Arts

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Fremont Area Art Association

The Fremont Area Art Association is the home of Gallery 92 West. The exhibit area is located in downtown Fremont at 92 W. Sixth St. It includes two main floor galleries, an all-purpose room, lounge, upper-level sales gallery, library and space for classes and workshops. The gallery hosts approximately 10 exhibitions of local, regional and national artists each year, in addition to youth shows.

Pamela King is executive director.

Gallery hours are from 1 to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday when an exhibit is in progress. Programs and tours are available; 721-7779. Web site: www.fremontareaart.org.

Midland Lutheran College

Midland Lutheran College provides a variety of entertainment and cultural events throughout the academic year. In addition to college produced theatrical, vocal and band performances, the college, in conjunction with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lied Center for Performing Arts, also brings visual and performing artists to Fremont for concerts, lectures and recitals. Most programs are free to the public. Events are held most often in Kimmel Theatre, Musbach Art Center or Clemmons Hall. Some of the annual events include:

Speech and forensics showcases
Plays and musicals
Concerts by Midland's choir, band, Clef Dwellers and Chamber Choir
Local, regional, and national art shows
Martin Luther King/Racial Reconciliation Celebration in January.
Black History Month in February.
Midland Heralds Christmas in December.

The college also co-sponsors the Fremont-Midland Entertainment Series, which has more than
1,000 members whose membership provides free admission to college students for six annual performances. For more information or a schedule of events call 941-6054 or 800-642-8382; Web site: www.mlc.edu.

Music Makers

Fremont is full of musicians and vocalists, such as the Fremont Pathfinder Barbershop Chorus. The well-known chorus has an annual spring show at Fremont High School and a Christmas program which is a fund-raising event for the Fremont Salvation Army. Contact Dave Pinkall, 727-1613.

Fremont’s elementary and secondary schools also provide a variety of vocal and instrumental music opportunities for youth, such as the All-City Chorus and band.

Jim Elsberry conducts The MasterSingers, which include singers from the Omaha and Fremont areas.
Midland Lutheran College also sponsors various musical events including student jazz, vocal and instrumental performances, in addition to hosting numerous guest performers each year.

Dance

Hundreds of Fremont youth take dance lessons from a variety of teachers. Most perform during John C. Fremont Days and at other local events.

Studios include:

Creative Dance for Children, 1941 E. Eighth St., 721-0378.
Fremont Academy of Dance, 241 N. Main St., 727-7580.
Julie's Creative Movement and Dance Studio, 1735 E. Military, 654-3864.
Lackey Dance Studio, 1955 E. 12th St., 727-1168.
Spykstra Acadamy of Classical Ballet, 1735 E. Military, 721-7970.

Keene Memorial Library

Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N. Broad St., provides information and leisure reading materials as well as activities in support of literacy.

More than 100,000 volumes
225 magazines and newspapers
Videos, CDs, audio cassettes and DVDs
Story times and puppet shows for children
Summer Reading Program
Baby Play and Toddler Play
Homebound book delivery
Large-print books
Spanish-language books and media
Remotely accessible databases for research
Internet access and Web site
Friends of the Library and Junior Friends groups

Fremont residents can apply for library cards without direct charge; non-residents may purchase library cards. Applicants must show indentification. Ann Stephens is library director, 727-2694. Web site: http://keene.lib.ne.us.

Library hours:
• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Wednesday - 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
• Sunday - 2 to 5 p.m.

May Museum

The Louis E. May Museum, 17th Street and Nye Avenue, houses our history — and entertains us as well.

The museum sponsors events during John C. Fremont Days, a “Day in the Past” for about 500 area fourth-graders, the annual Homesteaders Fair in October, Christmas at the Museum and the Fremont Travel Film Series each winter.

The museum is a 25-room mansion that was built by Fremont’s first mayor, Theron Nye. It is owned by Dodge County and contains the Dodge County Historical Society’s collections. Hours are:

• 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. (the last tour begins at 3:45 p.m.) Wednesday through Sunday, April through December
• Closed on Sundays in April, September, October and November

Admission is $4 for adults, $1 for students 12 to 18 years old and 50 cents for children under 12. Group tours are available. Patty Manhart is museum curator; 721-4515.