Common Senses Festival

Common Senses Festival 2026 kicked off with a day of discovery, creativity, music, and family-friendly fun across some of Omaha’s most iconic destinations.

The adventure started at The Durham Museum, where guests explored intricate railroad displays and celebrated the magic of movement and imagination. Downstairs near the Pullman car, visitors could explore One-Track Mind, a train photography gallery by acclaimed photographer Blair Bunting.

Guests continued their journey on UNO's complimentary shuttles to KANEKO, where they participated in an immersive exploration of the Sensory Yard exhibit, engaging their curiosity through hands-on experiences, sensory discovery, and interactive installations designed to spark wonder and connection. There was also a Risky Disco pop-up from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Guests were encouraged to visit both locations throughout the day using UNO’s free shuttle service, making it easy to experience every pop-up, activity, and attraction. The Common Senses Festival Kick-Off offered something for train enthusiasts, dance-floor regulars, families, and curious visitors alike.

Schedule:

Durham Museum
- Sensory Hours 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Museum Hours 12:00 - 4:00 PM
- Things to do: explore the trains with a 360-degree video tour, and view Blair Bunting’s photography exhibit
KANEKO
- Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Things to do: visit the Sensory Yard exhibit, explore Arts 4 Me’s exhibit. There is a chill zone here for regulation support.
- Risky Disco pop up from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Participants:

A white man with short and slicked or brushed back brown and gray hair, wearing an orange astronaut suit and holding the helmet between his arm and side. He is standing outside in what looks like an open field with some houses and other buildings, and trees and mountains very far away behind him.

Blair Bunting

Blair Bunting is an American photographer whose work explores portraiture, aviation, the automobile, and the relationship between light and storytelling. Over the past two decades, he has photographed many of the world's most recognizable athletes, celebrities and cultural figures while creating award-winning campaigns for leading brands around the world.

Known for his cinematic approach to lighting, Bunting is the only photographer to have been sponsored by three major camera manufacturers—Nikon, Hasselblad, and Canon. He is also recognized for completing the world's first commercial photo shoot at the edge of space, a project that pushed both the technical and creative boundaries of the medium.

When the pandemic brought commercial productions to a standstill, Bunting turned his attention to the railways of the American West. What began as a way to stay sharp behind the camera evolved into a long-term body of work, using passing trains as an opportunity to study light, weather, timing, and composition with the same discipline he brings to commissioned assignments.

His work has been recognized by Communication Arts, Lürzer's Archive, Graphis, and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, as well as receiving an Emmy nomination. Whether photographing a world-renowned public figure or a solitary freight train crossing the desert, Bunting's work is united by a fascination with light and the stories it reveals.

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