#dundee gallery

[memoriesoftheresa]

Theresa’s games and film The History of Glamour were exhibited at Dundee Gallery in Scotland, July 16-Sept 04, 2016, curated by Graham Domke. 

[femmesfollesnebraska]

Jean Imray, gallery owner, community activist

Dundee Gallery owner Jean Imray is being honored tonight, Oct. 4, at "A Choice Affair: Friends of Planned Parenthood" fundraiser event at House of Loom (6pm, details below). She generously shares with LFF about traveling and her passion for ceramics, how she came about opening Dundee Gallery five years ago, how she become involved with Planned Parenthood and more...

Background/from NE?

My family moved to Omaha when I was in 8th grade form southern California. Prior to that, I lived in Wisconsin, Japan and Minnesota.  Parents are from Wisconsin, my home away from home.  I went to Northern Arizona University for my undergraduate and lived in many places post graduating, Santa Barbara, Boulder, Albuquerque but always came home to Mom and Dad…my family is very important to me.

How'd you get into art--do you practice yourself?

I’ve always been an art lover. I was lucky to do a lot of traveling with my parents, who always seek out art galleries and museums in their travels.  When I’d travel with girlfriends to Chicago, they’d go shopping and I’d visit art galleries.  I studied ceramics in college at Northern Arizona University.  My major was psychology, and when I told my dad I wanted to change my major to ceramics in my 4th year his response was “just graduate”…he was paying so I did :-)  I’ve always taken pottery classes wherever I lived, but have not done anything professionally.  Since opening the gallery I haven’t had time to enjoy clay, but one day I’ll get back on the wheel.

Tell me about how you got into owning Dundee Gallery and why it’s important to you. I’ve wanted to open a gallery since I graduated from college, but I wasn’t ready and life took a different path.  Before opening the gallery I worked in non-profits for many years, including YWCA and Nebraska AIDS Project.  Working with these organizations got me involved in many community organizations and activities; I developed a great network of mentors and friends, including many artists. In 2007 I left my job at Nebraska AIDS project and didn’t know what I was going to do with my life, so I took some time to re-group and learned that a gallery in Dundee was closing. It was the perfect opportunity and timing for me to pursue my dream. I opened Dundee Gallery over 5 years ago with a mission to feature local and regional artists.  There is a tremendous amount of talent in our community and there was a need at the time for more galleries to feature local artists. I’ve also lived in the neighborhood for 12 years, so Dundee Gallery was meant to happen.

Does feminism play a role in your work?

I am a feminist, so feminism plays a role in my everyday life, which definitely includes work.

Is Nebraska a good place for women in the arts?

There is definitely room for improvement…Nebraska and Omaha.  Nebraska is a more conservative state, but Omaha is moving in a progressive direction slowly. It’s happening with many young professionals leading the way. 

Also tell me about your involvement in Planned Parenthood and why that's important to you.

I’ve been a Planned Parenthood supporter for many years.  My history goes back to high school; like most teens I didn’t talk to my parents about birth control, and was able to access reproductive health care and information at Planned Parenthood.  I became an active volunteer in college when women’s rights to legal abortions were being threatened by political candidates.  In 1992 and 2001 I flew to DC with friends to march for Women’s right to choose.  In college I had a button (well, many) on my backpack that said “ABORT Operation Rescue”; I’m not shy about my beliefs :-).

My parents started taking me to Planned Parenthoods annual fundraiser when I was in my 20’s and I continue to go every year.  I have served on the Friends of Planned Parenthood board off and on since I was in my 30’s. I continue to assist them with events, find donations, and give time, money, support, and whatever they need. Planned Parenthood is an essential health service needed in our community.  Planned Parenthood has also assisted my siblings in planning when to have children and I’m now blessed with a nephew and two nieces!

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A Choice Affair--Friends of Planned Parenthood fundraiser is tonight, Oct. 4, 6-9pm at House of Loom, 1012 S. 10th St. Tickets are $35 or 2 for $60 and can be purchased at the door. Visit the FB invitation for details here.

Following the event will be Dames Hit the Decks, and all-female DJ set, starting at 10pm, free.

For more information on Dundee Gallery and their exhibitions visit the Gallery at 4916 Underwood Avenue in Omaha; http://dundeegallery.com; or http://www.facebook.com/dundeegallery.

[femmesfollesnebraska]

Jill Rizzo, artist

Jill Rizzo with daughter Elke

Artist Jill Rizzo's show Love ran thru Saturday at the Dundee Gallery, many of the new works of which will be shown through December (she was also interviewed for a story about owls in the World-Herald published today!). She shares with Les Femmes Folles about her artistic epiphany moment as a kindergartener, how she likes her art to be like "candy for your walls," her owl period, painting from her "baby cave," how being an artist and professional that is a woman drives her, and the excitement of the art community in Omaha right now...

Tell me about your background. We moved to Omaha when I was 6. My (mother and father) family are originally from upstate NY. We were definitely the odd lot out moving to Omaha (Where?) Nebraska (isn't that in the middle of the country somewhere??).  Had schooling at St Olaf College, MCAD (Minneapolis College of Art and Design) and finished with a BFA from Creighton. I had an emphasis in printmaking, advertising design and philosophy. How did you get into art? Ever since I can remember I knew I would be an artist. I distinctly remember a moment in kindergarten when  our table was coloring and I had this overwhelming confident feeling that this was what I was meant to do for my entire life. So I never really questioned schooling, or had a lack of direction. Knew what I wanted to do and went for it. The only thing I had regretted in the past is not heading to NYC the minute I graduated from high school. Being near family was also important for my parents so I felt I compromised a bit. However, I couldn’t be happier about how things ended up! So it all worked out for the best and I don’t/try not to look backwards. That isn’t a productive way to live.

Owls Big Plans

Tell me about your art/style/inspiration.  I tend to paint in colors derived from nature but amplified versions of those colors. I like art to be candy for your walls. Something you just want to lay on the couch and stare at, noticing different things each time you look. I layer many translucent levels of pigment and clear varnish which enables the color to become luminescent, taking on the nature of oils paints.  Abstraction and figurative. Whimsical. Love animal totems..I feel like I go through periods of time where I dream heavily about elephants, then it shifts to rabbits...currently, the past 3-4 years have been an owl period. Dreams, travel, music, having children, memories of growing up...other emotional periods of time in my life...those are what fuel what I create. Tell me about this show at Dundee - what kind of work, what it means to you.  All of the most recent work for the show at the Dundee was conveived and completed during my pregnancy (and while on maternity leave) with my daughter Elke. (During that period I was in a baby cave. Literally feeding my child and painting and sleeping were the only things I focused on. There is a lot of Elke (daughter) in these works.), I had to put to sleep my Pyrenees Mountain Dog, Sydney, whom I had had for over 6 years. It was an emotionally intense time filled with contrasts, and I was doing a lot of reflection and felt so much gratitude about where life had taken me and the family. Hence the name of the show: “Love.”

orange owl in the shroom garden

Do you think being a woman impacts your art or your career?

I think it has always been a harder road being a female artist in comparison to the male art community.  Traditionally its been easier for male artists to get shows, hang in museums, etc...that's just a given. So hopefully the tides are turning but I think the male voice is still better represented. It probably makes me more driven. Driven in my career during the day of being the Creative Director at Hayneedle to provide for my family and overcome the fact that women can’t be as strong a leaders as men. I switched careers when I was 6 months pregnant and the fact Hayneedle hired me is HUGE. I saw them as a progressive supportive company. I can’t tell you how many ‘hayneedlers’ came to the art opening as well. It is a good place for me to be right now. As a female artist, it is TOUGH. Having to be a mother, career driven, and an artist – there’s not enough time in the day/week/month. There is a lot I sacrifice (ie: social life) to paint and create art. There is a lot that I forgo, and until people make it to an art opening, they don’t understand just how much energy and time it takes. Its a tricky balance. I am lucky – very lucky – to have such an understanding and supportive husband and family! Do you think Omaha is a good place to be a woman in the arts? I think it is ok. There are a lot of casual venues for an artist to show without representation. That is a plus for many. However, much of the art that is inspiring to me is fairly underground. I am thrilled about how many smaller independent galleries are popping up. Exciting. Sensing a turn in the community with the new start-ups. That will hopefully energize the art community and support for the arts here.  As far as being a woman in the arts, I am not sure how to compare that with anything else because it’s all that I know.

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To see more of Jill Rizzo's work visit her website jillrizzo.com or visit Dundee Gallery, 4916 Underwood Avenue, dundeegallery.com for hours.

[femmesfollesnebraska]

Karen Schnepf, artist

Omaha based artist Karen Schnepf exhibits her mixed media works at the Dundee Gallery through September 18 (details below).  The Iowa-born artist who is represented nationwide, shared a little about herself with Les Femmes Folles...

How did you get into art?

It has been my life philosophy since childhood. I thrive on the unexpected, which I have found is what happens when you take a basic principle and add a twist. As a child, I applied this philosophy to cooking with my father, concocting something completely original with ingredients you’d never dream could go together, and yet taste so wonderful. The same philosophy applies to my art today.

It is just a part of my being, I can't not do it and find myself anxious to get back into my studio when I have been away from it for even a day.

Tell me about your work/style.

My art creates something refreshingly unexpected with unusual elements and an array of colors. It is simplistic, always abstract and wildly vivid. Over my career as an artist, I have worked in a variety of mediums including clay, glass, watercolor, and now mixed media on canvas. I am constantly evolving and experimenting as an artist, and have no plans to slow down!

Who were the most influential people, teachers, artists in your development as an artist?

My father was my biggest influence in that despite having to quit school in the 8th grade because it was the depression years, he always managed to create. He was a wood carver, home designer and builder and experimental cook. We spend many hours working together in the kitchen, pulling odd ingredients out of the refrigerator and creating something wonderful. He taught me how to "color outside of the lines".

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Speaking of Color: the art of Karen Schnepf will be on display at the Dundee Gallery, 4916 Underwood Avenue, through September 18. For more information visit dundeegallery.com or karenschnepf.com.