The Great Plains Art Museum will host Todd A. Williams as the 2014 Elizabeth Rubendall Artist-in-Residence from April 22-27.
Williams will use the lobby of the museum as a space to create a painting depicting the effect of drought on the Platte River. The finished painting will become a permanent part of the museum’s collection.
Visitors and school groups are invited to view and interact with Williams as he works in the museum during regular hours. Williams will be painting from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday 1:30 to 5 p.m. Groups may arrange tours by contacting interim curator Johanna Sawyer at 402-472-3082.
Williams recently embarked on a painting project to showcase a unique feature of each of Nebraska’s 93 counties in time for the sesquentenial celebration of the state in 2017. During his residency, Williams is inviting people who are interested in the project to visit with him about its continuation. He has completed work on 30 counties and is looking for additional funding to complete the set. Those interested in sponsoring the uncompleted counties should stop by the museum during the residency.
A native of Central City, Williams studied painting and illustration at the Kansas City Art Institute and worked as an in-house senior artist and designer for Hallmark Cards and DaySpring Cards. Today, Williams excels in his ability to paint all subject matter using spontaneous brushwork and creative virtuosity. Most of the time, he can be found painting in the open air.
His work has been exhibited across the country in gallery, museum and invitational exhibitions, including the Gilcrease Museum, the Great Plains Art Museum, Richmond Art Museum, Montgomery Museum Of Fine Arts, Art Museum of Lafayette, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, the Maynard Dixon Museum, Evansville Museum of Arts and the Oil Painters of America and Impressionists Society National Exhibitions where he has been honored with the prestigious status of a Signature Member.
This is the eighth year that the artist-in-residence program has been supported by the Elizabeth Rubendall Foundation.
The Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q St., is open to the public 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sundays. There is no admission charge.
