Nebraska artists go back to their roots

More than 20 Nebraska artists explore what it means to have “Nebraska Roots” in an art exhibition now on display at the Plainsman Museum in Aurora. 
The Plainsman is presenting its third feature of the Impact Nebraska Artists, a collection of works by nearly two dozen artists from throughout Nebraska which presents each artist’s interpretation of what it means to have Nebraska roots.
“When you see Nebraska roots, you’ll see some people did plants and some people did towns ,” explained Tina Larson, Plainsmen Museum executive director. “Roots might mean tree roots or roots might mean family tree.”
Larson gave as an example the oil-on-canvas painting by Yelena Khanevskaya entitled ‘Cardplayers Haymaking Break.” The piece reflects on Khanevskaya’s background beyond Nebraska.
“You can see the Russian influence in her painting,” Larson commented.
Marcia Bauerle, a featured artist since 2016 as well as a booking agent for Impact, created ‘Saint Hilda’, a mixed media collage that brought to life what Nebraska Roots meant to her.
“Mine is about my grandmother, who lived in Cozad and was the daughter of an immigrant,” Bauerle stated. “She loved the color pink and she used to say, ‘Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize,’ but she also was an excellent piano player and I have her piano, so there’s a keyboard, kind of, in this abstract icon type format that I used.”
“I have crunches of book pages from ‘My Antonia’ which describes the immigrant families. It has the names of towns like Holdrege and Hastings and talks about Nebraska on these ‘My Antonia’ pages, but it just describes where my own history comes from,” she continued.
Artist Dave Dorsey of Valentine created a conte-drawing about a family heirloom.
“He was the descendant of the owner of his hatchet, so he’s drawn a farmer with a hat and the hatchet on his shoulder,” Bauerle commented. “Patsy Smith from North Platte has an abstract watermedia painting with a tree showing the white tree above with white roots below. It’s very abstracted in the background. She has four different pieces that are the shape of the state of Nebraska.”
Before its arrival in Aurora, the exhibit was positively received by patrons in Grand Island, Imperial, North Platte and other communities in central Nebraska. It is one of five shows currently being circulated around the state. 
Bauerle stated that each show brings out the history and cultural wonders of Nebraska through a variety of art styles.
“Our emphasis is on education using art around a theme,” Bauerle explained. 
She said the exhibits are presented in the spirit of Robert Henri, who was a famous artist who grew up in Nebraska.
Some of the art pieces on display are for sale as well and purchases can be arranged by contacting Bauerle. Artwork that has been purchased while on display at the Plainsmen will be marked with a sticker indicating that it has been sold, according to Larson.
When an art piece sells, Bauerle said a new piece will replace it in time for the next showing of Nebraska Roots. Two art pieces have been sold so far. 
Art lovers will also have the opportunity to meet some of the artists of Nebraska Roots during a reception to be hosted by the Plainsmen on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 1-3 p.m. Tickets to the reception will be a part of the general admission price to the museum.
“It’s included in their fee to see the whole museum,” Larson stated. 
Bauerle said meeting the public is part of the joy of participating in the exhibition for the artists.
“It’s really fun to connect with people as they view the art and give us feedback about it,” she commented. “I just think, especially in small communities, it’s unusual and exciting to have a cultural experience that you don’t have to leave town for.” 
Larson said some of the funding for the exhibition came through a grant from the Hamilton Community Foundation.
“These panels were bought with a local grant from the Community Foundation and it comes with the ability for us to actually show real exhibits now, which is great.”
This year marks the first year that Impact will not be featuring art work from artist Jana Van Housen who passed away last year. She was responsible for bringing Impact to the Plainsman Museum in 2022.
The Platte River Paint Out Memorial event will be held to honor Van Housen as well as Aurora artist Ernie Ochser at Bader Park and Gjerloffe Prairie Oct. 10-13.
Information regarding artists or other exhibits can be found on the Impact Nebraska Artists website at impactart-ne.org.
Artists featured in the “Nebraska Roots” exhibition include Roberta Barnes (Halsey), Marcia Bauerle (Imperial), Wava Best (North Platte), Jo Brown (Lincoln), Patricia Coslor (Sargent), Ben Darling (Sidney), Karen Diensthier (Lincoln), Dave Dorsey (Valentine), Janna Harsch (Greenwood), Susan Hart (Cozad), Ken Hosmer (North Platte), Beth Jasnoch (Kearney), Yelena Khanevskaya (Gering), Jerene Kruse (Albion), Kathleen Lohr (Columbus), Sammy Lynn (Glenvil), Deborah Monfelt (Wymore), Julia Noyes (Lincoln), Sue Perez (North Platte), Pat Schemmer (Valentine), Donna Schimonitz (Lincoln), Lois Smith (Kearney), Patsy Smith (Brady), Amy Tomasevicz (Columbus). 
Nebraska Roots will be on display during the museum’s regular hours, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Tuesday, Nov. 12.