10/06/2026
The CAC is excited to announce the opening of "Prairie Light", an exhibit featuring the paintings of Sandhills artist Roberta Barnes. The exhibit will run from October 6th to November 14th.
Artist Statement:
"I live in the Sandhills of Nebraska. It is through my images that I hope to not only share the images I see daily but also to share with the viewer the spirit and soul of the sandhills. The images you see are an honest portrayal of what it is to live and work in this region.
Through my paintings I hope to express the evolving changes of life the changing seasons, knowing we live a vulnerable but blessed life. I want to evoke a memory and/or an experience from the viewer, to share my story. Most of all I want to create a feeling of peace."
About the Artist:
Roberta Barnes, a native of Nebraska, lives with her husband on a ranch next to the Nebraska National Forest. Barnes was born in Columbus, Nebraska and raised on a farm north of Columbus. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. After graduation, she taught art for four years until, in 1984, the artist moved to Colorado with her husband to complete a graduate program at the University of Northern Colorado. Barnes returned to teaching in 1998 and recently retired from 7-12 art at Broken Bow High School, Broken Bow, NE.
The artist shares her love of the landscape through her works in oils. She finds an endless source of inspiration in the landscapes, not only in her "roots" from the Columbus area but also in the Sandhills region of Nebraska. She is a member of the Burkholder Project, Lincoln; Impact Nebraska Art Group; Studio 10, Grand Island, NE; Prairie 7-ANAC art group; Oil Painters of America; Impressionist Society of America; and American Plains Artists. Bi-annually, Barnes contributes artwork to the Nebraska "Spirit" show, a juried show supporting the Museum of Nebraska Art. Her work is a part of both public and private collections.
