“Lincoln Collects: The Steve Wake Collection” exhibition opens Oct. 4 at the Eisentrager•Howard Gallery in Richards Hall.
The exhibition will be on display through Nov. 1. An Oct. 4 opening reception and Nov. 1 closing reception will be 5 to 7 p.m. on their respective First Fridays.
The exhibition is the first in an ongoing series hosted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Art, Art History and Design to showcase works belonging to notable art collectors in the Lincoln area.
Curated by Patricia Davis, gallery director, the exhibition highlights work from the private collection of local collector Steve Wake. Wake is vice chairman of Seward’s Jones Bank. He joined the bank founded by his grandfather Claudius Jones after serving in Army Intelligence during the Vietnam War era and earning a law degree from the University of Nebraska.
The mediums represented the exhibition are contemporary studio glass, ceramics and sculpture — as this reflects the bulk of Wake’s collection. Anchored by glass works, the show explores the possibilities and masterful manipulation of the medium via formal abstraction, decoration, functional purpose, and concepts surrounding identity.
“He has such a vast collection and there’s much to discover,” Davis said.
The exhibition will also feature books about glass art on loan from Wake and Love Library — an idea sparked by the extensive collection of books Wake has throughout his home. These books will be available for perusal in the space during the entirety of the exhibition.
Selected artists from the exhibition are (* indicates a Nebraska-based artist):
Nicolas Africano (American, b. 1948)
Latchezar Boyadjiev (Bulgarian, b. 1959)
Jose Chardiet (American, b. 1956)
Matthew Curtis (British, b. 1964)
Chad Fonfara (American, b. 1974)*
Martin Janecky (Czech, b. 1980)
Karen LaMonte (American, b. 1967)
Jiyong Lee (Korean, b. 1971)
Benjamin Moore (American, b. 1952)
David Reekie (British, b. 1947)
Ross Richmond (American, b. 1971)
Sophie Ryder (British, b. 1963)
Lino Tagliapietra (Italian, b. 1934)
Tip Toland (American, b. 1950)
Bertil Vallien (Swedish, b. 1938)
Kenny Walton (American, b. 1947)*
Richard Whiteley (Australian, b. 1963)
Marek Zyga (Polish, b. 1968)
Toots Zynsky (American, b. 1951)
The Eisentrager•Howard Gallery is located in the center of the first floor of Richards Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. General gallery hours during exhibitions are 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., weekdays, with extended hours for receptions.
