There’s a new VR experience in Kaneko near the old market. It’s called “Carne Y Arena” and the artists who brought it to Omaha hope that people will feel more empathy for the migrant experience. The exhibit only takes 12-15 minutes to complete, but Kaneko hopes it will have a lasting impact on how you view the migrant experience. As you approach the exhibit entrance at Kaneko, your journey begins immediately. What a piece of the border fence between Mexico and the United States looks like from Arizona. “This experience is very different from the traditional, or what we remember as a traditional virtual reality experience,” said Amanda Kephart, manager of community engagement and public programs. The video of the experience shows after you take off your shoes, put on a backpack and a VR headset, and walk into a gravel room. “You experience it as an individual in a group of people,” Kephart said. Community partners Completely Kids say this exhibit helped them better understand the children they work with and how to meet their needs. “100% of the families we serve are our Latino population. That’s why we think it’s important to really know what our families are going through and to be able to shed light on the path their families have traveled to get here.” clinical director Lulu Rangel said. Elevate Omaha, another community partner created by youth for youth, says they were invited to make sure youth were involved in this. “We’re doing things that they want to see if they bring their families to the expo and making it accessible to youth,” he said. advocacy organizer Marissa Morales. Kaneko hopes those youngsters feel the impact while being surrounded by VR actors who have made that journey themselves. “Or we say, you know what, we’ll put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. And this is different because you’re actually experiencing that, you’re experiencing the sound, the sensations,” Kephart said. The exhibit opened at Kaneko in July and will be here on the 11th and Jones until the 10th of September. For more information, click here.
There’s a new VR experience in Kaneko near the old market.
It’s called “Carne Y Arena” and the artists who brought it to Omaha hope that people will feel more empathy for the migrant experience.
The exhibit only takes 12-15 minutes to complete, but Kaneko hopes it will have a lasting impact on the way she views the migrant experience.
As you approach the exhibit entrance at Kaneko, your journey immediately begins.
What a piece of the border fence between Mexico and the United States looks like from Arizona.
“This experience is very different from the traditional, or what we remember as a traditional virtual reality experience,” said Amanda Kephart, manager of community engagement and public programs.
The video of the experience shows after you take off your shoes, put on a backpack and a VR headset, and walk into a gravel room.
“You experience it as an individual in a group of people,” Kephart said.
Community partners Completely Kids say this exhibit helped them better understand the children they work with and how to meet their needs.
“100% of the families we serve are our Latino population. That’s why we think it’s important to really know what our families are going through and to be able to shed light on the path their families have traveled to get here.” clinical director Lulu Rangel said.
Elevate Omaha, another community partner created by youth for youth, says they were invited to make sure youth were involved in this.
“With this exhibit, are we engaging the community with young people and making sure they participate in the process? Are we doing things that they want to see if they bring their families to the exhibit and making it accessible to young people?” defending. organizer, Marissa Morales.
Kaneko hopes those youngsters feel the impact while being surrounded by VR actors who have made that journey themselves.
“Or we say, you know what, we’ll put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. And this is different because you’re actually experiencing that, you’re experiencing the sound, the sensations,” Kephart said.
The exhibit opened at Kaneko in July and will be here on the 11th and Jones until the 10th of September.
For more information, click here.