alyssa schmitt’s coping opens aug. 1
BENSON - Ming Toy Gallery is pleased to host "Coping," an exhibition by Alyssa Schmitt, during the month of August. The opening reception is Friday, Aug. 1, from 6:00 to 9:00pm at 6066 Maple Street in downtown Benson (we're right between Au Courant and Legend Comics and Coffee).
“Coping” is a collection of drawings and writings from Schmitt's personal sketchbook. Processing an erratic emotional state, they explore line as energy release. Each piece is matted and framed, which questions the romanticization of the tortured artist. Does suffering necessitate “good” art? When detached from their state of mind, the drawings are void of symbolic meaning. "Their sole purpose is to drown the mind alongside beer and the white noise of a crowded bar," Schmitt said. "Emotional distress does not make them important, only aesthetic preference truly matters."
The exhibition also includes “Cloud Gazing” - an outdoor installation cocooning the alleyway behind Ming Toy Gallery with a sheer canopy. Playing with light and color, the piece directly juxtaposes the heaviness of the drawings indoors. Instead of catharsis, the installation explores spiteful joy. Shading viewers from the hot summer sun, it is a space of colorful solace. Existing to spark wonder, the piece’s purpose is to pull a viewer away from the troubles of life into a momentary vibrant oasis.
Schmitt is an interdisciplinary artist currently working in Omaha. They graduated magna cum laude from University of Nebraska at Omaha with a bachelor's of fine arts, and minors in art history and psychology.
Expanding beyond their immersive thesis installation, Schmitt's first solo exhibition at Project Project (Omaha) - "Balancing Act", received the Omaha Arts and Entertainment Award's "Best Solo Show of 2025". Since then, they have been stripping down the elements of their installation work to examine each medium individually. Their signature vibrant colors, erratic movement and attention to detail shine through no matter the process, making each work authentically theirs.
"Coping" runs through Aug. 30 at Ming Toy Gallery. Regular gallery hours are:
Wednesday and Friday: 1:00 to 6:00pm
Thursday: 5:00 to 8:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am to 1:00pm
By appointment: Call or text 402.681.1901
The gallery is closed between exhibitions.