Through the Gates: Life Nocturnal, an installation of wood and paper sculptures by David Hansen, opens Monday, October 27, at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts in Nebraska City.

In his Omaha Hot Shops studio, Hansen transforms short-term renewable plants, condemned trees and trimmings, or recycled wood into objects that evoke a previous time: “a time when the night was without light and work ceased, when night was reserved for domestic activities such as cooking and eating, music, or social events.”

David Hansen graduated in 2002 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a BFA in studio art. He has taught papermaking and sculpture at UNO and sculpture at Metropolitan Community College. Hansen’s work has been exhibited locally at Nicholas Street Gallery, Bellevue University, Joslyn Museum’s Artistree event, Fontenelle Forest, Lauritzen Gardens, Shakespeare on the Green, and an informal installation in north downtown Omaha.

Through the Gates: Life Nocturnal runs Monday, October 27, through Thursday, December 18, with a public reception for the artist on Thursday early evening, November 6, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The artist’s works are available for purchase and guests will be treated to the Center’s homemade ice cream.

The Kimmel Harding Nelson gallery is located at 801 3rd Corso in Nebraska City and is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. Appointments at other times are encouraged. Both the exhibit and the reception are free, handicapped accessible, and open to the public. For more information, call 402-874-9600 or visit www.khncenterforthearts.org.