‘Design in Motion’ To Open At KANEKO

Bicycles as art. Cars as masterpieces of design. Motorcycles as objects of beauty.

“Design in Motion.” It doesn’t sound like an art show – but there’s art.

And it doesn’t quite sound like a car show – but there are cars.

 

KANEKO will open an exhibit soon that presents automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles as art and wonders of design.

I talked with Michael Hollins, program manager at KANEKO, to get the inside scoop on what the exhibit is about and why families will want to check it out.

 

What is it?

The exhibit shows that things we see everyday – bikes and automobiles – can be designed for a purpose and as well as an object of beauty. “This is really going to be displayed and explored as works of fine art,” said Hollins.

Cars as fine art?

I’ll take the bait. Show me something pretty.

…

OK, that’ll be pretty cool to see up close.

 

Highlights

Chatting with Hollins, I developed a plan for what I wanted to check out: The upstairs gallery with its wall of bikes. There will be bikes from our childhoods, as well as sleek new ones and fancy old ones – like a 1881 bike with a front wheel twice as tall as a kid.

 

I asked Hollins for what he thought were the highlights:

– 1913 Stutz Bearcat, which he said looked more like a tank than a car.

– Cutaway model T, something he described as a dissected Model T.

 

 

 

– The small three-wheel cars that are small, which were part of the micro-car boom of the 1950s.

– Really really old motorcycles (and new ones, like a 2015 BMW motorcycle)

 

Will kids like it?

Looking at just the photos, I’m thinking, YES, this stuff looks so cool, and I’m not even a gear head. But I asked Hollins is kids will anything interesting in the exhibit.

“There are cars they’ll certainly have never seen before. Shapes, bodies and designs never seen before.”

Hollins described some as moving sculptures. And seeing these things in a gallery setting makes it easier for kids and adults to think about these objects abstractly.

“We teach and preach here at KANEKO that creativity is inherent in all human endeavors and all age ranges.”

Plus, there will be video projections…I don’t know about your kids, but my son in particular always stops for video projections at places.

After our conversation, it seemed to me that that the best things about this exhibit will be:

1. Kids will see some truly unique things they can’t see elsewhere.
2. This can get families talking about the design process of these cars and bikes.
3. Which can lead to talking about the creative process in general.

 

The Pixar of Exhibits

Parents are going to like it the way they like Pixar, according to Hollins. The exhibit creates a sense of wonder and discovery that’s accessible to children; for parents, it’s not only enjoyable to see that, it’s an engrossing exhibit for them.

Plus, it sounds like anyone interested in the design process will love this exhibit as it explores the entire creative process of designing modes of transportation.

If you go

“Design in Motion”

Where: KANEKO, 1111 Jones St.

When: Sept. 22 through Jan. 2, 2016

Cost: FREE
Schedule of events:

SEPTEMBER

Open Space Soirée – Sept. 18, 6:30 – 9 p.m.

“Design In Motion: opening day – Sept. 22, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Great Minds Series with J Mays – Sept. 25, 7 – 9 p.m.

 

OCTOBER

KANEKO Bike Night – Oct. 9, 5 – 9 p.m.

Mode>Shift>Omaha Coffee Chat – Oct. 16, 8 – 9 a.m.

 

NOVEMBER

Creative Catalysts – Nov. 7–8

Mode>Shift>Omaha Coffee Chat – Nov. 20, 8 – 9 a.m.

 

DECEMBER

Green Sprints presented by Greenstreet Cycles – Dec. 4, 7–10 p.m.

Mode>Shift>Omaha Coffee Chat – Dec. 18, 8 – 9 a.m.