PRESS RELEASE

“A Trip Into the Seoul” exhibition opens Feb. 3 at Studio 62

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Omaha, Neb., Jan. 25, 2023 - The opening reception for the “A Trip Into the Seoul” exhibition takes place Friday, Feb. 3 at Studio 62.

“A Trip Into the Seoul” is the first exhibition presenting “Touch of Seoul,” an ongoing project by Omaha-based visual artist Thomas Halbur. The project aims to explore Halbur’s Korean heritage and culture through art and encourage collaboration in the Omaha creative community. The project is centered around a pair of custom-designed Nike sneakers influenced by Korean art that will eventually be raffled off to raise money for local non-profit organizations.

The exhibition is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is free to the public. Studio 62 is located at 2729 N 62nd St within BFF Omaha’s Petshop building in the Benson neighborhood.

Studio 62 is a DIY exhibition space available to rent on the First Friday of each month by artists seeking to exhibit and/or sell their work. The space also hosts occasional pop-up events. Studio 62 is managed by Aksarben Creative and has been in operation since 2020.

Halbur intends to exhibit the project in a variety of other locations throughout the spring and summer.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please visit aksarbencreative.com or email Ben Matukewicz at contact@aksarbencreative.com.

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Aksarben Creative, LLC. / Omaha, NE / 402-709-0044

PRESS RELEASE

“A Trip Into the Seoul” exhibition opens Feb. 3 at Studio 62

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Omaha, Neb., Jan. 25, 2023 - The opening reception for the “A Trip Into the Seoul” exhibition takes place Friday, Feb. 3 at Studio 62.

“A Trip Into the Seoul” is the first exhibition presenting “Touch of Seoul,” an ongoing project by Omaha-based visual artist Thomas Halbur. The project aims to explore Halbur’s Korean heritage and culture through art and encourage collaboration in the Omaha creative community. The project is centered around a pair of custom-designed Nike sneakers influenced by Korean art that will eventually be raffled off to raise money for local non-profit organizations.

The exhibition is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is free to the public. Studio 62 is located at 2729 N 62nd St within BFF Omaha’s Petshop building in the Benson neighborhood.

Studio 62 is a DIY exhibition space available to rent on the First Friday of each month by artists seeking to exhibit and/or sell their work. The space also hosts occasional pop-up events. Studio 62 is managed by Aksarben Creative and has been in operation since 2020.

Halbur intends to exhibit the project in a variety of other locations throughout the spring and summer.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please visit aksarbencreative.com or email Ben Matukewicz at contact@aksarbencreative.com.

# # # 

Aksarben Creative, LLC. / Omaha, NE / 402-709-0044

Join us at our studio for our Holiday Party! We'll be open at 2814 N 60th St during Benson First Friday. Cocktails, mocktails, and snacks will be provided. Plus we'll have a keg from Benson Brewery! We'll have games, music, and art. Feel free to bring a friend!

Eve Lanik works in various mediums including drawing, collage, digital art, plaster cast, and found objects; she often likes to connect these mediums to create installations. Terms such as “the abject” which has to do with humans instinctual fear of things to do with the human body that are typically seen as repulsive, and “momento mori” which translates to “remember your mortality” are implemented throughout their work in that it has a lot to do with the fears she has about her own body. 

Eve often uses herself as the subject in her work. She does this in hopes to foster a more direct connection with the viewer.

Eve Lanik works in various mediums including drawing, collage, digital art, plaster cast, and found objects; she often likes to connect these mediums to create installations. Terms such as “the abject” which has to do with humans instinctual fear of things to do with the human body that are typically seen as repulsive, and “momento mori” which translates to “remember your mortality” are implemented throughout their work in that it has a lot to do with the fears she has about her own body. 

Eve often uses herself as the subject in her work. She does this in hopes to foster a more direct connection with the viewer.

elements of change

new drawings by casey callahan

the only thing i am sure of in life is change.

the only thing i am sure will happen is loss.

things change. seasons cycle, time flows.

days lead to weeks, lead to months, lead to years, and the only thing i am certain of, is this.

the more i embrace this change and the more i welcome something new, the more beauty i find

over bitterness.

to let something flourish, and then let go and let it die, all in the same vein.

natural and rhythmic, day and night, dusk to dawn.

to let something rest, to be okay with it changing. to be okay if everything changes.

because it does.

if there is one thing i am sure of in life it is this.

Casey Callahan is an interdisciplinary artist and designer living and working in Omaha, Nebraska.

Her practice is interested in the process of perception. While the exhibitions and projects she

creates may vary in medium, her practice is always keenly focused on the intricacies of a viewing

subject. Using immersive installations or optically charged objects, she is interested in activating

an awareness of the embodied experience of art. Whether drawing from art historical movements

such as Impressionism, or more contemporary movements like Op-art or Relational Aesthetics,

Callahan seeks to create intimate, multi-sensory experiences.

“By blurring the lines between art and viewer, I endeavor to create a space for wonder and

healing.” - Casey Callahan

elements of change

new drawings by casey callahan

the only thing i am sure of in life is change.

the only thing i am sure will happen is loss.

things change. seasons cycle, time flows.

days lead to weeks, lead to months, lead to years, and the only thing i am certain of, is this.

the more i embrace this change and the more i welcome something new, the more beauty i find

over bitterness.

to let something flourish, and then let go and let it die, all in the same vein.

natural and rhythmic, day and night, dusk to dawn.

to let something rest, to be okay with it changing. to be okay if everything changes.

because it does.

if there is one thing i am sure of in life it is this.

Casey Callahan is an interdisciplinary artist and designer living and working in Omaha, Nebraska.

Her practice is interested in the process of perception. While the exhibitions and projects she

creates may vary in medium, her practice is always keenly focused on the intricacies of a viewing

subject. Using immersive installations or optically charged objects, she is interested in activating

an awareness of the embodied experience of art. Whether drawing from art historical movements

such as Impressionism, or more contemporary movements like Op-art or Relational Aesthetics,

Callahan seeks to create intimate, multi-sensory experiences.

“By blurring the lines between art and viewer, I endeavor to create a space for wonder and

healing.” - Casey Callahan

(featuring a soundscape by Tschida)

“Uncertainty…Whether it be the indecisiveness on the ‘correct’ course of action; the adversity that accompanies Depression, Anxiety, and ADHD; or the inability to articulate the thoughts inside my own mind; uncertainty has become a great influence on my creative journey and this exhibition was put together to get things out of my head and start a conversation.”

(featuring a soundscape by Tschida)

“Uncertainty…Whether it be the indecisiveness on the ‘correct’ course of action; the adversity that accompanies Depression, Anxiety, and ADHD; or the inability to articulate the thoughts inside my own mind; uncertainty has become a great influence on my creative journey and this exhibition was put together to get things out of my head and start a conversation.”

The Erotic Mind / Nik Hulstein (she/they)

An exploration into the erotic, our spirituality, and the future integration of machines through collage, 3D assemblage, and interactive pieces.

Artist Statement:

In my art practice I collage found images to explore the intersection of eroticism and spirituality. By morphing archetypes from popular culture, I construct visual tools for the viewer to engage and play with their own perceptions of sexual form and its overlap/connection to the sacred.

*****

For my solo exhibition titled The Erotic Mind, I have created collages and interactive assemblages. The works are aimed to incite a deeper dive into one’s erotic consciousness by dissecting familiar cultural constructs and reconfiguring them to create an open position.

Many of the works and concepts in this exhibition were inspired by Audre Lorde’s “Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power.” I was particularly drawn to Lorde’s description and function of the erotic and her emphasis on utilizing our lifeforce and creative energy to reclaim power over our lives.

The Erotic Mind / Nik Hulstein

‘In order to be utilized, our erotic feelings must be recognized. The need for sharing deep feeling is a human need.’ - Audre Lorde

An exploration into the erotic, our spirituality, and the future integration of machines through collage, 3D assemblage, and interactive pieces.

Works created by Nik Hulstein (she/they)

Join us at AC x Trudy’s for our August exhibition! Experience the art, enjoy some beer, and check out what’s on the menu at Trudy’s!

Imagination / John Brumbach

“I create hyper-real abstractions that capture light as it bends and breaks through sculptural arrangements of glass, paper and plastic. These single-exposure non-representational photographs create the illusion of expansiveness and altered meaning in a 2D space. I explore the subtle tension between chaos and line that result in dynamic textured geometric patterns that are often punctuated with color.”

Join us at Studio 62 for the closing of our July exhibition! Experience the art and check out the Aksarben Supply Co. shop.

"Art goes hand in hand with many things, mental health being a big one of them. The creative process is how we navigate the day to day. It helps to process complex emotions, to see difficult things more clearly and also to settle into healthy routines.

Creating art, in any fashion, is proven to lower stress levels, bringing a sense of balance to life. Through practice, bigger pictures are broken down into more manageable pieces; this translates into other aspects of how we live. At the end of the day we can look back at what we've done and what it took to get there. This brings a great sense of satisfaction and a drive to show up in order to keep growing. With art, the proof is in the pudding. By sharing our products, artists open the community to vulnerability and curiosity. There are no imposing limits or restricting rules in art, everyone has their own relationship to creation and that's the most beautiful thing!"

Join us at Studio 62 for the opening of our July exhibition! Experience the art, enjoy some champagne, and check out the Aksarben Supply Co. shop.

"Art goes hand in hand with many things, mental health being a big one of them. The creative process is how we navigate the day to day. It helps to process complex emotions, to see difficult things more clearly and also to settle into healthy routines.

Creating art, in any fashion, is proven to lower stress levels, bringing a sense of balance to life. Through practice, bigger pictures are broken down into more manageable pieces; this translates into other aspects of how we live. At the end of the day we can look back at what we've done and what it took to get there. This brings a great sense of satisfaction and a drive to show up in order to keep growing. With art, the proof is in the pudding. By sharing our products, artists open the community to vulnerability and curiosity. There are no imposing limits or restricting rules in art, everyone has their own relationship to creation and that's the most beautiful thing!"

Join us at AC x Trudy’s for our July exhibition! Experience the art, enjoy some beer, and check out what’s on the menu at Trudy’s!

Join us at Studio 62 for the closing of our June exhibition! Experience the art, enjoy a beer, and check out the Aksarben Supply Co. shop.

From the artist:

“As an artist, I like to capture how I’m really feeling in the exact moment. Growing up, no one supported me. Not even my own family. I never learned how to communicate my emotions and I wasn’t allowed to have my own voice. Now that I’m older, I use art to express my emotions by putting it onto a canvas. Through my paintings I hope to show people what’s going on inside of me. Everyday I’m growing as an artist and continually explore new medias and ideas.”

“As an artist, I like to capture how I’m really feeling in the exact moment. Growing up, no one supported me. Not even my own family. I never learned how to communicate my emotions and I wasn’t allowed to have my own voice. Now that I’m older, I use art to express my emotions by putting it onto a canvas. Through my paintings I hope to show people what’s going on inside of me. Everyday I’m growing as an artist and continually explore new medias and ideas.”

Studies from Samuel Hulsebus

Join us at Studio 62 in Benson for the closing of our May exhibition! Enjoy kombucha from FishEye Kombucha, learn about the BFF Green Team, and experience the art!

featuring works by Ben Matukewicz, Reid Doehling, Remington Krejci Smith, and Dawaune Lamont Hayes

“Growth” is a group show featuring works exploring the theme of growth while incorporating organic elements or designs. The works span a variety of mediums. Each piece portrays the concept of growth in different ways, be it organic growth or personal growth.

Join us for the grand opening party at our new studio!

featuring works by Ben Matukewicz, Reid Doehling, Remington Krejci Smith, and Dawaune Lamont Hayes

“Growth” is a group show featuring works exploring the theme of growth while incorporating organic elements or designs. The works span a variety of mediums. Each piece portrays the concept of growth in different ways, be it organic growth or personal growth.

curated by Ben Matukewicz

In the Moment / Reid Doehling - closing reception

zines + prints from Aksarben Supply Co. for sale

un(titled): a zine from Aksarben Creative launches April 1 at Studio 62!

In the Moment / Reid Doehling - on display