A muralist and an author are setting up residencies in the Seward Creative District this week, preparing to share their work and talents with county residents in new and different ways.
Muralist Dayci Curran of Hebron will stay at the Liberty House Bed & Breakfast for September and October while having studio hours at Red Path Gallery and Cocktail Lounge.
Seward author Carla Ketner will return to a familiar location, working out of Chapters Books & Gifts as well as Liberty House for a six-month residency.
Creative District Executive Director Jeanne Wiemer said Curran studied under artist and muralist Cindy Chinn, who was one of the early exhibiting artists at Red Path. They are working on plans for Curran to paint a wall in the alley behind the gallery during her residency.
“So many people go through that alley. It will be very visible,” Wiemer said.
Ketner, who authored a children’s biography of former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, is kicking off her residency with an adult study group for readers, writers and lovers of picture books at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2. The Picture Book Club will continue at Chapters the first Wednesday of each month.
She also is offering a story time at Chapters at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7, which is Labor Day.
Both artists will interact with residents in a variety of ways during their residencies.
Wiemer said the first two artists in residence have returned home and she was pleased with the interactions both talked about as they completed two-month stays in Seward.
“By immersing the community in the creative process – offering opportunities to observe the resident artist actively developing work, sharing techniques and engaging in dialogue – the program fosters a shared sense of creative vitality,” Wiemer said.
Lincoln artist Stacey Romick taught classes and spent time working at the Red Path Gallery during her residency, while Denver artist Will Greusel live-streamed his studio time from Red Path, worked with kids at Chapters Bookstore, and visited with people on the porch at Liberty House Bed & Breakfast.
Wiemer praised both artists.
“They have been so great,” Wiemer said. “In a normal day you do not get to talk to people about art. They were happy to talk about art with people.”
Both left with new connections to area residents, some art sales and at least one commission for a future piece.
Seward’s residency program, Wiemer said, “cultivates artistic inspiration, encourages deep exploration of talent and strengthens community connections.”
She is already interviewing some of the 14 other artists who have applied for future residencies who work in a range of art mediums and styles.
She hopes the district can sustain the residency program long after its two-year, $100,000 Nebraska Arts Council grant is completed. The grant also allowed for the hiring of an executive director and creation of a strategic plan.
Resident artists may stay two months or six.
That flexibility, Wiemer said, means the district could host eight to 24 artists in the next two years. Seward’s Creative District is a member of the Nebraska Artists Community Alliance, a clearing house of sorts for residencies and other creative programs.
