Calendar of Events

Exhibition Schedules

20 August, 2007 to 20 October, 2007 – Zachary Even
The wildlife artwork of Zachary Even, a 2003 graduate of Chadron State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree with emphasis in Graphic Design, is known to most Nebraskans as the artwork featured on the 2007 Habitat Stamp.

The Nebraska Habitat Stamp program began in 1977 as a way for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to raise revenues to purchase land for wildlife habitats and manage wildlife habitats on both public and private lands. That first year, hunters provided approximately $1 million through the purchase of the habitat stamps. All people who hunt in the State of Nebraska must purchase a hunting permit and the habitat stamp.

29 October, 2007 to 9 December 2007 – Between Fences – Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service/Museums on Main Street and the Nebraska Humanities Council
Once again, the Sandoz Center has been selected to host a Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition - Between Fences. “Between Fences” looks at the definition of human relationships by and through fences and diverse fence types.

The Center’s programming will be focused on the battles between farmers and ranchers, fought with barbed wire fence, which were flash points in the nationwide debate over enclosure and access to land and resources. “Between Fences” will enlighten audiences who live surrounded by these familiar objects whose history and meaning they hardly suspect. They will discover how tightly the fence is entwined with politics, industry, and daily life. The subject of the exhibition – boundaries, place, and space – will be central to the visitors’ physical experience, as they walk between fences and through gateways. By understanding both historic and contemporary fences, we can better understand ourselves as Americans.

15 December, 2007 to 19 January 2008 – Willa Cather and Material Culture – Willa Cather Foundation
For many years, the Literary Societies in Nebraska have been trying to find ways to work together not only to promote “our” author, but to help promote the vast literary heritage of Nebraska. One way that the Sandoz Center and the Willa Cather Foundation are working together is by hosting an exhibit featuring “the other author.” The Sandoz Center will be hosting “Willa Cather and Material Culture” from December 15, 2007 to January 19, 2008. The Red Cloud Opera House at the Cather Center will be hosting “Old Jules Country”, a photographic exhibit developed by Kira Gale, in October and November 2007.

1 February, 2008 to 1 April, 2008 – Keith Jacobshagen and Robin Smith – Created by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and the artists
In celebration of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s 30th Anniversary, the Arboretum has been given the opportunity to create a display of works by Keith Jacobshagen. Jacobshagen is a nationally-known regional landscape painter from Lincoln, NE. This exhibition will feature images from his notebooks which are combinations of small sketches and journal entries about the landscape and his artistic process. These notebooks are created on-site, in the field, he then uses these notebooks to create large format paintings.
The Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center is proud to be able to add to this exhibit by featuring the work of Robin Smith. Smith, a long time friend of Jacobshagen and fellow large format landscape painter, is a member of the Chadron State College staff and has earned critical acclaim for his moving works. Smith’s work is also featured as the poster artwork for the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society Conference and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum joint conference on March 27-29, 2008.

28 May, 2008 to 24 August, 2008 – A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico – from the Field Museum, Chicago Ill.
This colorful bilingual exhibition examines the complex and rich histories of honoring the dead in ancient Mesoamerica, the labor of love involved in today's diverse rituals, and the spiritual importance of this holiday in rural Mexico.

Featuring exquisite color photographs, this exhibition focuses on the lives of villagers as they prepare centuries-old recipes, scatter marigolds to guide the dead home, and celebrate this annual event. Students and faculty from Chadron State College have studied in Southern Mexico for many years. By bringing this exhibition to the Sandoz Center, Chadron State College students are able to share their experiences and knowledge of this beautiful region with the High Plains.

"[Day of the Dead] shows how, in a way, people live forever in our hearts."
- Carlos Arango, Chicago Tribune

This exhibition was developed by The Field Museum in collaboration with Mars, Incorporated.

23-27 June, 2008 — Walk in their Boots: The Cowboy Life
A vacation filled with the hidden treasures in northwest Nebraska. Experience the majestic beauty of northwest Nebraska, with pine trees, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, abundant wildlife. This territory is rich with many facets of American history! So join us and explore Walk in their Boots: The Cowboy Life.

If you have ever dreamed of being a cowboy or a cowgirl, then Walk in their Boots: The Cowboy Life will help to make those dreams come true. This program has been designed for a family vacation, but has also been tailored to individuals and couples that want to experience a cowboy’s life.

See the Cowboy Life page at the Conferencing Web site for more information.

1 September, 2008 to 25, October 2008 – On Ancient Wings: The Sandhill Cranes of North America – Michael Forsberg
On Ancient Wings intertwines the lives of cranes, human beings, and their common places to tell an enduring story at a time when North American sandhill crane colonies and their natural habitats face daunting prospects. Photographer Michael Forsberg engaged in and extraordinary five-year, 65,000-mile personal odyssey from the Alaskan tundra to the arid High Plains of the America West, from Cuban nature preserves to suburban backyards in Florida. His images document the cranes’ native environment and flyways as well as the extraordinary human efforts undertaken to raise young birds and return them to their natural habitat.
Michael Forsberg grew up in Nebraska and is widely recognized for his extraordinary photographic work on sandhill cranes; indeed, many revere his crane images as among the best in the world.  On Ancient Wings is Michael's first book, on which this exhibit is based. He is currently in the field working on his next book that will focus on the landscapes, wildlife and peoples of the Great Plains. His work has appeared in publications including National Geographic, Audubon, Natural History, & National Wildlife and in books published by National Geographic and Smithsonian, among others.
Mike hopes his photographs capture the true spirit of the wide-open spaces of the Great Plains, build appreciation for its often misunderstood wildlife and landscapes, and inspire conservation efforts far into the future.