old Historic City Hall
920 O Street, Lincoln, NE

Video of the first artist meeting will be posted online for those unable to attend.

Maquettes must be received by November 30, 2012 to be considered for inclusion in this public art project. The maquettes can be purchased for a nominal fee at either artist informational meeting or by contacting Liz Shea-McCoy, An Enchanted Arboretum Project Coordinator by email or (402) 601-6113. A schedule of important dates, along with an image of the maquette and more information can be found on An Enchanted Arboretum's website. Official guidelines and an application form will be posted to the site soon.

This project is being headed by the ARTS ARE BASIC aesthetic education partner program of Doane College and a committee of key individuals from Nebraska City, representing the Arbor Day Foundation, city and school officials, Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce, Nebraska City Economic Development Corporation, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, and other citizens of Nebraska City.

And do your creative friends a favor, forward this to them today and share this exciting opportunity to grow the arts in Nebraska City!

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Jenni Brant — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:48:11 +0000

Opening Monday, October 31 at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts is my first solo show in a looooong time. I've included an array of my usual handmade functional ceramic work - a few mugs, some tumblers, a new wine chiller with stemless wine glasses, and several serving pieces. I also have 144 prints arranged in three large repeat pattern wall coverings hanging in the gallery. Pretty excited about these because one, I've been itching to put the Vandercook at KHN to work and two, these prints have been swimming around in my head for awhile now so it was good to finally get them out on paper!! I'll be posting shots of the installation soon but sincerely hope you'll have the chance to see it in person. The show is up through Friday, December 9.

Exhibition dates: October 31 - December 9

Reception date: Thursday, December 1 from 5 - 7 p.m.

Gallery location: 801 3rd Corso, Nebraska City, NE 68410

Gallery website: www.khncenterforthearts.org

Small Works Group Show at Artisan

Jenni Brant — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:28:59 +0000

A few recent pieces fresh from my studio are included in the Small Works Group Show at Artisan Gallery now through December 31. The show includes work from a number of Artisan's artists, demonstrating the variety and craftsmanship that this gallery is known for supporting. A reception for the show is happening November 4 from 5 - 9 p.m. and I've heard they throw a pretty delicious event so stop on in if you are in the area!!

Exhibition dates: September 16 - October 30

Gallery location: 6858 Paoli Rd, Belleville, WI

Gallery website: www.artisangal.com

New Work at Artisan Gallery 8th Annual Ceramics Invitational

Jenni Brant — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 05:01:31 +0000

A box filled with new work just arrived at the Artisan Gallery in Belleville, Wisconsin for their 8th Annual Ceramics Invitational today. I sent them some of the new wine tumblers and chillers so stop by and check them out! The show runs from September 16 until October 30 with a reception on the opening day from 5 - 9 p.m. My work will be hanging on with that of many respected artist friends such as Jeff Campana and Karl Borgeson.

Exhibition dates: September 16 - October 30

Gallery location: 6858 Paoli Rd, Belleville, WI

Gallery website: www.artisangal.com

Inaugural Neb City Studio Sale, Sept. 17 & 18

Jenni Brant — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:08:14 +0000

Join me and special guest artist, Eric Petersen, during AppleJack weekend for an art sale at my home studio!! This will be the first time of opening up my space to the public since relocating to Nebraska City. Help me in celebrating my new studio and the new pots being made in it! Look forward to seeing you there!

We'll be open from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 17 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 18. If you can't make it to the sale, visit my Etsy shop following to see what is left http://www.etsy.com/shop/JenniBrantCeramics

While you're in town for this sale, be sure to take in some of the great events planned for Nebraska City's 43rd AppleJack Festival. There is going to be a carnival, a HUGE parade, a classic car show, a quilt show, a fun run/walk, and more!

Some Recent or Upcoming Fundraisers I'm Excited to be a Part of

Jenni Brant — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:36:01 +0000

I know how artists get asked left and right to give work to art auctions to benefit this charity and that non-profit. We are often asked to fully donate work that we have spent money and time to lovingly create, a request that often left me feeling that I was being taken advantage of or that people didn't respect the work of an artist. However, I've changed my tune. I recently had an ephiphany that by donating my work to causes I believed in I could do my part to help. I don't have cash to hand out and I don't have time to volunteer. What I do have are objects that I make by hand with love and care. Those objects can be given to auctions and fundraisers in which they will act as a catalysis for someone else to open their wallet. These events are also a great way to get your work in front of new audiences in new venues. So this year, I've given work to what I consider to be some worthy causes:

Tastes in the Tallgrass, Saturday, September 26 @ Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center to benefit Spring Creek Prairie

A deLUX Gala, Saturday, September 19 @ Grand Manse, Lincoln, Nebraska to benefit LUX Center for the Arts