The Homestead Series featured at Homestead National Monument of America

Date: October 15, 2012
Contact: Merrith Baughman, 402-223-3514

The Homestead Series, a collection of twelve beautiful paintings, will be on exhibit at Homestead National Monument of America's Education Center from October 2012 through April 2013. The Homestead Series was painted by renowned Midwestern artist Judy Thompson who was inspired by her experience as Artist In Residence at the Monument in 2010.

The Homestead Series speaks to the fabric of the land and its people during the Homestead Movement of the United States. Each painting, in this series of twelve images, illustrates part of the epic story of this revolutionary time in history. By creating a "sense of place," the viewer is invited to share in the moods, colors and stories of another era. Devastation of native prairie, re-creating a new frontier, isolation and displacement are a few of the themes explored. Each painting was created independently from the others using different art techniques, styles and approaches to portray the variety of people and experiences which comprised the Homestead Movement. Viewed as a whole, the Homestead Series connects our present experience with the lives of those who changed our land forever.

Judy Thompson gets much of her inspiration from the prairies which surround her home. Her richly textured paintings have been described as "beautiful images which capture a sense of place." Judy's artwork has received national and regional awards. She is a signature member of the Iowa Watercolor Society and associate member of Iowa Artist, the National Watercolor Society and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America.

Remember, Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2012, the 150^th Anniversary of the Homestead Act of 1862. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM) and Facebook (Homestead National Monument of America).

Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit https://www.nps.gov/home.