Artist Watie White used grant funds he received from the Mid-America Arts Alliance to continue work on a collaborative project with Habitat for Humanity.
The Artistic Innovation grants fund new, experimental, and collaborative work. White's grant assisted him in his work with condemned houses in the North Omaha area.
Habitat for Humanity assigned him the homes. White interviewed neighbors around the houses and investigated the items left inside before creating narrative paintings about the people who lived there.
"We built this 30-foot table with bench seating for 30-40 people. And we held a series of dinners between 10-12 people from the neighborhood, 10 or 15 people that work in North Omaha in the non-profit world as well as some art supporters to come and have an open conversation on whatever common ground people will find.”
White says he hopes this project will also help build relationships among individuals and organizations with diverse backgrounds and missions.
The Mid-America Arts Allianceis currently accepting letters of intent for the next round of Artistic Innovation grants. Details are available online at maaa.org.