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The Great Migration: A Celebration of Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska
January 19–June 19, 2021
Cranes have claimed a special place in people’s hearts for millennia. They are found in petroglyphs in Utah, in texts from ancient Greece and Rome, and they have long been revered as symbols of happiness and longevity in Asia. In March and April, Nebraska is a stopover place for about a million Sandhill Cranes, mostly along the central Platte River. It is the largest gathering of cranes in the world and one of the most popular of all wildlife migrations. Thousands of people visit Nebraska to see these birds and to reconnect with nature. This exhibition celebrates this annual wildlife spectacle and the unique lives of these elegant birds. The artist, Jude Martindale, interprets her experiences with the cranes in ways that reveal not only their personalities, but also her emotional reactions to watching their captivating behaviors.
Download the exhibition guide (pdf)
Above: Jude Martindale
Synchronicity (detail), 2018, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 72 inches, Image courtesy of the artist
Banner: Jude Martindale
True Colors (detail), 2018, acrylic on canvas, Image courtesy of the artist

Avian Observations: Great Plains Birds in Art
Lower-level gallery
January 19–May 8, 2021
Avian Observations highlights artistic representations of the varied species of birds on the Great Plains. Featuring artwork from the museum’s permanent collection and from Elizabeth Rubendall Artist in Residence Kirsten Furlong, this exhibition allows us to explore the history, physical characteristics, behaviors, habitats, and conservation of the diverse creatures that are so important to the Great Plains region.
Above: Anne Peyton
Top of the Morning (detail), 2012, Acrylic on panel
Commissioned for the Elizabeth Rubendall Artist-in-Residence Collection, © Anne Peyton. Courtesy of the Artist
Banner: Anne Peyton
Attention Captured (detail), 2012
Acrylic on board, Commissioned for the Elizabeth Rubendall Artist-in-Residence Collection