Dana’s Story Like nearly all children, I was (and still am) the kind that loves to draw out the things and ideas that come to mind. Back then, if there was any sort of blank surface, it would be drawn on. When paper wasn’t around, the walls had to suffice. I got in trouble for that, so […]
Read ArticleOrganized by Humanities Nebraska, the Chautauqua Series brings workshops, presentations, and other activities for children and adults across the state in celebration of heritage and political and cultural happenings. This year’s theme is Free Land? 1862 and the Shaping of Modern America. In the spirit of the upcoming Chautauqua series happening across Nebraska this month, […]
Read ArticleKristi’s Story I was about seven years old when the teacher at my one-room school suggested that I read Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It seemed really daunting at first, but soon I was totally engrossed in the story of Pa, Ma, Mary, Laura, and Baby Carrie starting a life in a […]
Read ArticleTaylor’s Story Our identity is everything to us as human beings. I was born into two tribes, the Omaha, and the Cherokee. I was adopted at birth into the earthen Bison clan (Black Shoulder or Inke’cabe). My name is Ba’gee-zha, which means Bison Mane, literally, but refers to the transformation of an alpha male whose head and neck […]
Read ArticleMatt’s Story Louder Than a Bomb is a festival where high school poets compete with their poetry. Yes, I know this sounds ludicrous. It kind of is. Which is why it’s so much fun. Run by the nonprofit Nebraska Writers Collective, schools and organizations send teams who have been writing and working on performance with a coach […]
Read ArticleWava’s Story What is my livelihood story? Creating, sharing and promoting Art is my livelihood. It started when I was about 4 years old: playing in a rain-soaked driveway, sitting in the mud, making little mud dishes. Little did I know that many years later I would become a painter, potter and songwriter. In high school my love […]
Read ArticleLinda’s Story: I find that life is best when there is a way I can express myself without words. It was so satisfying when I discovered that paint, form and content were all I needed to share the story of a life lived as a Chicana raised in Papillion, Nebraska.
Read ArticlePat’s Story An early definition of livelihood is “the quality or state of being lively.” When I am taking photographs in the hilly pastures of my family’s property in northeast Nebraska, I see the soft forms of the earth, the jagged lines of trees and grasses, and the changing textures and colors during different times of day and seasons. […]
Read ArticleEmily’s Story For as long as I can remember, I’ve been painting and dancing. For me, the two art forms go hand-in-hand. Both modes of expression have a history that has developed over time while still maintaining their relevance in the world. Both art forms allow the artist to express their deepest self in the most pure […]
Read ArticleMikala’s Story Do not for the sake of doing, but for the sake of feeling. That’s my mantra. In the realm of inspiration and art and beauty, there are few words more overused than “creativity.” And yet here I am—a supposed writer for hire—telling you that I feel alive through creative expression. It’s what I […]
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