Past Conference 2010
Midwest Art History Society
Annual Conference 2010
Omaha, Nebraska, April 8–10, 2010
The Midwest Art History Society held its 37th annual Conference in Omaha, Nebraska April 8–10, 2010. Host institutions were the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the KANEKO center and the Joslyn Art Museum. Conference Sessions on Thursday, April 8 were held at the Joslyn Art Museum, where participants were able to view the permanent collections of European and American art as well as the Center for Western Studies and the newly installed sculpture garden. On Friday the sessions were held at KANEKO, and on Saturday at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. KANEKO is a new organization dedicated to celebrating and exploring human creativity in the arts, the sciences, the humanities, and in business. The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts located nearby, was visited by many participants as well.
Omaha is a strong supporter of the arts. The Joslyn Art Museum is housed in a beautiful Art Deco building, erected in 1931 with an addition built in 1994 by Sir Norman Foster, his first American project. Other outstanding buildings are the Durham Museum, housed in the former Union Pacific train station, another fine Art Deco structure, and the recently completed Holland Center for the Performing Arts. Near the site of the conference is the Old Market, a one–time warehouse district that has been turned into an area of restaurants, shops, art galleries and other amenities.
On the afternoon of Saturday, April 10, an afternoon side trip to Lincoln to visit the Sheldon Museum of Art took place. The Sheldon, opened in 1962 in a building designed by Philip Johnson at the center of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, possesses an outstanding collection of American Twentieth Century Art.
The residence hotels for the conference were the Courtyard by Marriott and the Hilton Garden, both within easy walking distance of the KANEKO. A shuttle was provided to the Joslyn Art Museum for the activities scheduled there.
Next year’s annual conference will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan in spring 2011. Check, the MAHS Web site soon for more details.
