By KYREN GIBSON
Right now on display at the Carnegie Arts Center is the Alliance Arts Council’s featured artist, JeanAnn Curry-Hess from Hay Springs. JeanAnn’s work is composed of paintings, sculptures, and mixed media. Tradition western scenery and subject matter are a common theme within her work. Don’t let this fool you, JeanAnn’s fondness for play has led her to use stippled paint, resin, and sculpt on canvases to develop textural elements that make each piece a unique experience. JeanAnn was raised on a cattle ranch in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Animals, especially horses, made the strongest impression in her observations of the world. Her artistic expression grew into oil painting and JeanAnn taught painting and drawing for ten years while living in Oregon. After receiving a formal education in art and graphic design she led a 30 year career in the world of commercial art applications within her own business. Now retired, JeanAnn has returned once again to painting, drawing, sculpting and teaching.
In the other half of the upper galleries patrons will also find that the Box Butte Art Society Spring Show is on display. Fourteen members of the Box Butte Art Society have brought in their collection of diverse works to create an incredible exhibit. There are a total of 37 pieces including paintings, drawings, mixed media, photography, sculpture, and ceramics. This exhibit will be judged a week after it is up so be sure to be on the lookout for our press release announcing the winners. Box Butte Art Society members that are also members of the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs will be selected to represent our county at the state show and compete amongst hundreds of pieces for a coveted top 25 spot. Both of these exhibits will be on display until Mar 20th. Due to the pandemic we will not be holding an artist reception, but we do encourage all of our artists to invite their friends and families to come visit us and celebrate their work during its five week long exhibition.
Don’t forget, Grandview elementary fourth grade student work is still on display down in the studio gallery! These students’ creative efforts are led by the incredible Sandi Blankenship. The works are stunning and imaginative. Of course none of this would be possible without the generous support of local businesses. Our incredible February Sponsors are RK Nelson and Associates, PREMA, and First National Bank of Alliance! We’d also like to thank our grantors the Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Foundation, Peter Kiewit Foundation, Dillon Foundation, Story Foundation, the Mission Store, and the Snow Redfern Foundation! Thank you for your support!