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PARALLEL VISIONS: Art and Community

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Dear Supporters,

Parallel Visions is a space founded by Vernee Norman in September 2016, in which exhibitions and community events are driven by people of color as both curators and audience members. I am Katharen Hedges, Parallel Visions Art Director and University of Nebraska Lincoln art student. In 2016, I joined Vernee Norman’s pursuit.

As artists, women of color, and Lincoln residents, we view Parallel Visions as a necessity. Lincoln’s population is 89.5% white, and, consequently, fostering creative communities of color can be quite difficult. People of color are often forced to leave our representation, our curation, our very identity in the hands of those who cannot grasp what it means to live in our bodies. Parallel Visions is an opportunity to reform the projected image of our communities by taking it back into our own hands. We want artists to feel deeply considered when being exhibited in the space. We want viewers of color to see themselves reflected in the art and to feel their experiences are seen. We want white viewers to encounter our art and be changed.

Parallel Visions’ mission is to provide a permanent local space where people of color and their art are visible and valued.

Since last September we have put on art shows, a fashion show, a Lemonade screening, a clothing exchange, an artist talk, pop-up shops, community discussions, photo shoots, meetups for artists of color, interviews, musical events, poetry readings. We hope to expand in our services. Thus far Vernee Norman has funded the space almost entirely from her own pocket. However, funding for 2017 - 2018 is not yet lined up.

Some costs we face include:

Rent: $5,100/year

Installation Supplies: $400
Hammer, nails, screws, level, measuring tape, screwdrivers, cleaning products, wall paint and supplies, lights replacements, etc

Display Supplies: $200
paper, foam core, pedestals, chairs, tables

Rent For remainder of year: $1500

Food: $800
For events and exhibitions. *calculated for 2 events/month requiring food

I want to say thank you to Peggy Gomez, Nolan Tredway and all the wonderful individuals at Tugboat Gallery who have let us use their pedestals, measuring tape, and other materials for months. I also want to thank the Hixson Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts for allowing us to borrow their pedestals as well. In addition I would like to think the numerous contributors and volunteers at Parallel: Thalia Rodgers, Katie Cramer, Krys Rose, and Jeff Moscaritolo.Thank you to the numerous artists who have come through our space, to our viewers, donors, and Vernee Norman.

Vernee Norman has taken on the huge financial burden of funding this space and I and so many other people are incredibly grateful for her sacrifice. As a recent college graduate with loan debt, she stepped out and did something for this community and in order to show our gratitude anything above the 8,000 dollars will go to the remaining rent at Parallel Visions (lease is up in June) and to the costs that Vernee has been absorbing for some time.

Finally I want to thank you. Whatever you give, it is deeply appreciated. Thank you for supporting our mission.


Sincerely,
Katharen Hedges
Parallel Visions Art Director

Donations 

  • Rayna Watson
    • $25 
    • 7 yrs
  • Art Auction
    • $438 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Art Auction
    • $115 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $96 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $260 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs

Organizer

Katharen Hedges
Organizer
Lincoln, NE

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