kaneko at the gardens
May 11, 2011
If you’ve never been to Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s botanical center, you’ve now got an additional reason to make your first visit – more than 50 drawings and large-scale ceramic sculptures flanked by lush greenery and colorful flowers.
“Outside Kaneko,” which opened April 29, features the art of Jun Kaneko, whose work is celebrated around the world. The promotional material describes the exhibit as follows: “The placement of each sculpture in the garden setting is sensitive to the garden elements and evokes a sense of peacefulness and harmony.”
Kaneko established his current studio in Omaha in 1990. His bronze and glass sculptural work and two-dimensional artwork appears in numerous international solo and group exhibitions annually and is included in approximately 50 museum collections. He has realized almost 30 public art commissions in the United States and Japan, and has been honored with national, state and organization fellowships and an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Art in London.
The exhibit includes a variety of educational, cultural and artistic programming. Tours, which are free with admission or membership, are available through Aug. 28. Specially trained docents will lead participants on a walking tour to view the sculptures and drawings.
Curator tours, which include wine and a gourmet picnic dinner, are available on select Wednesdays. Spencer Crews, executive director of Lauritzen Gardens, or Troia Schonlau, exhibit curator, will lead the tours. Costs vary.
“Outside Kaneko” is on display through Sept. 15. For more information, visit www.omahabotanicalgardens.org.