Crane Season Program Highlight: MONA Art Classes

Every spring, the Iain Nicolson Audubon Heart at Rowe Sanctuary turns into a vibrant hub of exercise – not only for birds, however for individuals of all ages drawn to one among nature’s most outstanding migrations. This seasonal gathering gives distinctive alternatives to deepen connections to the cranes and the Platte River by means of packages that weave collectively artwork, schooling, and conservation. It additionally creates a possibility for Rowe Sanctuary to associate with quite a few area people organizations for programming. 

Based within the Seventies, the Museum of Nebraska Artwork (MONA) has lengthy been devoted to celebrating Nebraska arts and artists, with assist from the College of Nebraska at Kearney. Its mission is to interact various audiences by honoring the historical past of Nebraska’s visible arts by preserving, researching, and exhibiting works by artists who’ve ties to the state or whose artwork displays Nebraska’s tradition. MONA and Rowe have lengthy been companions by means of the Kearney Cultural Companions group. In 2024, the 2 organizations started exploring methods to collaborate extra deliberately throughout Crane Season. With MONA underneath development in early 2025, the partnership naturally developed to carry MONA programming to the newly reworked heart at Rowe Sanctuary.

Artwork and nature have lengthy been intertwined, with artists drawing inspiration from the pure world to know it and specific individuals’s place inside it. Artwork lessons shortly emerged as a significant approach to increase Crane Season choices and invite members to interact with the migration by means of creativity and reflection. This yr, the collaboration focuses on 4 workshops, every taught by a unique artist. There are a couple of plein air workshops that target portray open air in pure gentle, emphasizing the speedy and ever-changing results of sunshine on a scene. As well as, one class invitations members to create an summary Platte River panorama after which paint a crane utilizing a craft feather for a novel, hands-on method. All provides will probably be offered, so friends can merely come to the workshop and benefit from the artistic course of. 

These artwork lessons add an essential dimension to Rowe Sanctuary’s Crane Season programming. With the addition of Braided in Unison and its emphasis this yr on statement and nature journaling, integrating artwork into the season felt like a pure continuation. Collectively, these choices create a holistic Crane Season expertise at Rowe Sanctuary. One which evokes surprise, creativity, and a long-lasting sense of take care of this extraordinary place.