MONA- Forty-three nationally known artists will showcase their talents at the Museum of Nebraska Art on April 8, 2000, for the “Spirit of the Great Plains 2000” art sale and exhibition.
The museum is dedicated to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the visual art of the State of Nebraska. For this special event, artists are invited from all over the country to display five pieces of work that will auctioned throughout the event. The artists are chosen for their acclaim in western, prairie and wildlife art.
The museum will open at 11 a.m. for early viewing of the artwork. Ticket holders will also be invited to a special preview of the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument at 1 p.m.
A “quick draw” session will kick off the festivities at 3 p.m. Guests can watch the participating artists complete an artwork in an hour. A silent auction will begin at 4 p.m. and close at 6 p.m. There will be food, beverages and catalogue signing all afternoon.
The April show will feature Robert and Karen Duncan of Duncan Aviation in Lincoln as the honorary chair couple, former Nebraska Governor Frank Morrison as the honored guest and Governor Mike Johanns as the special guest.
Kearney artist, Martha Pettigrew, who created the signature piece of the event, will present a sculpture of the eventÕs honored guest during the Best of the Great Plains Dinner.
Following the dinner, one piece from each artist will be placed on a live auction. In addition, Pettigrew has given an edition of five of her bronze sculptures of a bison. The bison, entitled “Spirit of the Great Plains,” is the signature piece of this yearÕs event.
Twenty-seven artists are returning for the second “Spirit of the Great Plains 2000” art sale and exhibition, including George Lundeen, Virginia Wattles and Keith Lowry. Some of the newcomers include Native American artist, Kevin Red Star; the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument artist, Kent Bloomer; and noted artists Joni Falk and Donna Howell-Sickles.
The proceeds of this event benefit the mission of MONA. Over $200,000 of art was sold at the first “Spirit of the Great Plains” art show and exhibit in 1998. Tickets for all of the events for the “Spirit of the Great Plains” art show and exhibit are $100, which include a color sale catalogue. For ticket information, call (308) 865-8559.
-30-
ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF NEBRASKA ART: MONA houses the official visual art collection of the State of Nebraska. The museum collections reveal the range of NebraskaÕs art history from the artist-explorers through the pioneers, the first Nebraskans and the contemporary scene.
The mission of the museum is to enrich the quality of life for Nebraskans and visitors, to support excellence in acquisitions and exhibitions, to encourage the discovery of new frontiers of knowledge and to create understanding among people through art. It is also the purpose of the museum to place Nebraska art in a regional and national context.
Major strengths are in the works of George Catlin, Robert Henri and Thomas Hart Benton. The Grant Reynard collection comprises the largest single holding of the museum and completely documents the career of this Nebraska native.
The Nebraska Art Collection was begun in 1975 and the Museum of Nebraska Art was founded in 1986. A major expansion and remodeling was completed in 1993.
MONA is a complementary partnership between the University of Nebraska at Kearney and the Nebraska Art Collection Foundation. It is located at 24th and Central Ave. in Kearney.
