The drawings are spread out across six tables in the old courtroom at the historic City Hall in downtown Lincoln.
There’s a silvery web spinning up from Spiderman's gloved hands by artist Ian Anthony Laing.
An American flag with stars on one hand and stripes on the other, inspired by pop artists of the 1980s, by artist James Cattlitt, is one of the 81 proposals.
The black-and-white keys of a piano fill in another sculpture. The keys are inspired by the Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder duet “Ebony and Ivory.”
Like a piano keyboard — "Why can’t we all get together and live together in perfect harmony?” said Lincoln artist Max Reis.
Another set of hands shows nightlife in Lincoln’s Haymarket on one side, with a rendition of the same night at Pioneers Park on the back side.
"The two scenes parallel the rural and urban qualities Lincoln has to offer," said artist Brian Arp.
These are ideas from Nebraska artists for Lincoln’s latest public art project — Serving Hands — which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Lincoln's Campus Life.
It is always amazing how artists can take one thing and change it, using their own creative vision, said Liz Shea-McCoy, project manager.
Shea-McCoy has 81 different proposals, selected from 175 ideas submitted earlier in the year.
What Shea-McCoy needs now are sponsors: individuals or groups or companies willing to spend $5,000 to sponsor one of the Serving Hands sculptures.
That funding pays for the 6-foot fiberglass sculpture and an artist stipend to use for materials.
The artists and Campus Life share in the money raised at an auction of the sculptures, planned for September.
The Serving Hands project has 10 sponsors so far. Shea-McCoy and Matt Schulte, executive director of Campus Life, are hoping to have at least 50 sponsors by Jan. 15.
Not that she’s really worried, yet.
Lincoln loves its public art projects, said Shea-McCoy, who's worked on five public art projects, including Tour de Lincoln (bikes) and the recent Nebraska by Heart (hearts).
And Lincoln has always been generous.
You can think of this as your own random act of kindness, Shea-McCoy says to potential sponsors.
It's a kindness to the artist, to the charity and to the city that loves public art, she said.
"I think 50 is doable in our community."
The public art project is raising money for Campus Life and educating people about the program, which works with teens on building healthy relationships, making good choices and positively impacting their school and community.
There are many good proposals to choose from.
"This one is charming, playful," Shea-McCoy said about a set of hands laying on the ground, with a yellow duck floating in the outspread palms, by artist Joel Anderson.
"Fractal," a series of smaller sculptured hands spreading out from the main 6-foot pair of hands, shows the potential of lending a hand and "how, by using our hands to help others, we inspire another pair of hands to do the same," said artist David Manzanares.
Shea-McCoy said groups can step up as sponsors. For example, a group of friends could pool their resources, all pitch in and sponsor an artist, she said.
It just takes one person to say, "let’s do that."
Serving Hands, 11.26
This maquette shows artist Mindy Burton's proposal "Enchantment" for the Serving Hands public art project. To see more proposals, go to JournalStar.com.
Serving Hands, 11.26
Serving Hands public art project
Artist: Paula Yoachim
Project proposal: The inspiration for this design comes from the beauty of nature. I selected Nebraska’s beautiful skies showing the changing colors visible at different times of day. The mid-section represents the river valley that nourishes our farmland shown in rich greens and golds. The base of the hand becomes a tree depicting strength, family roots and a connection to the earth.
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An unpainted set of hands occupies space in the lobby of the old Lincoln City Hall building, where examples of art projects submitted for the Serving Hands public art project have been judged and await sponsorship by the community.
Serving Hands, 11.26
Serving Hands public art project
Project title: Flag
Artist: James Cattlett
Project proposal: The sculpture would be painted with acrylic paints and have the appearance of a waving flag. The image would be painted in a realistic style. An image we can all associate with — Patriotic/American.
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Artist Diane Ogden looked to a definition of culture for her inspiration for "Inner Color," her proposal for the Serving Hands public art project.
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Serving Hands public art project
Project title: Homecoming
Artist: Diane Ogden
Project proposal: This design celebrates the many distinctive and varied cultures represented in Nebraska and around the world, reflecting a multitude of traditions and languages. Embracing all individuals fosters a sense of unity, respect and love, which ultimately bring down the real or invisible walls of misunderstanding and separation.
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Serving Hands public art project
Project title: The Hollow
Artist: David Manzanares
Project proposal: This sculpture is inspired by a poem by Pablo Neruda: Potter Your whole body has a fullness or a gentleness that is destined for me. When I move my hand up I find in each curve a dove that as if it were seeking me, as if they had, in love, made you of clay for my own potter's hands. Your knees, your breasts, your waist are missing parts of me That like a hollow fill the thirsty earth a form, that together we are complete like a single river, like a single grain of sand. Materials: Fiber reinforced plastic with acrylic paint. Metal structures necessary for its animation and a motor. The sculpture will be created using fiber reinforced plastic; therefore, I will not need the icon poly hands. I would like to make it mobile using a proximity sensor and a motor. I have done mobile sculptures using Arduino programming software in the Nebraska Innovation Studio.
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Serving Hands public art project
Project title: Patchwork Fields
Artist: Patrick Gauthier
Project proposal: Grant Wood was an American Regionalism artist and painter who is best known for his painting "American Gothic." His rolling hills and roads winding through his countryside paintings remind me of the American artists I like, such as Grandma Moses and Charles Wysocki. Billowing clouds, church spires, patchwork fields and trees fill their landscape paintings. A similar regional colorful landscape painting of a Midwest landscape will remind us of the beautiful area of our country in which we live in.
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Serving Hands public art project
Project title: Fractal
Artist: David Manzanares
Project proposal: The hands represent the potential of lending a hand and how they by using our hands to help others we inspire another pair of hands to do the same. Materials: Fiber reinforced plastic with acrylic paint. The color of the sculpture will be in skin tones.
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Serving Hands public art project
Project title: You Did For Me
Artists: Lindsay Reger and Sara Walters
Project proposal: The inspiration for this concept came first of all from the Bible verse Matthew 25:40, which says: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" This Bible verse, along with the chapter that surrounds it, is about serving others. By serving those with the least, the poorest, the friendless, we serve God and show our love for Him and our neighbors. Additionally, inspiration arose from watching friends and family selflessly serve children in the community. This service occurs in a variety of settings, each vital to a child’s development and growth in its own unique way. A community of people (such as educators in schools, daycare providers, medical staff at pediatric health institutions, foster care parents, after school club volunteers, and youth sports coaches to name a few) each making their own unique investment in a child can truly make a difference in the path that child takes toward a successful and fulfilling future. In this sculpture, the children depicted at the bottom of the ladder represent children who might need a little extra help to get through this big and sometimes scary world. The children’s drawings on the opposite hand depict the utopian life the kids might imagine they will one day achieve; perhaps even something seemingly as simple as a family and a home. Other drawings depicted include a child’s favorite activity, best friends, and dreams for the future. Ultimately, serving children is a way to serve both the present and the future simultaneously. Who children become when they grow up can be shaped by how we serve them now.
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Serving Hands public art project
Project title: Stronger Together
Artists: Allie Laing and Alex Rapp
Project proposal: Nebraska is where some of the most hardworking, passionate and creative people live. It’s home to various cultures, peoples of different backgrounds, and tight-knit communities who care about one another. In today’s society, there’s power in numbers. When we support each others dreams we can accomplish more than we thought possible. This piece was inspired by living in a world that focuses on acceptance. We are stronger together. Every day we’re seeing a positive shift in society to have a borderless identity where gender, sexuality, or culture doesn’t keep us from being a united community. No matter where you come from, no matter what your background, and no matter your passions, lending a helping hand and rooting for one another can only spur us forward. Through bright colors and intertwining shapes, we hope this sculpture will bring light to our community and empower those who come across it.
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Serving Hands public art project
Project title: Dreamer
Artist: Joel Anderson
Project proposal: The toy duck allows the viewer to revisit youth or a simpler time, to reconnect with one's imagination. To imagine is to dream, to dream of what one's self can do and become.
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Serving Hands public art project
Project title: One Heart Reaches Many
Artist: Rosalia Roger
Project proposal: This design was inspired by the countless number of volunteers who devote their time to inspiring young people. One pair of hands can reach many through the passion, love and hard work dedicated by a dedicated volunteer who chooses to give to others. Volunteering for me comes in many forms: troop leader, scoutmaster, coach, mentor, parent volunteer and many more. There are countless ways of giving and the experience of volunteering is such a positive outreach! When one person shares of themselves, others are able to gain understanding and pass on what they have learned. This is essential in helping the young to grow into independent people who have a strong foundation. As a mother of five who also volunteers in various organizations, I know first-hand the importance of giving of myself and how, with guidance, a child’s life can change in a positive direction and grow they may grow into an amazing adult. Each of the handprints on my sculpture will be from children within the organizations for which I personally volunteer. It will exemplify how one individual truly does have the gift of reaching many. It is also a way to express “Thanks” to volunteers and to help inspire others to volunteer, as it will certainly have a most positive impact in our community and the world.
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Serving Hands public art project
Project title: Haymarket Warmth
Artist: Brian Arp
Project proposal: The nightlife of the Haymarket is dying down, but the warmth of the light is still much alive. As a couple gets a chance to enjoy the warmth of the light under a full moon, the protection of their umbrella helps to shelter them from the cold night. The umbrella might bring them closer, and give them a feeling of unity as they head to their destination. The back is a rendition of the same night at Pioneers Park, embellished with lighting to warm the trees on this cold night. The two scenes parallel the rural and urban qualities Lincoln has to offer.
