
Through guided tours, gallery talks, interactive storytelling, workshops, lectures, and other educational programming, the Loves Jazz & Arts Center seeks to inform its patrons of all ages of the contributions of African American artists in the Omaha region and nation wide.
Exhibit-based guided tours illuminate the theme and content and correspond to established standardized goals.
Online Exhibitions
Catalogues
“Islands of Spirits”
“Anonymous African American Portraits”
“Lamentations & Celebrations”
"African American Quilts from the Robert and Helen Cargo Collection,"
Exhibitions Archive
Click a photo for more information
"Anonymous"
African American Portraits
“Dinner at Aunt Connie’s”
Jazz Musician Icons
Rudy Smith
"In Our Own Image"
Bernard Stanley Hoyes
"Lamentations & Celebrations"
“Islands of Spirits
Juried Nebraska Art Educators Exhibition
African American
Quilts
1st Annual African American
Exhibition
2nd Annual African American
Exhibition
The Tuskegee AIrmen
"Flight For Freedom"
During the 1930s and 40s, Omaha was a booming regional center of jazz. In an era in which every small town had its own dance hall, countless bands toured incessantly to bring live music to every corner of the nation. In the vast territory of the upper plains from Wyoming to Minnesota those bands were likely to come from Omaha.
We were centrally located, Love said. This was the hub, the booking center for the biggest dance territory in the world ... we played all the dance pavilions and ballrooms in the Midwest. Minnesota had thousands. Nebraska had hundreds ... all the bands were working six or seven nights a week. So therefore, to service these bands, we brought musicians from all over the country to Omaha because the employment was here.
There were some other cities like Kansas City, or Oklahoma City where they had some bands, but Omaha was the hub because we were centrally located. So these hundreds of black musicians came here. From these were some great players. The proof of it is, where did they go, those who were good? Ellington, Basie, every band of any note had several ex-Omahans. They might not have been born in Omaha, but they lived here for several years while they played.
Preston Love
More:
Loves Jazz & Arts Center, in partnership with Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership, (ENCAP ) has successfully completed our 3rd Summer Youth Camp. Each year, LJAC brings expert artists to the Center to work with up to 25 youth participants in varying genres. The goal is to teach young people the value of artistic expression, a viable, marketable skill, and the numerous career paths available to artists. In the process, they learn about their culture, history and contributions of African Americans.
Opening 01 / 29 / 2010:
“Telling Our Stories”
4TH ANNUAL AFRICAN
AMERICAN ART EXHIBITION
Featuring:
Jazz Performance Honoring
Dr. Martin Luther King

Dr. King with the Brown Family in Omaha, 1962
Pre Opening Jazz Performance by
Curley Martin
Mr. Curly Martin, an Omaha Jazz Fusion legendary drummer who played with the late Preston Love his son, Terrace Martin of California who has produced music for Snoop Dog and, Sam Salamon are returning to Omaha for a single performance!!!
Also featuring:
The LJAC Wordsmiths with a heartfelt tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
(Clarence "Nabraska" Barbee, Ty Harper, Michelle Troxclair, & Felicia Webster)
Love's Jazz & Arts Center
Thursday, January 21st
6:30p.m.
FREE TO THE PUBLIC!
Food and beverages will be served!
Rhythm Collective

Rhythm Collective is the recipient of the Omaha Entertainment Award (OEA) voted the best performing band in 2008.
Come listen to the music of RHYTHM COLLECTIVE! Original and cover tunes all done in a reggae style. Party with Frank, Joseph, Jason and John as they take you on a musical vacation!
reception
October 30th from 6-7 pm
New Harmonies
Celebrating American Roots Music

Call to Artists:
4th Annual African American Art Exhibition – December 15th 2009 deadline
Keeping in line with our mission: “To preserve and promote the unique history and cultural talents of local and national African American artists.”
The Loves Jazz & Arts Center is pleased to present this opportunity for local & regional African American Artists to exhibit their original fine art. This exhibit is open to artists of all mediums, including but not limited to painting, printmaking, sculpture, installation art, drawings, photography, new media and mixed media.