The Magic City at the Hot Shops

The first exhibition of photographs from my series on South Omaha is up and ready to go at the Hot Shops. The spring open house runs today from 12-8 and Sunday from 12-5. I'm going to do my best to be around for most all of the open house so stop by and say hello.

Framed images are priced at $100 (16x20) and $70 (11x14). If you're interested in the smaller size, please be aware that you will receive a matted image. There was a mix-up in the mats I ordered, so the photographs on display are framed without mats. So it goes.

I'll also have a selection of 6x9" images from the series and some greatest hits for sale for only $30 in a very nice string-tie envelope.

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Here's the artist statement for the project:

The Magic City
Photographs of South Omaha

After being founded in 1884, South Omaha grew to be a city of 8,000 people by 1890 and 30,000 by the time Omaha formally annexed it in 1915. Because of this remarkable growth, South Omaha was nicknamed "The Magic City."

I moved to South Omaha a few years ago and have fallen in love with this area of the city. This photo project is a an exploration of its neighborhoods and a tribute to its rebirth over the last decade. It serves as a visual document of South Omaha's details and landscapes as it exists at this particular moment in history.

I'd like to thank Kate Saroka, Kelly Adams, Les and Deanna Vavak, Jeremy Hanson, Nic and Kaeli Swiercek, and Bill Hess for their help and support in my endeavors.

Pre-show print sale

For the next two weeks, I'll be offering a print sale to help with some of the costs associated with the show at Hot Shops that opens May 5th. William Hess and I will have photographs on display in the Hallway Gallery throughout the month. My images will be from a South Omaha project I've been slowly working on for the past year.

This time around, I thought it would be nice to offer something a little more affordable. So here's the deal...


A 6x9" print of (almost) any image from my Flickr page for only $25. The print will be enclosed in a custom paper envelope and will include a small signed and numbered certificate.

If you'd like the print mailed to you, please add $7 for shipping.

Please email your request to josephvavak (at) gmail.com and I'll send you a Paypal invoice.


And the fine print...

This offer excludes any images in the "Beginnings" set on Flickr.

If you choose a square image, it will be an 8x8" print.

Depending on demand, expect to receive the print at some point between the middle and end of May.

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line.

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Thank you to everyone for your support. It is always greatly appreciated. I look forward to seeing many friendly faces at the Hot Shops during the Open House weekend on Saturday and Sunday, May 5th and 6th.

For those interested in the ninety-three photobook, I apologize for the delay. Between work, school and this upcoming show, I've had very little time to spare. I plan to get the book ready to go once June gives me more free time.

All good things must come to an end

It was a great month, but the ninety-three exhibition at the Hot Shops has come to an end. I met so many great people and got so many positive comments on the work that it was all very overwhelming.

Going into the show, I was more than a little apprehensive about showing my photography to a wider audience. It's one thing to take a picture. It's quite another to assume that anyone would really want to look at the picture. In the end, everything went wonderfully and my fears were unfounded. I really wish the month wasn't already over, but look forward to sharing more of my creations in the future. After all, this is only the beginning.

Again, thank you to everyone who came out to see the show. And welcome to any new fans I may have found over the course of the last month.

The time is now.

Hello May!

The show has been hung and I can't wait for everyone to get a chance to see it. I'm excited for how it turned out. It was a stressful few days getting prepared but everything is ready to go. The open house at the Hot Shops runs 12-7 on Saturday and 12-5 on Sunday. I look forward to seeing some familiar faces.

I have to thank a few key people who helped make this a reality. Kelly Adams from the Hot Shops for her patience, very supportive nature and helpful advice. William Hess for printing and mounting the images for the show. Logan Epps for crafting the shelves that make the whole thing work. And Steven Schmiedeskamp for lending a hand to hang the show on very short notice.

There are many more people who have inspired and accompanied me along the way that I am just as thankful for. I am very lucky to have a life with so many great friends and family around me.

Enjoy the show.