Sheldon gallery dedication will recognize Woods family contributions

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will dedicate the "Woods Family Gallery" at a public celebration Sept. 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery.

The gallery, located on the southeast side of the second level of the museum, will recognize the contributions of Frank H. and Nelle Cochrane Woods and their descendants to art, the Sheldon and the Nebraska Art Association.

Through seven generations and for more than a century, the Woods family has guided and generously supported the NAA. As early as 1888, Colonel F.M. Woods was an active and enthusiastic member of the Haydon Art Club, the organization that would become the NAA. His son and daughter-in-law, Frank H. and Nelle Woods, and their descendents have continuously given their time, energies and financial support to the Association, and since its construction in 1963, to the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery.

Woods family members have served on the NAA Board of Trustees in every decade beginning in the 1920s and several members, including Nelle Cochrane Woods, Sarah Woods, Marjorie Woods and Thomas C. "Chip" Woods III, have given their vision and leadership to the organization as president.

Through personal gifts by family members and grants made by Woods Charitable Fund, Sheldon and NAA have acquired more than 180 artworks for its collections. The family's generous contributions include many iconic masterworks such as Georgia O'Keeffe's "New York, Night," Mark Rothko's "Yellow Band," Marsden Hartley's "Young Worshipper of the Truth," John Singer Sargent's "Portrait of Jean Joseph Marie Carries" and Alexander Calder's "Red Disk, Black Lace."

"The Woods family's unique tradition of collecting and contributing signature works of American contemporary art to the Sheldon has placed within the reach of all Nebraskans some of the most admired works of art this country has produced," said Chancellor Harvey Perlman. "We are indebted to them for their generosity and their artistic instincts."

Sheldon houses a permanent collection of more than 12,000 objects focusing on American art. The museum, located at 12th and R streets on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For information or to arrange a tour, please call (402) 472-2461. Additional information is available on the Sheldon web site

Contact: Tom White, public relations manager, Sheldon, (402) 472-1197