227. Joel Damon on Getting Uncomfortable with Art

Joel Damon is an artist, curator and co-founder of the Project
Project gallery space in South Omaha. Damon was previously on the
show in 2022, in conversation with Tom Knoblauch.


Damon is a painter and designer who gained recognition for
organizing independent visual art exhibitions for local artists.
He was the curator of the Bemis Underground, the Bemis Center’s
former space dedicated to regional artist exhibitions, before its
closure in 2014. The experience pushed him to open Project
Project in 2014 with Josh Powell.


Located at 18th and Vinton Streets in South Omaha, Project
Project is entirely volunteer-run and hosts new visual art
exhibitions each month as well as concerts and other public
events, all of which are free. This summer, Damon is relocating
to Berlin, Germany to work at a gallery and publishing company
and pursue life as a missionary,  


Damon will also present the Hixson-Lied Visiting Artist Lecture
at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31 via Zoom. His lecture is
presented by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Art,
Art History & Design.


Damon is in conversation with Michael Griffin about Damon’s entry
into curation and art exhibition and how he makes space for other
artists in Omaha.