Art, Empathy, and Ethos

The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha’s Old Market

This timely thematic residency invites artists to explore complex feelings through a different lens

A multimedia project based on our attachments to the physical world. A series of performances investigating the private needs and public expectations of social workers. A photo-documentary recording hardship and resilience in a small Iowa town.

If it sounds like things might get a little heavy at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts this fall, that’s kind of the point.

The Bemis has built a worldwide reputation around its artist-in-residence program, which brings in individuals from every corner of the globe. These artists have, for the most part, never met before, but still they have common ground: each one arrives in Omaha eager to embrace the same theme in their own unique way.

This time around, the concept of empathy is key.

As you might expect when investigating a complicated emotion that’s already tough to pin down, we will see a wide range of projects from the 11 artists coming to the Old Market for the program — titled Art, Empathy, and Ethos — in September. “The theme is pretty open,” echoes Bemis Residency Program Manager Holly Kranker. “With the current state of politics, the environment, and social issues around the world, we wanted to talk about what all of that means for us as individuals. Beyond the national scale, we wanted to see what artists are thinking about globally.”

Applications for the competitive eight-week program covered a lot of ground: subjects on poverty, human rights, immigrant communities, natural resources, animals, and everything in between. But while the projects seem vastly different, the commonalities are strong. “There’s a universal human need to belong — including the complexities of deciding who gets to belong — to communities or social circles. And there’s a very emotionally driven component in thinking about what empathy means that often touches on race, gender identity, or social justice,” Kranker explains. Naturally, she says, this is based in personal experiences often stemming from one’s own mental health.

The vibe inside the studios tends to be one of community, much like a cohort. For the artists, it’s treated like an oasis or retreat, characterized by self-investment, focus, and creativity. On Saturday, October 21st, the entire Omaha community is invited into the Bemis Center’s Open House/Open Studios, to connect with and get to know each artist, and see the “behind the scenes” of a practice. It’s a unique opportunity to communicate and share experiences — and hardly “heavy” at all. It’s no coincidence this is what empathy seems to be all about.


You can find the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts at the 2017 Maha Music Festival Community Village. Visit the Bemis’ natural sanctuary featuring bean bags, plants, and other natural elements, and learn how to crochet a simple necklace or bracelet out of green yarn for mental health awareness.


Maha Music Festival is an annual summer music fest and nonprofit organization in Omaha, Nebraska founded in 2009. Our mission is to showcase the unique heart and soul of the Midwest, collaborate with our community to provide unforgettable experiences, and position the region as the premier place to put roots down and grow. The 2017 lineup is tight.

Maha Music Festival

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We showcase the unique heart and soul of the Midwest through unforgettable experiences that position our region as the premier place to put roots down and grow.

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