About the Artist
Alaina Hickman is a maker of things, mother of four, perpetual student, and a self-proclaimed memory hoarder. She received her associates degree in photography from Metropolitan Community College and is the recipient of numerous awards including both a Midwest and National SPE Student Scholarship. Her work has been featured in several exhibits in the Omaha and Lincoln area as well as traveling exhibitions. Alaina is greatly influenced by the shared experiences between her physical and emotional self. Her work explores a combination of themes including motherhood, mortality, and the passage of time.
“I am a hopeless preservationist. Since childhood I’ve watched as the city changed around me: buildings toppled and replaced then toppled again, in adulthood I’ve seen my children transform continuously. I’ve worn through shoes and bed sheets. The skin on my hands has wilted right before my eyes, but without the stop-motion of photography I can’t see it or truly appreciate it happening. To me the passage of time is barely perceivable without my camera. Photography is the only way I know of to preserve the ever fleeting and crumbling world and to document simple existence. The reality is that everything turns to worms, it’s the best I can do to try and preserve the illusion that it won’t.”- Alaina Hickman
Exhibitions And Galleries
2011
Student Art Show MCC
2012
16x16x16 - Traveling Exhibition
2nd Annual Alt Process/Low Tech Show - Hot Shops Art Center
Student Show - MCC
2013
Star Deli Show - Star Deli
UNL/Metro Show - UNL, Richards Hall
Curious Camera- Arts Eye Gallery
Silver and Sensors - Hot Shops Art Center
Student Show - MCC
"Only When" Tugboat Gallery, Lincoln NE
2014
Student Show
Common Wealth Gallery
16x16x16 - Traveling Exhibition
2015
Solo Show - Color Court Building, Lincoln NE
"Eidetic" Darger HQ, Omaha NE
"A Certain Light" Juror Lara Shipley - Hotshops, Omaha NE
Student Art Show MCC
Honors And Awards
Scholarship for submitted work to the 2011 Metropolitan Community College students’ show. The photograph was featured as the cover art for the school’s 2011-2012 literary magazine.
Scholarship and Honorary Mention at the Metro Student Show 2012
First and second place scholarship awards at the Alternative Process Show 2012
National SPE scholarship award 2012
SPE Regional scholarship award 2013
Silver and Sensors 2nd, 3rd, and honorary mention awards 2013
Metro Student Show Award 2nd Place
"Only When" First Place and Honorary Mention
16x16x16 UNL Choice Award 2014
Scholarship and Honorary Mention at the Metro Student Show 2014