PHOTO OP
Students sell artwork to new community center
T
he creative designs of two MCC students are now permanent fixtures in the new Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Laura Burke, a Fall 2013 graduate, sold 12 pieces from her “Notes” series — a collection of stills that combines art, literature and Burke’s personal reflections. “The photographs visually communicate book passages I have a deep connection to,” said Burke. The alumna and part-time photography instructor has a deep appreciation for art and its ability to tie together disparate ideas. “Since the Community Engagement Center is a forum for collaborations and involvement of diverse academic and community disciplines, I thought my photographs would be a perfect fit for the walls of the new building.” Opened in April, the 60,000-square-foot facility is a collaborative hub dedicated to civic engagement. Artwork is a crucial component, both aesthetically and intellectually, helping to kindle creativity and innovation.
11 • community • mccneb.edu
Current photography student Iris Kerwin also contributed to the Weitz Center’s art collection. Her picture, titled “Join the Conversation,” captures the spirit of connection, framing a group of young professionals engaged in discussion during a conference. The shot is from the shoulders down. “I wanted people to be drawn to the group collectively,” said Kerwin, who works part time as a mental health practitioner. The near lack of technology in the circle caught her attention. “It really struck me that they were talking,” she said. Describing the print as timeless and relatable, she wrote in her submission letter, “It illustrates that conversations keep us connected and allow us to have moments of attention and common bond.”
Collaboration MCC art instructor Jamie Burmeister constructed a large-scale sculpture for the Weitz Center. Wooden letters spell “collaboration” and support small bronze figures, fabricated via 3-D printer. The figures, posed to look like they are working, represent patrons who will utilize the center as well as the people who played a role in the center’s creation.