SPOTLIGHT: JUN KANEKO

Omaha Artist

With enough shows, public commissions and honors to fill a nine-page resume, Jun Kaneko has had a charmed artistic career. The Japan-born sculptor moved to the U.S. in 1963 and opened his Omaha studio in 1990. Most famous for his Dango sculptures and large-scale art, his next venture is a nonprofit organization.

As an artist, do you find Omaha a great place to live?
“I moved here 21 years ago, and at that time there wasn’t an art scene. I lived all over the U.S., and Omaha fits my personality, my needs. I have a good-sized studio; my personal space is over 100,000 square feet. Just think about having that kind of space in any other city. Omaha is not a big city, it’s not a small city. When I moved here, nobody was around. Now, it’s just amazing what’s happening. People are very nice here. What more do I need?”

Who is your favorite artist?
“I started to paint full time when I was 17. I was painting 10 hours a day. At the time I saw this picture in a magazine of a painting by Antonio Tapias. He’s a Spanish painter, and in the late ’50s, I started to see his pictures in magazines. Then, I had a chance to see his art in a museum. Even now, he is one of my favorites.”

What inspired you to start your own nonprofit?
“I always wanted to give something back, because I came from Japan not knowing anybody and didn’t speak any English. I got a lot of support, so I want to return a little part of what I received. What can I do? I know about creativity;

I’m not good at anything else. [The nonprofit] supports and promotes creativity, which is broad and abstract. We opened a temporary space in December, to introduce what we are trying to do, to people in Omaha, and we are aiming for a grand opening of a 75,000-square-foot space in 2010.”

How has Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts influenced the community?
“My wife actually started the center, and I am one of the few artists who is an original board member. [He recently stepped down to work on his nonprofit.] Bemis (bemiscenter. org) is one of the greater things for the arts that happened in Omaha. Without it, I’m not sure the arts scene would be the same. A number of people living in Omaha are old-time resident artists who liked the city and decided to stay.”

For more info on Kaneko’s nonprofit organization, visit www.thekaneko.org.