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SBMLC logo from left-to-right: Four narrow rectangles placed closely together to make a square. Each pillar is of varying shades of one color. Text reads: University of Nebraska at Omaha, Samuel Bak Museum The Learning Center.
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Give Today on Giving Tuesday and Support the Museum 

Your gift helps to make an impact in our community. 

Samuel Bak’s paintings demand that viewers first have an emotional relationship to the work of art before exploring the histories and themes presented. His art encourages viewers to depart from their initial reaction to consider complex historical situations and question the “hows” and “whys” of history. Learning about history through art and applying lessons learned through listening to others is a unique and needed opportunity today.

Collage of three photos showing people in the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center. The left image shows a large audience seated during a public lecture in a gallery space. The top-right image shows Samuel Bak sitting and thoughtfully observing an artwork. The bottom-right image shows two students wearing gloves closely examining a framed artwork on a table.

Please consider making a gift today!

We hope you will consider donating today to ensure the Museum’s mission reaches more visitors and impacts our communities in ways only your gift can make possible. 

Infographic showing giving levels for the Samuel Bak Museum. $25 supports free admission; $50 supports free hands-on art programming; $100 provides family-friendly activities; $250 sponsors a Museum visit for 50 students; and $500 sponsors a youth-focused exhibition guide. The call to action is 'Give Today' at bak.unomaha.edu.
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Final December Programming at the Museum 

Sharaka Panelist Conversation – Thursday December 4, 6 PM

Shared Futures: Evolving Peace through Partnerships - Five Years of the Abraham Accords with Sharaka 

Join us for a powerful and timely conversation with young leaders from Sharaka, a groundbreaking initiative building understanding and partnership between Arabs and Israelis. These changemakers—many raised in societies shaped by antisemitism—are now using their voices to challenge hate, promote coexistence, and advance peace. Through personal stories of transformation, they’ll share their experiences visiting Israel, engaging in Holocaust education, and building bridges across the rapidly evolving Middle East—all inspired by the promise of the Abraham Accords. All Museum programming is FREE and open to the public, but due to limited seating, preregistration is required. RSVP Today!

 

Exhibition Lecture – Saturday, December 6, 2PM

Bak & Music

Performance by: Dr. Christine Erlander Beard

Dr. Beard will deliver a captivating musical performance to complement the current exhibition at Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center. The program will feature compositions by banned composers, victims of war, and music that ties into the current exhibition. All Museum programming is FREE and open to the public, but due to limited seating, preregistration is required. RSVP Today!

Bak to Basics: Chess for All Ages – Sunday, December 7, 1PM

Join us for a introductory chess program. Learn about chess and magical realism in Samuel Bak’s paintings. Participants will engage in a brief history of chess followed by a lesson on how to play chess. This program is designed for beginning players and seasoned chess players who enjoy helping others learn. All Museum programming is FREE and open to the public, but due to limited seating, preregistration is required. RSVP Today!

 

Last Chance - Suspended in Time: Still Lives and Magic Realism closes on December 21!

Banner for the "Suspended in Time: Still Lives and Magic Realism" art exhibition, showing two paintings. The one on the left is a floral arrangement, and the one on the right is a surreal still life. The banner also lists the dates of the exhibition as August 20 - December 21 and social media handles: @uno_bak on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Suspended in Time: Still Lives and Magic Realism presents the still life works of artists Ori Gersht (b.1967), Stephen Namara (b. 1953), and Fidencio Fifield-Perez (b.1992) in conversation with a selection of Samuel Bak’s (b.1933) paintings. Historically, still life paintings have allowed artists to reflect upon our human condition through the meticulous depiction of objects, platters of food, flowers, and fruits. Capturing these elements on the cusp of decay, artists commented on the ephemerality of human existence, the vanity of youth, and the dangers of over-indulgence. In these contemporary renderings, each artist blends the personal and the domestic to ponder broader historical and contemporary narratives. This exhibition explores how these artists used their medium to create poetic and fantastical arrangements to question a “known reality” and highlight the impossibility of depicting the world in all its complexities.

Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center thanks the following sponsors for their generous support of Suspended in Time: Still Lives and Magic Realism and accompanying educational programs and events.

A grid of logos and names of various sponsors, including Douglas County, The Sherwood Foundation, Omaha Steaks, Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation, Nebraska Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, The Milton S. and Corinne N. Livingston Foundation Fund, Valmont, Annette and Paul Smith, Mutual of Omaha, and Cynthia Epstein and David Wiesman.

Fostering Language and Community: UNO Spanish Class Delivers Impactful Art Tour for Local Families

Dr. Claudia García taught her World Languages and Literature Spanish class, 3070-860 at the Museum every Tuesday this semester. For their final project, her 10 students led a tour of the exhibition Suspended in Time: Still Lives and Magic Realism for a community group. The group that visited the Museum was composed of 2 facilitators from Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy – South Center and 36 women and children from south Omaha who are taking part of their Fall programing. The program was organized with One World Community Health Centers.  

A woman is seen holding a child in front of a red wall. They both are looking at a large Stephan Namara painting.

Free Audio Tour

The Museum mobile tour is back, offering a free audio tour available for visitors in English, Spanish, and French. Please bring your headphones and a smart device to scan a QR code at each stop.

Guided Tour Requests

Would you like a Private Guided Tour? Complete the Guided Tour Request Form for more information.

Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2289 South 67th Street, Omaha, NE 68016

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