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Tessellation Project
Category: Exhibitions • Free | Season: Community
Communal artistic expressions during this time of physical seclusion and social disruption.
This Community exhibit is an evolving public art project, Tessellation, created by hundreds of individual pieces of art, each individually submitted by members of our local community and people across the United States and around the world.
The Tessellation Project began in March 2020 as a way for KANEKO to engage individuals and communities sheltering in place in response to COVID-19. To guarantee safety, people were asked to submit their art digitally, and in a few months over a thousand digital and video images were submitted, carrying with them, unique stories of managing lives in a time of seclusion. Since then some pieces have been shipped or submitted in person, adding a new dimension to this constantly changing exhibit.
This project is a work in progress beginning with the curation of the first phase, Isolation. The second phase, Ritual, was a call for multi-media submissions of rituals that people created or appreciated in a new way during their time at home. Over time the newer phases will be added and the overall exhibit will become something, say something, reflect something different.
Submit Work to The Tessellation Project
The current phase of the Tessellation Project is Ritual. Our world is moving through dramatic and difficult times. After strict isolation, the world began opening up, adding more ambiguity and choice to how we move. More recently, we are witnessing and reacting to tragedy, outrage, and the need for a movement to correct years of oppression and racism. There is friction and pain and work to be done. We wish to respond to the variety and complexity of these new movements by adding new questions and mediums to the next phase of The Tessellation Project.
Submit & Learn More
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Juan de Dios Sánchez
Category: Exhibitions • Free | Season: Community
“In The Blood of all Mexicans”
This first American exhibit by the Mexican ceramicist Juan de Dios Sánchez Arce is rooted in imagery and stories that live “in the blood of all Mexicans.” This collection represents the evolution of a Raku fire technique that Sánchez and his team have pushed to the limits of what any other ceramic artist has done. This exhibit is about a lost lesson: about the balance of nature and humanity in the universe, life and death, and how Sánchez believes this lesson is beginning to recover in the minds of his culture.
Sánchez began collaborating with Jun Kaneko over twelve years ago when he, after seeing Kaneko’s work, asked how he managed to build such monumental works. Kaneko, in response, asked the very same question about Sánchez’s slip-cast and Raku fired work. The processes of both these artists are difficult and have been independently pushed to the limits over and over. The combination of these mutual investigations led to revolutions in large-scale slip-cast Raku fired ceramics that had never before been achieved. Much of the result of this collaboration can be seen in this exhibit as well as in Kaneko’s ongoing work.
What to Expect When You Visit KANEKO
We have created a safe environment for this Opening so that everyone attending can enjoy themselves. By reserving a space for this Opening you accept the following:
- Doors at our main entrance on 11th and Jones will open ten minutes before each 45-minute time slot for check-in. We recommend not coming earlier to avoid having to stand outside.
- Guests will observe a 6-foot distance from each other while waiting for doors to open and while in the KANEKO (if you are with a group of cohorts you may stay close together but please remain at a safe distance from other guests).
- Masks are required while waiting outside the main entrance for admission and inside the KANEKO.
- At the 45 minute mark, you will be asked to move out of the exit through the Bowtruss so the space can be cleaned and readied for the next group.
About Juan Sánchez
Sánchez has lived and worked in Cuernavaca, Mexico for the last 15 years. He grew up in an environment of both art and medicine; his father was a doctor, but his life was immersed in art and Sánchez was drawing and painting at a very young age. As a young man, Sánchez practiced as a doctor of anesthesiology for 17 years but changed professions to become a ceramist. His medical studies influenced the way he sees life, the way he behaves, and the way he feels compelled to help others. The discipline to be a good artist grew from the discipline he learned from the intense study of medicine.
By maintaining contact with ceramicists in Europe, Sánchez facilitated a side business, working with Mexican artisans and selling large quantities of high-end functional ceramic ware to distribution companies all over Europe. He studied Raku fired ceramics with his brother at a production studio in Healdsburg, CA before opening their ceramic studio in Mexico. Although he had many other projects and professions at the time, he ultimately took over the studio. He continued to study ceramics and quickly began pushing the normal expectations of scale with both slip-cast and Raku fired works.
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Therman Statom
Category: Education • Exhibitions • Free | Season: Community
Art is a Tool for Empowerment and Education
Like all exhibits in the Community Exhibition, this work will respond and evolve through time. The entrance to Statom’s exhibit is a giant glass wall that will remain at KANEKO semi-permanently to designate our newly expanded education space, but even that massive structure will change; the colors, found objects, and stories within will be moved, replaced or added.
Therman Statom is a pioneer in the contemporary glass art movement, a longtime friend of Ree and Jun Kaneko, a KANEKO board member, and a social activist. Much of the latter half of his career has been focused on the importance of educational programming within the arts. Statom has taken a deep interest in employing workshops as a catalyst for social change and, in effect, positively impacting a community. This exhibit displays a variety of his new and historical work, but the greater story is this catalyst as a dynamic and powerful movement for social justice.
“I feel that art is a tool for empowerment and education. It’s also a viable tool to investigate positive change and engage a culture through the use of exploration.” – Therman Statom
About Therman Statom
Therman Statom – sculptor, glass artist, and painter – is most notably known as a pioneer of the contemporary glass movement for his life-size glass ladders, chairs, tables, constructed box-like paintings, and small scale houses; all created through the technique of gluing glass plates together. Sandblasted surfaces become a canvas for spontaneous vibrant colors and line work, which take nuances from Abstract Expressionism and concepts of Minimalism, while simultaneously incorporating a twist by using blown-glass elements and found objects.
Born in Winter Haven, Florida in 1953, Statom spent his adolescence growing up in Washington, D.C. His interest in the arts grew from a fondness of painting and he began to investigate ceramics at RISD. However, after an experimental glass blowing session with Dale Chihuly, he was soon hooked on the spontaneity of glass blowing and its limitless possibilities. Statom went on to pursue studies at Pilchuck Glass School during its inaugural year, completing a BFA in 1974 from RISD, and later studied at the Pratt Institute of Art & Design.
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Pamela Conyers-Hinson
Category: Exhibitions • Free | Season: Community
Infused with questions, vulnerability, and disruption.
Pamela Conyers-Hinson moves through the world investigating and experimenting. Often this work is done through the use of discarded and forgotten materials, the shared stories of women of color, or the magnification of a subject’s journey. Nothing embodies this more than her mask work: the physical and intellectual relationship developed between artist and subject through touch and conversation as the material is applied, and the manifestation of a face whose ancestral facial features are embellished and elevated by the artist through hand-painted design.
Most of the work in this exhibit was completed between 2018 and 2020 and some pieces were made at KANEKO; all are infused with questions, vulnerability, and disruption. Conyers-Hinson’s use of multiple mediums: wood, bronze, marble, alabaster, clay, and textiles, represents the diversity of her subject matter and the intimate and tactile ways she engages with her audience and her community.
About Pamela Conyers-Hinson
Conyers-Hinson holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching and Organizational Leadership and a BA in Studio Art. She is a classically trained sculptor using the lost wax method for bronze casting and traditional methods for stone carving and her interest in sustainability within the arts is evident by her use of experimental natural mediums. She received the Council of American Art Society Inc. Award for Excellence in Representational Sculpture and was a 2018 Fellow at The Union for Contemporary Art in Omaha, NE. She has taught art all over Nebraska: in rural communities with exhibitions from the Sheldon Museum of Art, for Joslyn Art Museum, and in after school programs focused on underserved populations. Conyers-Hinson has exhibited artwork in New York, Illinois, and Virginia, is a member of the National Association of Women Artists (New York Chapter), and recently published a book of artwork focusing on capturing ancestral facial features titled “Expressions of Black Heritage Through 50 Faces.”
Artist Statement
What I am creating is called a “Life Mask” simply because my models are alive. The process of mold making can be a scary journey for some. For others, it’s the equivalent of getting a deep facial. One thing I have learned during this process is that it rests on a foundation of trust and intimacy. I have to quickly gain the trust of my models. I have to explain my process in a way that my models trust me enough to step out of their comfort zone and relax. Intimacy is obtained not only through tacticity but also through the whispered sharing of stories. These are stories that one would not normally share with someone that falls under the umbrella of “stranger.” But by giving me permission to enter your personal space, we have become part of each other’s journey. I am touching your face while applying a thin layer of Vaseline. I feel the history of teenage acne, the physical and sometimes emotional scars of past traumas. This gives me your approval and for whatever reason, it is ok for me to be in your space.
I always meet with the models sometimes days before or hours before explaining my process step by step. I want to make sure that the model is as comfortable as possible. The model will lay down on a table covered with pillows and there is always music playing in the background. The music will give the model something to focus on during the mold making process. It is important that the model knows that even if it appears like they do not have control over the process they do. They can stop me at any point. I discuss signals to determine where the model is emotional during the mold making process. I explain the purpose of the application of Vaseline (release agent) and how the pieces of straws will extend the length of the nasal passageway. The pre-cut template out of foam board will fit around the model’s face. Any gaps around the face will be sealed with duct tape. This will prevent the plaster from flowing down the sides of the face into the hair. Throughout the process, I am talking to the model. I am checking for non-verbal cues; like a change in breathing patterns. This could be an indicator that the model might be getting anxious.
With straws in hand, the model is guided to the table and lays down. I make sure that all of the pillows are in place to ensure the model’s comfort. Once the application of the release agent is complete, I mix the water and molding plaster. With the template and tape in place, I check the model for comfort once again. I begin applying the now thickened plaster. During the application, I’m explaining that the plaster will go on feeling cold. I always start the application process around the edges of the face and work my way inward. I always announce the next application location. Normally, it is at this point that I tell the model to insert the straw pieces into their nostrils. I explain again that once the plaster is over their eyes, light is no longer visible. The last place I apply plaster is the area between the upper lip and between the nostrils. At this point, the signal is thumbs up or thumbs down. I am still talking to my model and giving an updated timeframe for the removal of the mold. I explain to the model that the plaster will begin to warm up as it is setting. I tap the mold to determine if it is ready for removal. Once the mold is ready, I inform the model. I begin by removing the straws from the model’s nostrils and then I pop off the mold. I instruct the model that the eyes must remain closed until I clean the area around the eyes. The next level of trust and intimacy begins as I begin the process of hand washing the model’s face. Once the model’s face is clean, the model can view the plaster mold.
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Watie White
Category: Education • Exhibitions • Free | Season: Community
Some are bold, some are funny. All are human.
Watie White’s new exhibit consists of two separate bodies of work, each with individual and vital ties to this community and to KANEKO. Both projects are rooted in the process of woodcut printmaking, a reductive process that begins with a flat piece of wood into which the white of an image is carved. White’s newest project is the presentation of 4 of the largest woodcut panels he has ever created, all containing moments the artist himself experienced and which hold secrets woven in.
Also presented are a series of large prints from 100 People, a public art project which White began in January of 2017. This project features friends and collaborators of White’s who advocate for others, who bring joy with their practices and whose lives are intertwined with the ethics and generosity they display to their communities and the world.
About Watie White
Born in Palo Alto, CA, Watie White was raised in a transplanted family of cultural anthropologists in very rural Southern Illinois. Watie learned early the power of the stories we tell and the long term effect of being heard. The diverse work produced by his studio is known for being site-specific and highly collaborative, deeply skilled, and rife with hidden absurdity.
Watie received degrees from Carleton College (BA 1993), School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA 2001), and American University (MFA 2003), has attended multiple International residencies and sustained an obsessive studio practice since 1996.
In Omaha, Nebraska since 2006, his work has embraced studio-based painting and printmaking as well as a socially engaged public art practice incorporating local communities, nonprofits, and multiple school districts. Learn more about Watie White
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Ceramics Philosophy June
Category: Education • Free • Summer Camps | Season:
Explore your inner Kaneko in this brand new ceramics camp.
Campers will learn the foundation of hand-building methods of slab, coil, and pinching clay. Activities will be wide-ranging, including ideas about sound, architecture, the vessel, and personal narratives. Students will have the opportunity to discuss current pieces in the KANEKO exhibition, surrounding works in the Old Market, and a tour of the Jun Kaneko studio. Campers should come ready to have a high-energy week that includes quick sketch periods, short gallery and neighborhood tours, and multi-piece explorations of the ideas they bring for each assignment. No prior experience is needed and novice students are encouraged to join. Campers will be led by ceramics artist and former Jun Kaneko studio assistant Peter Scherr. Children Entering Grades 6-9.
SUMMER CAMP UPDATE
In order to ensure the safety of our creative community and to support all students and parents managing this challenging time, we are moving our summer camps to an online model AND making these virtual camps FREE for all students!
Our staff is working very hard to give all summer campers a quality virtual experience and have moved to a donation-based model to make sure ALL kids can have an inspiring, creative experience at their fingertips.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
All materials needed for this camp will be provided by and delivered to your door by a KANEKO staff member. All you will need to participate in this camp is the following:
- Internet Access
- Computer with Webcam
- A fairly distraction-free workspace that can get messy
DONATIONS GLADLY ACCEPTED 💯
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to explore their creativity and are so happy that you chose to enroll your child in this Creative Summer Camps with the KANEKO!
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it much more difficult for families to provide their children with unique and thoughtful learning opportunities, which is why we’ve made our camps online and FREE this summer. COVID-19 has also made a large dent in the KANEKO’s programming funds, so if you wish to donate, we would be forever thankful for your generosity; all proceeds will go towards our educational programming.
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Unapologetic Me: Film Screening & Pop-Up Exhibition
Category: Free • Performances | Season: Influence
A Celebration of Black Queer Art
Join KANEKO and Andrew Aleman Consulting for unapologetic me: A Celebration of Black Queer Art. We invite the Omaha community to join us for an evening filled with visual art from several Omaha-based black queer and trans artists. The evening will end with a showing of unapologetic me: Black | Gay | Man. This screendance by Justin Dominic and producers Justin Dominic, Micaiah Carter, and Daniel P. Calderon, tells a story through movement and visual imagery, about the intersectionality of being a black gay man. Justin Dominic and Daniel P. Calderon will be joining us from New Jersey for a filmmakers discussion following the showing.
Tickets: This program FREE, but registration is required and space is limited. A suggested donation of $10 cash donation is requested at the door – all money raised goes to our featured visual artists.
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Architecture with HDR
Category: Education • Free | Season:
Build & Explore
Join the HDR team for a five-day design camp that will introduce the interesting interplay between the concept of a circular economy and the practice of architecture. In this camp, students will explore how ideation, design techniques, modeling, drawing– and, above all, collaboration between fearless designers–can be applied to regenerate and reimagine form and structure, creating “new” architecture through the actual construction of a full-scale design-build project that will be displayed in the KANEKO galleries. Children Entering Grades 7-9.
SUMMER CAMP UPDATE
In order to ensure the safety of our creative community and to support all students and parents managing this challenging time, we are moving our summer camps to an online model AND making these virtual camps FREE for all students!
Our staff is working very hard to give all summer campers a quality virtual experience and have moved to a donation-based model to make sure ALL kids can have an inspiring, creative experience at their fingertips.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
All materials needed for this camp will be provided by and delivered to your door by a KANEKO staff member. All you will need to participate in this camp is the following:
- Internet Access
- Computer with Webcam
- A fairly quiet/distraction-free workspace
DONATIONS ACCEPTED 💯
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to explore their creativity and are so happy that you chose to enroll your child in this Creative Summer Camps with the KANEKO!
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it much more difficult for families to provide their children with unique and thoughtful learning opportunities, which is why we’ve made our camps online and FREE this summer. COVID-19 has also made a large dent in the KANEKO’s programming funds, so if you wish to donate, we would be forever thankful for your generosity; all proceeds will go towards our educational programming.
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Video Game Design
Category: Education • Free • Summer Camps | Season:
Explore the creative process of video games.
A returning champion from summers past, Video Game Design camp welcomes a new instructor that offers an exciting new creative process! In this camp, students will jump into the video game development pipeline and practice 2D game design principles alongside the RHO Interactive game design team. Using the Unity game engine and open-source software, campers will create new character skins, animations, backgrounds, and complete playable levels using RHO’s multiplayer battle-game “Megaton Punchers”. This camp offering requires no coding, as we will focus on the creation of digital assets and the use of in-engine tools for making fully interactive experiences focused on core game design principles and narrative development practices. Children Entering Grades 7-9
SUMMER CAMP UPDATE
In order to ensure the safety of our creative community and to support all students and parents managing this challenging time, we are moving our summer camps to an online model AND making these virtual camps FREE for all students!
Our staff is working very hard to give all summer campers a quality virtual experience and have moved to a donation-based model to make sure ALL kids can have an inspiring, creative experience at their fingertips.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
All materials needed for this camp will be provided by and delivered to your door by a KANEKO staff member. All you will need to participate in this camp is the following:
- Internet Access
- Computer with Webcam
- (Optional) Camera/Cell phone camera
DONATIONS GLADLY ACCEPTED 💯
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to explore their creativity and are so happy that you chose to enroll your child in this Creative Summer Camps with the KANEKO!
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it much more difficult for families to provide their children with unique and thoughtful learning opportunities, which is why we’ve made our camps online and FREE this summer. COVID-19 has also made a large dent in the KANEKO’s programming funds, so if you wish to donate, we would be forever thankful for your generosity; all proceeds will go towards our educational programming.
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Architecture with RDG
Category: Education • Free | Season:
Everything is Design
Join the RDG architects in an all-encompassing introduction to the fundamentals of architecture and design and explore your creativity in the overarching theme ‘Everything is Design.’ As a collaborative, we will explore the idea that design is all around us and can be found in color, material, and the built environment. Using multiple mediums, students will collaborate using inspiration gathered throughout the week to produce an installation for the KANEKO creating “The City of Found Form.” Children Entering Grades 7-9.
SUMMER CAMP UPDATE
In order to ensure the safety of our creative community and to support all students and parents managing this challenging time, we are moving our summer camps to an online model AND making these virtual camps FREE for all students!
Our staff is working very hard to give all summer campers a quality virtual experience and have moved to a donation-based model to make sure ALL kids can have an inspiring, creative experience at their fingertips.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
All materials needed for this camp will be provided by and delivered to your door by a KANEKO staff member. All you will need to participate in this camp is the following:
- Internet Access
- Computer with Webcam
- A fairly quiet/distraction-free workspace
- (Optional) Camera/Cell phone camera to photograph work
DONATIONS GLADLY ACCEPTED 💯
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to explore their creativity and are so happy that you chose to enroll your child in this Creative Summer Camps with the KANEKO!
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it much more difficult for families to provide their children with unique and thoughtful learning opportunities, which is why we’ve made our camps online and FREE this summer. COVID-19 has also made a large dent in the KANEKO’s programming funds, so if you wish to donate, we would be forever thankful for your generosity; all proceeds will go towards our educational programming.