Continuing Potential

Photo by Bryce Bridges Photography

It has been 8 months since our last post, just a few days after the epic dinner in October. Sometimes a climax needs to be honored, and allowing that post to remain at the top was the honorable thing to do. Hopefully that event has solidified in minds, and everyone involved are now rested and recovered. Several of the chefs have escalated their restaurants to new heights, farmers have taken on more land, new organizational relationships have formed. And now we dream of what’s next.

Meanwhile, the banners remain a topic of conversation. Will they stay? Will they go? How long will they last? What do they really mean? How do we change ordinances so more projects like this can happen in our city? Can more banners be added to finish the whole west side?

Yes, they will stay. We have heard you, and very much appreciate the support the community has shown. Some neighbors had concern with the lighting and increased foot traffic. We have addressed these and will continue to monitor.

The current banners will stay for the life of the material, as determined by the Zoning Board of Appeals earlier this year. Because this project is unprecedented, and the images are not actually ‘signage’ but art, figuring out how to manage them within the public process has been a new challenge for everyone.

The banners do have meaning beyond their beautification and it has been fun to hear people discover and discuss them. The intent of this project is to see everyday parts of our city anew with possibility and to initiate conversation.

Yes, we are going to add 12 more to finish the whole west side, thanks to support from the Omaha Venture Group. The current banners will be moved to the northernmost silos, and the new images on the topic of Transport(ation) will be installed where the current ones are. This also provides opportunity to UV coat the current panels for a longer lifespan.

We did hit a snag with the Zoning Board of Appeals a couple weeks ago in acquiring approval to add these new banners. We will go before them again on June 16 for a final vote and are meanwhile launching the competition as planned. We are gathering letters of support from public entities and agencies, and would like to invite the community to that meeting to show support not only for this project, but as a voice for a creative and innovative city.

June 16, Zoning Board of Appeals Monthly Meeting
1819 Farnam Street (City Hall), Room 702
Noon: Soup Revolution will be serving lunch near City Hall Plaza, let’s eat together!
1:00 Meeting begins

Meanwhile, download the Call for Entries, and start working on your submission……………