Upcoming Events
Saturday July 31, 10 -11 a.m.
Education Center, Homestead National Park, 8523 West State Highway 4, Beatrice, Neb.
Free and open to the public
Details
Join past National Park Service artist in residence Linda Stephen for a special “Kids in the Park” event.
The Education Center is about 1/2 mile west of the Homestead Park museum – accessible by car (or by foot on trails through the prairie).
Time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
FREE
Ages: Program designed for ages 6-12. Families welcome.
Program: Reading origami picture book “The Day We Went to the Park” followed by an outdoor exploratory walk and indoor origami craft time to fold paper into butterflies or caterpillars.
Art exhibit: See a few of the original illustrations for picture book “The Day We Went to the Park” — hundreds of origami sculptures.
Presenter: Origami artist, author and illustrator Linda Stephen, a former artist in residence at Homestead National Park.
Signed book: Signed copies of the picture book at TheDayWeWentothePark.com or at the event
For questions on Kids in the Park weekly Saturday programs, contact a park ranger at 402-223-3514. Learn more about Homestead National Park, history of homesteading, restored tallgrass prairie, and more at https://www.nps.gov/home/index.htm.
COVID-19 Response: Consistent with CDC recommendations, people who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces.
Where: Minden Opera House Gallery, 322 E. 5th St., north side of historic courthouse square, Minden, Nebraska. Free parking in the square including just in front of the opera house.
When: March 2-April 30, 2021
Opening Reception and Artist Talk: Saturday March 13, 2-4 p.m.
Opening Origami Workshops for Collaborative Community Art. Join in “Folding Minden Together”: Saturday March 13, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Gallery open 10 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays. Saturdays by appointment. Call 308-832-0588 to schedule.
Why: See original art celebrating the nature and cities of Nebraska through paper. Tour (for free) the renovated historical opera house. Visit the Sandhill Crane Migration and then enjoy inside culture and history. Fold paper and leave a legacy. Take 2 minutes or less to fold paper for the community collaborative origami artwork “Community Unfolding in Minden.”
What: Origami collage landscapes of Linda Stephen. The exhibit includes original illustrations for the picture book “The Day We Went to the Park” as well as 3D paper art of prairies, cities, farms, rivers and fields.
CREATE ART FOR ALL
Join Linda Stephen and the Minden Opera House in March and April 2020 in creating a new artwork “Community Unfolding in Minden” celebrating the community coming together. Fold a square or two of paper to make your impression for the future.
Additionally, the Opera House and Stephen will be providing kits and instruction videos – or live online instruction – to art classrooms in all three public schools, Jensen Memorial Library, and Bethany Home Nursing Facility in Minden. The goal is to have hundreds of Minden residents of all ages contribute to the final piece. All finished pieces will need to be returned to the Opera House by no later than May 8 so that Stephen can begin assembling them into her final design. The unveiling of the finished piece has not been set yet, but Brandt says that there will be a large celebration planned when the time comes. “Community Unfolding in Minden” will be on permanent display at the Minden Opera House.
Donations to help defray the cost of the project can be given to Minden Opera House, PO Box 1, Minden, NE 68959 or online at mindenoperahouse.com.
Who: Stephen is a nationally award-winning paper artist whose artworks are part of public and private collections around the world. Linda’s art medium is paper: Japanese handmade washi papers and origami sculptures that she invents. Stephen’s intricate landscapes celebrate the beauty that is all around us.
Stephen teaches workshops on origami, Japanese culture and Japanese paper arts across the country. She is a member of Origami USA and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and SCBWI Nebraska chapter. A native of the Midwest, Stephen has traveled around the world and lived for more than six years in Japan. In 2020, she published her first picture book “The Day We Went to the Park” (Handersen Publishing).
July 9-August 21 – Art Exhibition “Willful Women, a Tribute to the Artists”
Group exhibit including “Summertime on the River,” paper art by Linda Stephen inspired by historical women artist impressionist Mary Cassatt.
Where: Artworks in Big Rapids, 106 N. Michigan Ave. Big Rapids, MI
https://www.artworksinbigrapids.org/
231-796-2420
M-Sat. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
July 14-August 30 Library Summer Reading & Origami Video for Lincoln City Libraries
Who: Artist, teacher, author and illustrator Linda Stephen
Where: Livestream event Tuesday July 14 from 2-2:30 p.m. on library Facebook page + Video recording of storytime & origami time saved on the Library Web site on the Summer Reading Challenge 2020 page.
When: July 14 through August 30
June 30-August 15 Library Summer Reading & Origami Video for Nebraska City
Who: Artist, teacher, author and illustrator Linda Stephen
Where: Video section of Facebook page of Nebraska City’s Morton-James Public Library. Direct link to video recording here.
When: Video recording of the storytime & origami with author, illustrator & artist Linda Stephen available from June 30, 2020 until August 15, 2020.
Total time: 33 minutes. The video was livestreamed for the public on June 30 at 10 a.m. Central Time.
Join origami picture book author and illustrator Linda Stephen in making a paper craft and reading her new children’s book “The Day We Went to the Park.” Linda also taught 2 origami projects: how to make an origami caterpillar (part of her book and her invention) + how to make a simple origami flower.
The art for the book includes more than 1,000 origami sculptures and hundreds of handmade papers. Lincoln artist Linda Stephen exhibits her origami landscapes nationally. Her art is part of collections around the world.
This program was streamed live on the Morton-James Public Library Facebook page on June 30 for the Summer Reading 2020 “Imagine Your Story” program. A recording was archived to view later. Craft kits with paper was provided by the library. Thank you to all who attended before and after!
– Check out a copy of the book “The Day We Went to the Park” from the Morton-James Public Library collection!
– Order your own signed copy of the book – paperback ($11.95) or hardback ($19.95) at https://thedaywewenttothepark.square.site/
Learn more about Linda and her origami art: www.TheDayWeWenttothePark.com or www.facebook.com/LindaStephenOrigamiArt.
LiveStream Event May 8 at noon for 1,000 Cranes for Lincoln Healing
Join the students of Bluestem Montessori Elementary School in the paperfolding event “1,000 Cranes for Lincoln’s Healing.” On Friday May 8 from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m., Lincoln origami artist Linda Stephen will be teaching the public a lesson on how to fold an origami paper crane. The livestream video event will be hosted at www.Facebook.com/BluestemMontessoriElementary.
In these troubled times, Bluestem Montessori decided to facilitate a city-wide act of healing. Every year, the students learn origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, because it is a great way to practice focus, resilience and fine-motor skills.
“We wanted to do something to help our community, and we came up with the idea of making 1,000 cranes because we are studying Asia and origami right now,” said executive director Laura Erickson. “We have done several projects to help when there is pain in the world, and now we have a pandemic affecting all of us, including here in Lincoln. We know that education right now is difficult, and we know that kids and adults are struggling to feel connected. The cranes can open a door to wider study and provide a therapeutic and peaceful activity that we can all do together as a community while we are stuck at home.”
Stephen, a children’s book author, illustrator and nationally award-winning paper artist has taught origami to thousands of people of all ages across the country. She will show the audience step-by-step tips for folding a square piece of paper into an origami crane.
The students began folding cranes April 27. Their goal is to finish 1,000 cranes by May 21, the last day of school, and their wish is to bring healing to Lincoln. To keep and add cranes folded to the school count, message the Facebook page of Bluestem Montessori Elementary. Donations of cranes can be mailed by May 21 to Bluestem Montessori Elementary School, 6300 A St, Lincoln, NE 68510.
For other questions, contact the artist at Info@LindaStephen.com.
Local authors * Local bookstore * Local publisher
Artist and author Linda Stephen May 16 at 2 p.m.
Meet local Lincoln authors and illustrators in May on Saturdays at 2 p.m. on the Facebook page of Francie & Finch Bookshop. Local picture book authors and illustrators will be reading their books LIVE on the Facebook page of Francie & Finch Bookshop. Event at www.Facebook.com/FrancieandFinch. Order these books before or after and read along!
Saturday May 2, 2020
Children’s book author Nichole Hansen will be reading her books “Sharky Dreams of Pizza” and “Kids Count.” Learn more about the author and her books at https://www.nicholehansen.com/index.html
– “Sharky Dreams of Pizza” – Sharks, pizza, and friendship. Ages 3-8.
– “Kids Count” – Ages 3-6. Written by Nichole Hansen and Tevin Hansen.
Saturday May 9, 2020
Children’s book author Nichole Hansen will be reading “Zany Can Do Anything” and “Bumblebee Sneeze”
– “Zany Can Do Anything” – Meet Zany the unicorn. Dream big, be yourself, work hard. Ages 3-10. By Nichole Hansen and Tevin Hansen.
– “Bumblebee Sneeze” – poetry for children, skateboarding to nighttime. By Nichole Hansen, illustrated by Tevin Hansen.
Saturday May 16, 2020
Author, illustrator and origami artist Linda Stephen will be reading The Day We Went to the Park, which features Holmes Lake Park and the wonders to be found on a trip to the park. This book by nationally award-winning paper artist Linda Stephen is illustrated with more than 1,000 origami paper sculptures.
DIY time, too, as artist/teacher Linda Stephen shares an origami paper-folding craft for all ages, too. Learn more about the author at TheDayWeWenttothePark.com or LindaStephen.com
– “The Day We Went to the Park” -Discover the wonder of a trip to the park in this origami picture book from paper artist Linda Stephen. Rhyming story by Linda Stephen and Christine Manno. Ages 3-10 (with art for all ages). BUY personalized, signed copy here.
Saturday May 23, 2020
Author and illustrator Karissa Bettendorf will be reading “Everybody’s Baby” and “Dreams.” See the charming watercolor illustrations by this Lincoln artist.
“Everybody’s Baby” – Welcome a new baby. Ages 3-8. By Karissa Bettendorf.
“Dreams” – Bedtime story of dreams for all ages. Written by Francis “Bud” Henderson. Illustrated by Karissa Bettendorf.
Saturday May 30, 2020
Nichole Hansen reading books by Nebraska authors with Handersen Publishing.
“How Rudy the Rooster Got His Voice” – Self-esteem and perseverance. Ages 3-8. Written by Gina Bittner and illustrated by Kelly Kingsley, Nebraska education professors.
“ABC Football” – Alphabet and football. Ages 3-8. Written and illustrated by Kelly Kingsley.
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Read along, too! Support local authors and businesses. Order The Day We Went to the Park from the author for a signed, personalized copy. Or order these picture books anytime at FrancieandFinch.com for curbside pickup or online delivery. The local authors and illustrators featured are published by Handersen Publishing, a children’s book publisher headquartered in Lincoln.
Order books online or for curbside pickup at Francie & Finch bookshop 130 S. 13th St. For questions, call Leslie at Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. in Lincoln at (402) 781-0459.
