Great Plains Art Collection Receives Paintings by John Falter

The Great Plains Art Collection at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the new owner of three paintings by Nebraska native John Phillip Falter that depict possible scenes on the Great Plains during the western migration of settlers. Assurity Life Insurance Co. of Lincoln recently donated the paintings with a value of $75,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation.

"They're wonderful pieces with a rich heritage, and we're very proud to have the opportunity to study them and to share them with the public," said Art Curator Reece Summers about the two oil paintings and one tempera painting that will be displayed starting Nov. 23. "They also nicely complement our other two Falter paintings of smaller oil and watercolor works."

Tom Potter, Assurity's president and CEO, said, "The company is pleased to donate these paintings. Both John Falter and Assurity have a Nebraska heritage, and we are happy to share his rich portrayal of the American frontier with fellow Nebraskans and visitors."

The paintings, titled "Campfire," "Cutting a Circle to Size" and "Sioux Lookout," were commissioned in the 1970s by Assurity (formerly Woodmen Accident and Life Co.) for display in its office building. The paintings break away from Falter's traditional style, according to Summers. "Normally, Falter tends toward the illustrator, but when you look at his choice of colors and the abstract you can see the two sides of Falter: Falter the fine artist and Falter the illustrator," he said.

During the unveiling of "Cutting a Circle to Size" in September 1971, the Lincoln Evening Journal & Nebraska State Journal reported that Falter said he painted "from the point of view of an ordinary person facing a new frontier..." and that he called the work a "reportorial painting" because of its detail and historical accurateness.

Falter (1910-1982), who was born Plattsmouth and grew up in Falls City, was called "America's most gifted illustrator" by Norman Rockwell. Falter is best remembered for his cover illustrations that appeared on the Saturday Evening Post and is credited with being second only to Rockwell himself in the number of images he provided to the Post. Although his work and life took him elsewhere, he drew upon his Nebraska childhood for much of his inspiration.

The Great Plains Art Collection, located downtown Lincoln in Hewit Place at 1155 Q St., will exhibit its Falter collection Nov. 23 through Dec. 31 in the Christlieb Gallery. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 to 5 p.m. For information, call (402) 472-6220 or visit the collection's Web site.

The Great Plains Art Collection is managed by UNL's Center for Great Plains Studies. The center is the oldest and most accomplished interdisciplinary regional research and teaching center in the United States, whose purpose is to foster the study of the people and environment in the Great Plains.

Assurity Life Insurance Co. ensures financial stability for families and businesses through a broad range of life, disability income, and critical illness insurance products as well as annuities. It is proud of its 114-year legacy of being there to help people through difficult times.

The University of Nebraska Foundation is a nonprofit corporation supplementing support for students, faculty, facilities and programs at the University of Nebraska's four campuses through gifts from alumni, friends, corporations and other foundations since 1936.

SUMMARY AND SPECIFICATIONS OF DONATED JOHN FALTER ART

The following paintings by John Phillip Falter (1910-1982) valued at $75,000 were donated by Assurity Life Insurance Company to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the Great Plains Art Collection at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln:

1. Campfire; medium: oil on canvas; size: 24" h X 36" w; appraised value: $7,500 in 1994; $20,000 in 2003
2. Cutting a Circle to Size; medium: tempera on panel; size: 38" h X 50" w; Appraised value: $12,500 in 1994; $35,000 in 2003
3. Sioux Lookout; medium: oil on canvas; size: 26" h X 40" w; appraised value: $7,500 in 1994; $20,000 in 2003

The art was commissioned by E. J. Faulkner, former president of Woodmen Accident and Life, in the early 1970s.

CONTACTS: Robb Crouch, NU Foundation, (402) 472-0151; and Reece Summers, Great Plains Art Collection, (402) 472-6220