Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center Marks One-Year Anniversary as Hub of Art, Education, and Reflection at UNO
In celebration of the anniversary, SBMLC is offering two additional free events to the public.
- published: 2024/03/24
- contact: Bella Lockwood (Watson) - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications (MarComm)
- email: unonews@unomaha.edu
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The Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center houses works by renowned artist and Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak as a way to facilitate important discussions, educational events, and engagement opportunities on issues of genocide, human rights, the Holocaust, and artistic expression.
At the opening reception for the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center, UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, presented Bak with a replica of the Maverick Monument.
Samuel Bak and Bernie Puckert speak to high school students the day before the grand opening.
Samuel Bak speaking to a high school students the day before the grand opening.
More than 50 of Bak's works adorn the walls of the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center.
A family touring the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center.
More than 50 of Bak's works adorn the walls of the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center.
Individuals touring the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center.
An individual touring the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center.
The Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center (SBMLC) is located in Aksarben Village. You can enter the Museum through the lobby of 2285 S. 67th Street.
The Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center (SBMLC) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) proudly commemorates its first anniversary as a space for art, learning, and community engagement.
Since its grand opening in February 2023, SBMLC has welcomed over 6,300 visitors, including community members, K-12 students, and UNO faculty, staff and students.
In 2019, UNO initiated a collaboration with renowned Holocaust survivor and artist, Samuel Bak, to showcase an exhibition of 70 original artworks on campus. The overwhelming response from the community spurred Bak's generous donation of a 512-piece collection to UNO. This act of philanthropy laid the foundation for what would become the SMBLC, dedicated to fostering understanding and empathy through art and education.
Currently on display is the exhibition, "Becoming a Witness: From Abstraction to Figuration," which explores how Bak wrestled with bearing witness to the Holocaust and the role of memorials and monuments in today’s world. It explores how he embraced a broader mission to represent continued cycles of violence, genocide, and war and the importance of acknowledging the multiplicity of memories that form the fabric of American society. Complementing this exhibition are a range of free public programs, including monthly guest lectures, curator talks, and collaborations with local artists.
A Cause for Celebration
In celebration of the one-year anniversary, SBMLC is offering two additional free events to the public.
Thursday, April 4 at the Weitz CEC (201)
"Becoming a Witness: From Abstraction to Figuration" Exhibition Lecture Series
“A Conversation with Rebecca Clarren,” Award-winning author Rebecca Clarren will discuss her acclaimed book, The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance, in a conversation moderated by UNO Assistant Professor, Susana Geliga, Ph.D., and Mikal Brotnov Eckstrom. The event is free and open to the public, thanks to the support of the Claire M. Hubbard Foundation and UNO's Division of Student Life and Wellbeing. This event will take place on April 4, 2024, at 6 P.M. RSVP required.
Saturday, April 13 at the SBMLC
An Afternoon With Samuel Bak
Samuel Bak will join Chief Curator Alexandra Cardon via Zoom at this in-person event. They will discuss the Museum's first year, the current exhibition "Becoming a Witness: From Abstraction to Figuration," and Bak's reflection about his work and its importance in bearing witness to history. The discussion will include an in-depth look at some favorite works of art in the Museum's collection. After the 50-minute conversation, there will be a Q&A session. This event will be held on April 13, 2024, at 2 P.M. at the SBMLC. RSVP required.
Upcoming Events and Exhibitions
For more information about upcoming events and exhibitions, please visit the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center website or contact Hillary Nather-Detisch, executive director at SBMLC, at 402.554.3191 or unobakinfo@unomaha.edu.
About Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
The Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center, located at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is dedicated to promoting understanding, empathy, and social justice through art and education. As a hub of cultural enrichment and community engagement, the museum offers a diverse range of exhibitions, programs, and resources for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. The Museum is currently located in a temporary location in Aksarben Village, plans are being made for a permanent space in the future on UNO’s campus.