UNL traveling art education program gets boost from TierOne Bank

Students in several central and western Nebraska towns will become better acquainted with American Western art and the process of making bronze sculptures through a unique traveling art education program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The project is led by UNL's Great Plains Art Museum in partnership with the TierOne Bank Foundation.

The TierOne Bank Foundation provided a $20,000 grant to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the TierOne Bank Artist-in-Residence Outreach Program at UNL. The grant will help fund costs involved with outreach for the Great Plains Art Museum Artist-in-Residence Program and educational materials that will be used next year for the traveling art education program.

In April, the Great Plains Art Museum hosted award-winning artists Martha and Del Pettigrew as artists-in-residence. Martha Pettigrew is a Western contemporary sculptor, and her husband, Del Pettigrew, is a wildlife sculptor and painter. The artists created various sculptures during their time at the university and were interviewed for a video being produced about the art of bronze sculpture making.

In the video, the artists guide the viewer through all stages of the sculpture process, including the final stage of having the piece created into a bronze statue at a foundry.

A painting of a Native American by Karl Bodmer (1809-93), of which the Great Plains Art Museum holds a print in its collection, was used as Martha Pettigrew's inspiration for one of the sculptures featured in the video. During the 2008 school year, museum representatives will present to 10 public schools in central and western Nebraska the video, the original sculptures created by the artists and art by Bodmer.

Much of the expenses related to the artists-in-residence, producing the video and traveling to the schools will be funded by the TierOne Bank Foundation grant.

"We are very proud to support the Great Plains Art Museum in its efforts to broaden educational programming and showcase pieces from its exceptional Native American art and sculpture collection in schools across Nebraska," said Gilbert G. Lundstrom, TierOne Bank chairman and chief executive officer.

The museum will travel to cities where TierOne Bank has office locations in Scottsbluff, Gering, Alliance, Broken Bow, Burwell, Callaway, North Platte, O'Neill, Ord and Sidney.

James Stubbendieck, director of the Center for Great Plains Studies, which includes the Great Plains Art Museum, said the program helps students realize where artists receive inspiration and how to get started on a project and inspires them to experiment with art.

"This project has allowed us to reach beyond the walls of our gallery to people who may not have the opportunity to make it to Lincoln or Omaha and see artwork," Stubbendieck said.

"Through the Artist-in-Residence Outreach Program, students will have the opportunity to view a truly one-of-a-kind production featuring Nebraska sculptors at work and then experience firsthand the artists' finished sculptures, as well as additional historical artwork and artifacts," Lundstrom said. "It is our hope that the program will enhance their appreciation for art, cultural discovery and history of the Great Plains."

The University of Nebraska Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization raising private gifts to support the University of Nebraska for more than 70 years. More than $77 million was provided last year for students, faculty, academic programs, research and campus capital improvements.

CONTACTS: Robb Crouch, Director of Public Relations, NU Foundation, (402) 458-1142 or 304-3085

Stephanie Vogel, Vice President, TierOne Bank, (402) 473-6375