PROJECT HISTORY
Laura Alley, director of Faith Foundation and artists Betni Kalk and Weston Thomson are co-creators of A + I and the project continues to evolve to meet the needs of local visual artists, including a new project called Art + You that exhibits Omaha Metro artists in local businesses. Marshall Faith generously funds many A+I murals through the Faith Foundation.
PROJECT FOUNDER:
Laura Alley recognizes and promotes the transformational impact that public art has on a city. In March 2020, when the reality of Covid began to sink in and the shut downs were beginning, Laura had an idea to do something to keep local artists working while bringing joy to Omaha. She hoped to pull together artists that would create excellent public art in surprising places, the forgotten spaces, the spaces in-between.
Laura believes it critical that this project is Artist-Led, so her first calls were to Betni Kalk and Weston Thomson, friends and local artists she admires and has worked with over the years. Laura’s vision requires that the art is of excellent quality, created by an inclusive, diverse mix of local artists. Art + Infrastructure was born.
As the concept took shape, the team looked for an organization to host and administer the project. Scott Dobbe, Executive Director at Omaha by Design, was enthusiastic to help and the collaboration and brainstorming for mural locations quickly began with 18 murals on ORBT bus stops.
LED BY ARTISTS
Artists Betni Kalk and Weston Thomson are the co-leads of the project. They paint murals, develop and curate mural designs with artists, create digital renderings, prepare selected sites for artwork installation, and assist our selected artists as needed to ensure overall project success.
Betni Kalk graduated with an MFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design and is an Associate Professor of Design at Creighton University. She advocates for community murals via the communitymurals.info website that she founded. b-e-t-n-i.com / IG @betni
Weston Thomson graduated with a BFA degree from California State University Chico and has completed and managed over 50 public mural projects on the west coast and in Omaha. He is the lead artist at Chromatic Black Studio. westonthomson.com / IG @chromaticblackstudio
PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR
From 2020-23, Omaha by Design was responsible for financial management and communication, ensuring the project’s lasting contribution towards a more vibrant, livable city for all.
Beginning in 2024, project administration is shared between LaLa (Local Artists. Local Arts) and OBD.
PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION
The City of Omaha Public Arts Commission has been an excellent resource and aid in the process, reviewing each artwork to ensure a consistently high standard for public art across the city.
https://mayors-office.cityofomaha.org/2-uncategorised/210-public-art-commission
LOCAL ARTISTS
We consult with local artists to help us find other local artists and to brainstorm more ways to help local artists.