Tribal Culture Is My Livelihood
Taylor’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 MoreLouder Than a Bomb Is My Livelihood
Matt’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 MoreCreating, Sharing, and Promoting Art Is My Livelihood
Wava’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 MoreThe Arts Are My Livelihood
Linda’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 MorePhotography Is My Livelihood
Pat’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 MorePainting and Dancing Are My Livelihood
Emily’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 MoreCreative Expression Is My Livelihood
Mikala’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 […]
Read MoreLouder Than a Bomb Contest!
Louder Than a Bomb is Nebraska’s largest youth poetry festival. As a Nebraska Writers Collective initiative, this festival encourages a friendly competition that emphasizes self-expression and community via poetry, storytelling, and hip-hop spoken word. In the spirit of the Louder Than a Bomb finals this weekend, we’re GIVING AWAY a signed, limited edition of Ted Kooser’s Lights […]
Read MoreBuilding Community Is My Livelihood
Making Meaning: Heather’s Story These things inspire me: Thomas Jefferson’s design for the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s sculpture “Torn Notebook” on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Willa Cather’s brilliant novel of loss and survival on the Great Plains, My Antonia. Architecture, art, history, and literature all make […]
Read MoreLivi’s Story
What would you do to ensure a livelihood for the arts and humanities? We know someone who loves them so much, she is embarking on a dangerous quest to make sure they flourish. Meet Livi: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCNP-DwCUPE]
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