Parrish Studios (ParrishProject.com) invited the community to do something wonderfully simple: come play. On Sunday, Feb. 1, the second floor of Parrish Studios transformed into a collaborative art space during Painting at Parrish, a hands-on, all-ages event centered around creativity, whimsy, and local culture.
Help Paint a Portal to Downtown Lincoln
The heart of the event was a brand-new mural installed in the elevator lobby. Designed by local artists, the mural served as a visual “portal” to Downtown Lincoln, featuring recognizable landmarks such as Memorial Hall’s Archie, the arena, Haymarket Tower Square, the Capitol, and Parrish Studios itself. Visitors helped bring the mural to life through a color-by-number painting experience.
A few people painted at a time, rotating throughout the afternoon so everyone had a chance to participate.
While waiting for a turn at the mural, guests hung out in the adjacent UnCommon Gallery, where tables were stocked with art supplies. Attendees made itty-bitty art for the itty-bitty art machine, colored printed versions of the mural design, or simply enjoyed the freedom of making something without pressure.
“It doesn’t have to be good,” said Cinnamon Dokken, Parrish Studios manager. “There doesn’t have to be a goal. It’s about that childhood whimsy, just making things because it’s fun.”
Zines, Music, and Punk Curation
Adding to the vibe, the creators of Interobang, a local music zine, were on site. Known for their high-energy presence and lovingly old-school approach, Interobang is published monthly and features interviews and coverage of Lincoln’s music scene. They unveiled their newly installed, fully collaged zine cabinet in the Parrish UnCommon Space, located next to the piano. The setup operated on an honor system: take a zine from the top drawer, leave your quarters in the bottom drawer.
Ceramics, Bake Sale, and Supporting the Arts
Just off the UnCommon Gallery was The Garden, a large ceramic studio with windows facing O Street. They hosted a bake sale to support their programming and ongoing efforts to operate a full-size kiln in the space.
The celebration didn’t stop upstairs. A Novel Idea bookstore was open (a special Sunday opening), local businesses throughout the building were open and welcomed visitors, and limited-edition Parrish Studio t-shirts, block prints, and mural stickers were available for purchase.
Downstairs, food and drink specials rounded out the day:
• Bodega’s Alley: Lemon Love cocktail (similar to a Lemon Drop)
• Duffy’s: Irish Frog shot and Aperol Spritz
• George’s Gourmet Grill and Ali Baba Gyro: free drink with food purchase
A Building Full of Community
Parrish is home to independent businesses, artists, and makers, all local and deeply rooted in the Lincoln community.