ARTIST ANN MCTAGGART TO EXHIBIT AT NEIHARDT SITE

Artist Ann Marie McTaggart of Sioux City will present the Sunday Afternoon at the Museum Program opening an exhibit of her work on February 12th at 2 p.m. at the John G. Neihardt State Historic Site in Bancroft, Nebraska. McTaggart is an experimental painter whose work is influenced by the philosopher Henri Bergson’s concept of the vital force. A former oncology RN, she left the nursing profession to pursue her art full time, completing a degree in Studio Art at Morningside College and later a BFA and an MA from the University of South Dakota.
In the artist statement on her website, she says of her work: “As a visual artist and a woman there are many issues of the feminine persona that are relevant within my compositions. Along with this is the opportunity I had to work in the field of oncology nursing for 35 years. Together these experiences have greatly affected the content of my work; content that centers upon man’s courage and his ability to transcend obstacles towards a higher spiritual consciousness. . . My usual icon is the bird form. For myself as an artist, I found the bird symbolizes a true spirituality -which for centuries has been utilized as a religious icon of hope and spiritual enlightenment. . . . For many this enlightenment or achievement is demanded sooner rather than later as with my courageous cancer patients. Their inner strength exceeded the powerful insults to their being.”
The artist will be present to talk about her work at the reception. The entire exhibit will remain on display through March 12th during our regular hours of Monday – Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sundays 1:30 – 5:00 PM.
The Neihardt State Historic Site is located at 306 W. Elm Street, Bancroft, NE. The program begins at 2 p.m. with a reception. The event is free and open to the public.