Harnessing hope
Wishbones held special meaning for Kent Bellows. At times, he even placed them within his art. You’ll find them in his studio. If Kent were still with us, we could ask him what those wishbones mean. But he probably wouldn’t tell us. He never did. He always said that talking about a work, explaining it, was a way to steal its soul.
So. Those of us who loved Kent are left now to make what we will of that wishbone. We’re left, having lost Kent too soon, to make sense of his legacy.
It isn’t all a mystery. These are a few things we know for certain:
That Kent Bellows was a rare and precious man. A true artist and a generous spirit. That he was a catalyst in the lives of friends and family, and in the lives of those who experienced his art.
Kent’s presence in our community made Omaha a richer place. By creating great art here, he made this a place where great art is possible. By supporting and mentoring other talented people, he helped knit Omaha’s fellowship of artists.
And we – his family and friends, and believers in his work – are committed to keeping those ideals alive. We’ve started The Kent Bellows Studio & Center for Visual Arts as a way to nurture young people who share Kent’s passion for self expression. We hope to give them artistic guidance and encouragement that isn’t available anywhere else in our community.
Those wishbones that Kent kept drawing… We think they’re about hope. Hope and a kind of faith, that the future could still break your way.
