Furlong is Great Plains Art Museum’s artist in residence

The Great Plains Art Museum will host Boise, Idaho-based artist Kirsten Furlong as the 2020-21 Elizabeth Rubendall Artist in Residence from June 1-12.

Furlong’s artwork interprets the natural history and current grassland ecology of the Great Plains and beyond through drawings, monotypes and paintings. Bird species past and present, insects, other animals and plants are depicted, along with mark-making inspired by the lines and textures of the prairie.

During her residency, Furlong will create an artwork that will become part of the museum’s permanent collection. Visitors are encouraged to see the artist in action and ask questions in the lower-level Elizabeth Rubendall Artist-in-Residence Studio and Education Lab from June 1-12 during museum hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The event is free and open to the public. The residency and associated events will comply with all University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Lincoln-Lancaster County COVID-19 policies.

Courtesy photo | Kirsten Furlong

Furlong received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Master of Fine Arts from Boise State University. She is currently the director of galleries and a lecturer in the Department of Art, Design and Visual Studies at Boise State University. Her work has been shown nationally and internationally in solo and group exhibitions. Artist residencies in Denali National Park in Alaska, Signal Fire and PLAYA in Oregon, Jentel and Brush Creek in Wyoming, Montello Foundation in the Great Basin of Nevada, Prairieside Outpost in Kansas and Good Hart Artist Residency in Michigan have created the foundation for many of her recent projects.

Artist in Residence events:

• First Friday, June 4, 5 to 7 p.m. — Furlong will also attend Lincoln’s First Friday Art Walk.

Courtesy photo

• Flying with the Birds: Kite Making Workshop, June 5, workshop, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; kite flying, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. — Create a kite with an image of a Great Plains bird. The workshop will include help identifying a bird to paint or draw, creating a bird image on the kite, and assembling the kite. Participants will leave with everything needed to fly the kite. The event is free and open to children 5 and older. In-person participation is first-come, first-served and limited to eight registrants. One adult chaperone per registrant is permitted if needed, and encouraged for younger children. For those who can’t participate in person, a take-home kite kit with instructions is available for pickup. All participants are invited to join for kite flying that afternoon at Pioneers Park, weather permitting. To register and learn more about the event, email Ashley Wilkinson at ashley.wilkinson@unl.edu.

Since its inception in 2006, the Elizabeth Rubendall Foundation has funded the Artist-in-Residence Program, which allows museum visitors and school groups to witness an artist in action. For more information, click here.

The Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q St., is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free.