Current Programming
Exhibition Lecture Series
All exhibition lectures are free and open to the public. RSVP required.
Curator Talk | | Susana Grajales Geliga, Ph. D | Mark Gilbert Ph. D | Christine Beard, Ph. D | Samuel Bak
Bak to Basics: Chess for All Ages
All sessions are free and open to the public. Please RSVP in pairs - limited to 12 attendees.
April 13 | May 4 | | June 8 | June 29
Curator Talk - Thursday, February 13, 6:00 PM
Chief Curator of Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center, will introduce the key themes of the new exhibition War Games. The talk will be followed by a tour of the exhibition for a closer look at specific paintings in the exhibit.
Speaker: Alexandra Cardon
Exhibition Lecture - Thursday, March 13, 6:00 PM
Archives versus Experiences: Native American Children in the Boarding School System
Susan Geliga, Ph.D will discuss working on the archives of the Genoa Indian School in Genoa, NE as well as present her research on Native American children during the boarding school era. Dr. Geliga (Sicangu Lakota) is an Assistant Professor of History and Native American Studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), as well as a member of the Executive Council. She is also a co-director for the Genoa Indian School Digital Reconciliation Project at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required.
Speaker: Susanna Geliga, Ph.D.
Exhibtion Lecture - Thursday, April 10, 6:00 PM
The Healing Power of Art
Creating portraits is a complex process that necessitates a series of profound interactions, fostering an environment conducive to open communication between the artist and the sitter. Mark Gilbert, Ph.D will discuss how such environments cultivate significant relationships that inspire reflection on often overlooked intersections of art, medicine, aesthetics, and ethics. Dr. Gilbert will emphasize how his experiences as an artist, particularly in engaging with individuals who have endured trauma and suffering, have led to nuanced insights regarding the therapeutic potential of art, impacting both the artist and the subject alike.
This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required.
Speaker: Mark Gilbert, Ph. D
Bak to Basics: Chess for All Ages - Sunday, April 13, 1:00 PM
Join us for a family friendly introductory chess program.
This youth program is for age 10 and above to 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.
This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required.
Please RSVP in pairs - limited to 12 attendees. Youth participants must have an adult partner in attendance.
Bak to Basics: Chess for All Ages - Sunday, May 4, 1:00 PM
Join us for a family friendly introductory chess program.
This youth program is for age 10 and above to 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.
This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required.
Please RSVP in pairs - limited to 12 attendees. Youth participants must have an adult partner in attendance.
Exhibition Lecture - Saturday, May 10, 2:00 PM
War Games - Music of Lullabies, Nightmares, and Child's Play
UNO's Professor of Flute, Dr. Christine Beard, joined by talented students, alumni, and faculty from the UNO School of Music, will present a deeply moving concert featuring powerful compositions crafted to offer comfort, spotlight the harrowing impact of war on children, and give a voice to the voiceless. Experience music that serves as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path toward a brighter tomorrow.
This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required.
Speaker: Christine Beard, Ph.D.
Exhibition Lecture - Saturday, June 7, 2:00 PM
An Afternoon with Samuel Bak
Samuel Bak will join Chief Curator Alexandra Cardon via a live Zoom conversation to discuss the Museum’s current exhibition War Games, including Bak's 2024 series Tools of the Trade. This in-person program will include an in-depth look at how Bak’s works represent his fears for children whose lives and futures are destroyed by war while providing hope through his unending belief in humanity’s ability to mend and bring peace. After the 50-minute conversation, there will be a Q& A session.
This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required.
Speaker: Samuel Bak
Bak to Basics: Chess for All Ages - Sunday, June 8, 1:00 PM
Join us for a family friendly introductory chess program.
This youth program is for age 10 and above to 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.
This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required.
Please RSVP in pairs - limited to 12 attendees. Youth participants must have an adult partner in attendance.
Bak to Basics: Chess for All Ages - Sunday, June 29, 1:00 PM
Join us for a family friendly introductory chess program.
This youth program is for age 10 and above to 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.
This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required.
Please RSVP in pairs - limited to 12 attendees. Youth participants must have an adult partner in attendance.