Throughout 2023, Amplify’s Alternate Currents program worked to interrogate how artists and organizers might more thoughtfully align their practices with anti-capitalist orientations, and the movement lineages they come from, to build relationships, rest, and shore up regenerative modes of exchange. Sharing resources and holding cultural goods in common surfaced again and again as viable working practices for distributing wealth, knowledge, and power more equitably.
To that end, The Reading Room, Amplify’s next Generator Series project, collects printed material Alternate Currents cohort members discussed, considered, and shared with one another over the past year. Hung throughout the gallery-turned-commons, visitors are invited to take printed materials, read, rest, reflect, and offer new perspectives on how justice in the arts might be interpreted, documented, and enacted.
To celebrate the closing of The Reading Room on Friday, February 9th, Amanda Huckins, Maritza N. Estrada, Aspen M. Laboy, and Jewel Rodgers will give live readings of their work beginning at 7:30pm.
The closing event is free and open to all. No RSVP necessary. Doors will close from 7:30-8:30pm during live readings. Face masks are welcome and encouraged. The Reading Room is also open by appointment during regular gallery hours. Please register below to schedule your visit.
Exhibition Dates: January 18th - February 9th, 2024
Closing Reception: February 9th; 6pm - 9pm; Live readings begin at 7:30pm
Regular Gallery Hours: Thursdays and Fridays; 1pm - 5pm by appointment.
About the Readers:
Amanda Huckins is a Nebraskan poet whose work has been published in booklet form as "Trying to End the War" (merrily merrily merrily merrily, 2017) and featured in A Dozen Nothing (adozennothing.com), among other places on paper and online. In her weekday hours, Amanda is an Early Head Start educator and participates in building the brain architecture for social emotional and cognitive development in infants and toddlers. In addition to her paid work, Amanda is a grassroots organizer who works alongside fellow community members to build self-determination, forge non-transactional relationships, and create radical free spaces (such as past DIY spaces The Commons in Lincoln, NE and Media Corp. in Omaha). She is also a letterpress printer who produces posters and other ephemera in her garage print studio, where she teaches typesetting to anyone who wants to learn.
Maritza N. Estrada earned her MFA in Creative Writing at Arizona State University. Estrada’s recent poem “Audience” was published in the Academy of American Poets—the nation’s leading champion of American poets and poetry. Born in Toppenish, Washington to Mexican parents, she calls Phoenix, Mexico City, and Paris, home. ¡Liberar Palestina!
Aspen M. Laboy (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist from Omaha, Nebraska working in poetry, glass sculpting, installation, short film, and film photography. Exploring concepts of environmentalism, internal identity, and cultural heritage, they are influenced by nature, the social sciences, and philosophy. Some of their work has been shown in group exhibitions at MoonRise Gallery, BLUEBARN Theatre, LUX Center for the Arts, and Generator Space. Their solo shows have been exhibited at Fleabane Gallery, Goldsmith Silversmith, and Family of Things. Aspen has published three books; “Spirit” (2017), “The Quiet Lion” (2018), and “I MATTER” (2022). They have performed poetry at Project Project, Parrish Studios, and occasionally participate in local open mics. In 2023, several of their selected poems were aired on “Friday Live” with Nebraska Public Media through NPR. In the same year, Aspen became one of the selected artists for the Alternate Currents Working Cohort through Amplify Arts, in addition to being involved with the Community Advisory Group.
Jewel Rodgers is an interdisciplinary poet, performer, and visual artist creating with the purpose to connect. She has shared her work across the Midwest and MidAtlantic regions, appearing in spoken word, public speaking, and multimedia projects, including 100 Years | 100 Women (Park Avenue Armony – NY, NY), TEDxLincoln (TEDx – LNK, NE), and Amplifying the Black Experience (Opera Omaha – OMA, NE). Alongside her artistic practice, Jewel is working toward reshaping the built environment. After earning a Master’s in Real Estate Development (New York University) and completing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) as a Buffet Scholar, she continues toward the long-term goal of “co-creating our community.” She currently creates and maintains privately held spaces for public interaction, including her most recent project - North Omaha’s Tierra Park (2413 Spencer St).