Five members of the Manriquez family — David, Dion, Bonnie, Marc and Aron — exhibit together beginning June 4, at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts in Nebraska City. The Manriquez Family of Artists exhibition features painting, sculpture, drawing and collage, and includes recent works as well as selections from the family collection. The Manriquez artists have exhibited widely in juried and one-person shows, but this is the first to feature their work in one exhibition.

Brothers David and Dion grew up in Omaha and graduated from South High School. David earned a bachelor’s degree and teaching credentials from Peru State College and taught art at Christ the King Catholic School and Bancroft Elementary in Omaha for over thirty years. Several colorful murals on buildings in South Omaha are the work of David and his students. Dion earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and a master of fine arts from the University of Iowa; and he taught art at the University of Wisconsin-Stout until retiring in 2001.

Works by Bonnie Manriquez, a graduate of the UNO art program, and by two members of a second generation of Manriquez artists, Marc and Aron, are also included in the exhibition. Bonnie has taught art in many K-12 outreach programs including as a Nebraska Arts Council artist-in-the-schools and currently teaches at Adventures in Art in Benson. Bonnie created work for the Benchmarks public art project in Omaha, and Marc participated in two J. Doe projects. Both Marc and Aron are pursuing art degrees at UNO.

Although the style and subject matter of each artist is very individual, the work of each can be described as vibrant, bold, intense, and often complex. “The greatest influence shared among us,” the Manriquez artists agree, “is our mutual encouragement.”

In conjunction with The Manriquez Family of Artists exhibition, David and Bonnie will present a workshop for children on Saturday, June 23, “Sun Gods and Effigies,” an introduction to Mexican art.

The Manriquez Family of Artists runs June 5 through July 12. The public is invited to meet the artists and enjoy refreshments at a reception on Saturday afternoon, June 16, 1 - 4:00 p.m.