Earth Day Print Shop

Members of the SPC participated in Lincoln's Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 18, 2015 with our Earth Day Print Shop.

Our team presented information about the production of T-shirts, including water use and environmental impact along with a sustainable alternative. We brought along a large selection of donated used shirts for printing on and decorated those with Earth Day themed designs by UNL art students/faculty and other environmentally involved artist/activists. Participants were invited to choose a shirt for printing, and our master printer, Joyce Bingeman, screen printed designs on the spot. The event was free to participants. 

Thank you to all the wonderful people who helped us pull it off! This was our first team printing event, and we look forward to doing more in the future. 

* all photographs by Amanda Breitbach

Slow Art Day

The founders of International Slow Art Day believe that when people look slowly at a piece of art they make discoveries, the most important of which is that they can see and experience art without an “expert” (or expertise).

Members of the UNL Social Practice Coalition became aware of the event and its mission through interdisciplinary artist Sarah Berkeley  (http://www.sarahberkeley.com).

As a group, we decided to contact several museums and artists in Lincoln to help facilitate and coordinate Slow Art Day events.

As a result, we were able to assist with and promote five different events at three host institutions: the Sheldon Museum of Art, the Great Plains Art Museum, and the Elder Gallery at Nebraska Wesleyan University. 

About 70 participants joined art professionals, students, and volunteers to look slowly at a variety of artworks, including abstract expressionist paintings and outdoor sculptures, quilts from the Civil War period, and contemporary video and participatory sculpture. 

One participant said he valued the chance to spend more time with the art, "as if it were something that you loved to do or like choosing to spend time with someone that you love." Another person said that it was like taking a deep breath in an otherwise busy life.

* photos courtesy of Erin Poor, Sheldon Museum of Art