Waters of Life Exhibit

JERENE KRUSE

Albion, Nebraska

Splish, Splash, Drip, Drop

Hand-built Clay

“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” --Kahlil Gibran

When I saw a slow-motion video of a water droplet, I was fascinated by what happens to that simple drop of water.  I was in awe of the action of the drop of water.  There is so much power and movement in the splash and drip. I decided to create a sculptural piece of clay that portrays the idea of a water drop combined with the idea of a splash. I started with a simple pinch pot, then shaped the clay into a splashing drop and wave. Water is life-sustaining and refreshing, but can also be cruel and cause devastation. Water is an intriguing force of nature.

Waters of Life Exhibit

KATHLEEN LOHR

Columbus, Nebraska

Fly Me a River

Pastel

The waters of the Platte River in the middle of “The Great American Desert” constitute the lifeblood of Nebraska. Its wide, flat valley once served as an important overland corridor for nearly 250,000 immigrants traveling westward in the mid-nineteenth century. Its shallow waters and open sandbars provide a critical staging area for more than 300 bird species migrating through the Central Flyway. For thousands of years, the Platte River has been the most important annual stopover for more than 500,00-600,000 sandhill cranes in route to their summer breeding grounds.

This painting shows the Platte River in spring through a tangle of young cottonwood trees.

Waters of Life Exhibit

SAMMY LYNN

Glenvil, Nebraska

Snow Day

Pencil

The inspiration for this drawing was an old photograph from Brownville, Nebraska.  Memories were stirred by the photograph of childhood days when a snow day did not mean a vacation from school.  There would be galoshes, and for the girls, blue jeans would be worn under the skirt for the walk to school.  Snowmen and snowball fights filled the day.

When spring came, we rejoiced, as the farm soil was replenished from snow melt.

Waters of Life Exhibit

DEBORAH MONFELT

Wymore, Nebraska

Water Colors

Oil

Water (H2O) is a tasteless, odorless, and colorless substance essential for life and a key component of Earth's hydrosphere and living organisms. Water and reflection have a long precedent in Western art and design. Still water that is undisturbed offers a near mirror-like image of sky or landscape elements, depending on your point of view. Ripples or waves in water distort reflections and create dazzling patterns of magical darks and glittering lights.

Waters of Life Exhibit

JULIA NOYES

Lincoln, Nebraska

Our Sacred Water

Acrylic

This original acrylic painting features beautiful bottles on a windowsill, inspired by the colors that shine through the glass and water within them. Water, much like glass, possesses a beautiful, transparent, and radiant sacred quality.

I remind myself that our bodies are primarily composed of water, which is essential for life. I aimed to portray water as a precious treasure, stored in elegant glass bottles to be admired, appreciated, and consumed. This painting reflects our grateful reverence for water.

Waters of Life Exhibit

TIM O'NEILL

North Platte, Nebraska

Aqua Vitae and the Ancient Observer

Mixed Media

Sandhill cranes are among Earth's most ancient bird species, with fossils dating back 2.5 million years. Each spring, over 650,000 cranes converge along Nebraska's Platte River—a critical "hourglass" in their migration pathway. This mixed media painting captures a solitary crane in quiet contemplation, symbolizing the timeless relationship between these prehistoric travelers and the life-sustaining waters they depend upon.

The fractured, layered technique mirrors the complex interplay between water, wildlife, and human influence. Just as water transforms landscapes over millennia, these ancient birds have witnessed vast changes while remaining essentially unchanged themselves. In this moment of stillness, the crane stands as both guardian and beneficiary of these sacred waters—an ancient observer of life's continuous flow.

Waters of Life Exhibit

SUE PEREZ

North Platte, Nebraska

Waters Embrace

Color Pencil

Water embracing life, feeling free when you immerse yourself.  Wading can surrender the mind and body to a relaxing state of mind, a return to childhood freedom.

Waters of Life Exhibit

PAT SCHEMMER

Valentine, Nebraska

I Breathe Air Too

Pastel

Lymnaea, commonly known as Great Pond Snails, are air-breathing snails that inhabit the shallow, calm, stagnating waters of the Northern Hemisphere, including the Sandhills of Nebraska. These snails possess lungs, allowing them to swim to the surface to breathe. Additionally, they can extract oxygen through their tentacles, enabling them to survive in ice-covered winter waters. Their diet mainly consists of aquatic plants and moss found at the bottom of ponds. Young soft-shelled infants are preyed upon by fish and birds.

Currently, they are used in research for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Waters of Life Exhibit

DONNA SCHIMONITZ

Lincoln, Nebraska

Waters Embrace

Acrylic

The barred tiger salamander is a stocky, “mole” amphibian species, usually hidden in a damp burrow underground. Marshes, gentle streams, and ponds that lack predatory fish are where this salamander travels to lay its eggs. After about five months of age, larvae morph from having gills to breathing air. It reaches full maturity around age four or five and can live an average of 15 years.

Waters of Life Exhibit

LOIS SMITH

Kearney, Nebraska

Cedar River Tribute

Watercolor

I love this winding little river that starts in the Sandhills of Nebraska, originating from groundwater springs of the Ogallala Aquifer. It flows over fifty miles before merging with the Loup River. Surrounded by cottonwood trees and expansive pastures, this twisting river is cherished for fishing and tanking, while it also supports a hydropower dam and provides irrigation for nearby crops. I often think about the generations that came before me—how the settlers in covered wagons and the Pawnee Indians must have cherished the vast open sky and the importance of this little river.

Waters of Life Exhibit

PATSY SMITH

North Platte, Nebraska

Rain Water for a Thirsty Land

Acrylic

I live on the prairie in the heart of our amazing country—America. With the warming of our planet, the heat and persistent winds are causing a drought in this area. However, after the rain provided moisture to our thirsty land, I felt compelled to paint in the sunset. I could smell the freshness in the air and see the revived colors of the landscape. As I move my brush loaded with paint across the canvas, I enjoy the peace and glow that surrounds me.

Waters of Life Exhibit

JOAN SWIM

Springview, Nebraska

Amber Graced Norden Chute

Oil

The Norden Chute, a captivating hydro feature on the ecologically rich and culturally significant Niobrara River in Nebraska, is more than just a place to paint. It's a source of profound personal connection, where the river's powerful spirit whispers to my soul, urging me to capture its beauty in plein air.

Though ice and snow gathered along the river's edge in the cooler days, the river persisted. On this December day, a warm blessing provided the perfect opportunity to paint the amber glow on the Norden Chute.

Waters of Life Exhibit

AMY TOMASEVICZ

Columbus, Nebraska

Norden Chute

Pastel

The Norden Chute is an impressive hydraulic feature on the Niobrara River near Valentine. It resembles a waterfall and requires a mandatory portage for river floaters due to its powerful current and plunge pool. This unique natural attraction, protected by the National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy, can be viewed from both cars and boats. The force of the water has caused significant erosion, leading to changes in the location of the falling water over the years. I chose this subject not only for its beauty but also to highlight the power of water and its impact on our ecology.