Join us on Sunday, January 26th from 2pm - 4pm at Omaha Public Library’s Downtown Branch and get to know the artists creating work for the new Central Library!
Doors open at 2pm for an opportunity to meet the artists and learn more about their work, with a presentation discussing the connection between each artist and the library beginning at 2:30pm. Then stay for a conversation, starting at 3pm, about the role public art plays in affirming radically democratic spaces, like libraries, in our city with three of these sixteen incredible artists, Richard Chung, Peyton Pearson, and Cindy Weil.
Registration for this event is not required but very much appreciated. RSVP below to help us plan!
About Omaha Public Library’s Central Library:
Omaha Public Library’s new Central Library will be a hub for creativity, collaboration, education, innovation, and workforce development. The library is currently under construction at the intersection of 72nd and Dodge streets and scheduled to open in 2026. Launched by Omaha Public Library and the City of Omaha in partnership with three nonprofit organizations - Omaha Public Library Foundation, Heritage Omaha, and Do Space - this new library is an important financial and cultural investment in literacy, digital equity, and community. The building is designed with accessibility in mind and includes spaces to learn, spaces to gather, and spaces to create for people of all ages.
About the Panelists:
Richard Chung was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in the California Bay Area, where he earned his B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, under the guidance of ceramic artist Richard Shaw. Seeking further artistic growth, Chung relocated to Omaha, where he worked as a studio assistant for the esteemed artist Jun Kaneko. This invaluable experience allowed him to fully immerse himself in the daily life of an artist, providing unique insights into both the creative process and the business aspects of art.
Richard's work is in the permanent collections of the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. He currently lives and works in Omaha, NE.
Peyton Pearson is a fiber artist based in Omaha, whose work explores themes of touch, memory, and loss. Graduating summa cum laude from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a BFA in Studio Art and a BA in Art History, Pearson has participated in solo and group exhibitions, including “Exit Wounds” at Petshop and “Spring Tides” at Project Project, both in Omaha. Their journey into fiber art began at age 17 when two women at the Omaha Public Library taught Pearson to knit, sparking a lifelong passion for textiles.
Cindy Weil is a fiber artist based out of Omaha and New York, New York. She graduated from Creighton University, New York School of Interior Design, and School of Visual Arts in New York City. Weil's work can be found in private and commercial collections around the country.
Cindy's upcoming solo exhibition will be held at the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) in Kearney, Nebraska in March 2025. Select recent exhibitions include School of Visual Art, Flatiron Gallery NYC, Four Person Juried Alumni Exhibition, New York City, 2024; Joslyn Castle and Gardens, Omaha, Nebraska, 2024; School of Visual Art, New York, New York, 2023; Bemis Center's Benefit Art Auction, Omaha, Nebraska, 2022; and Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA), Kearney, Nebraska, 2022. Residences include School of Visual Art, New York, New York, 2023 and Icelandic Textile Center, Blonduos, Iceland, 2019
All Omaha Public Library locations are wheelchair accessible. Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please email Nancy Novotny at NNovotny@omahalibrary.org to request accommodation. Requests must be made at least five business days before the activity or event.