Paintings honor state's 150th

Friday, March 25, 2016
Nebraska fine artist Todd Williams and his wife, Rebecca, deliver three of Todd's 93-piece "Legacy of Nebraska" collection of oil paintings to AmFirst Bank in McCook Tuesday afternoon. Holding the painting representing Dundy County is Pat Rotherham, left, president of AmFirst Bank, Benkelman; holding Hayes County's painting is Amanda Fornoff, center, personal banker/marketing representative at AmFirst Bank, McCook; and holding Red Willow's oil is Kent Craw, right, president of AmFirst Bank, McCook. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- Inspired by Nebraska's spectacular, breathtaking sunsets, Central City native and fine artist Todd Williams has created a 93-piece collection of oil paintings to help the state celebrate the 150th anniversary of its statehood.

Each of Williams' framed paintings represents one of the state's 93 counties. The full collection, called "Painting the Legacy of Nebraska: A Lasting Tribute," will be exhibited at the Nebraska State History Museum in Lincoln on Statehood Day March 1, 2017, and then will travel throughout the state.

AmFirst Bank CEO Van Korell, and his wife, Jan, of McCook sponsored three of the Williams paintings, one for each of the Nebraska counties in which AmFirst has a location. Williams titled the Dundy County painting "Benkelman Farmstead." The Hayes County painting is named "Camp Duke Alexis." Williams called the Red Willow County painting "The Sutton House."

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Sutton House, at 602 Norris Avenue, is the home of the Korells.

When Williams and his wife, Rebecca, delivered the paintings to the Korells at AmFirst Bank in McCook Tuesday afternoon, Jan Korell said of the three paintings, "Beautiful ... absolutely beautiful. I love the texture of his work."

The three paintings will be on display at AmFirst locations in McCook, Benkelman and Hayes Center until they join the complete collection in the exhibition in Lincoln in March 2017.

A portion of proceeds from the sponsorships of Williams' "Painting the Legacy of Nebraska" project supports sesquicentennial events and projects during "Nebraska 150" celebrations and commemorations in 2017.

Williams' paintings are featured in a 12-month calendar for 2016. There, Williams explains that the goal of his project was to "give recognition and awareness of my great state and bring its beauty to life on canvas."

"I wanted to reveal Nebraska through the eyes of an artist ... and to capture the legacy of my birth place," Williams writes.

He adds, "I desire to show not only the historical legacy, but also the diversity and simplicity of the aesthetical landscape and landmarks."

At the first exhibition of the collection, next year, a special gala reception will recognize parties (counties, state, corporations and individuals) who sponsored or contributed to the project. There will also be a commemorative collectors' art book published that will contain the entire collection with historical and descriptive text of each painting and county.

Williams writes, "My heart's desire for this project is to reawaken an appreciation for the arts and preserve the unique beauty and heritage that Nebraska has to offer."

For more information on Williams' Nebraska legacy project and on his other work, go to www.ToddWilliamsFineArt.com.

Starting Jan. 1, 2017, Nebraska will kick off its sesquicentennial celebration. For more information on statehood celebrations, go to www.nebraska150.com.

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