Nebraska Artists Contribute to Public Understanding of Science

by Caroline Clements

Morrill Hall has launched new exhibits celebrating two famous Nebraskans and their contributions to the public understanding of science through their art. The first, National Geographic Photo Ark by Joel Sartore, highlights his efforts to photograph endangered species from around the world. The second, Elizabeth H. Dolan: Rediscovering a Nebraska Artist, celebrates the career and impact of the woman who created the large landscape murals in Morrill Hall. Both exhibits enable the visitor to be awed and inspired by their work.

Guests will enjoy digital displays of Sartore’s exquisite photos and videos—highlighting the beauty and uniqueness of each endangered species while discussing challenges faced by them. The exhibit presents international conservation efforts and shares “behind the scenes” photo shoots. In a dedicated seating area, visitors can view wildlife photos and videos, and listen to Joel Sartore explain his mission to save these species from extinction. There are light-hearted moments too. Joel shares the effort needed to get an animal to stay in one place long enough to photograph. 

“Typically, the Photo Ark is exhibited as printed photographs, but our version is mostly on screen,” said Angie Fox, Head of exhibits. “This approach lets us refresh the exhibit with new photos and stories on a regular basis.”

Creating a permanent home for the National Geographic Photo Ark project was the idea and vision of Del Lienemann Jr., who along with his wife Mary, are the sole benefactors of this project. Accompanying this exhibit is a section about Joel Sartore and his professional journey to become a wildlife photographer and his passion to tell the stories of endangered life on Earth. It’s the hope of the donors and the artist that this stunning photographic exhibit will spur others to become biodiversity champions and conservation heroes.

While Joel Sartore is celebrated for his work internationally, the story of another Nebraska artist has been lost over time. Yet, during her life, Elizabeth H. Dolan also had an international reputation as a large format muralist and was sought out for her portraits and still life here in Nebraska and beyond. She is forever connected to Morrill Hall, and now, her contributions will be recognized in the first-floor exhibit: Elizabeth H. Dolan: Rediscovering a Nebraska Artist. 

For years, visitors to Morrill Hall have stood in awe as they stared up at Archie, a 14-foot-tall Columbian mammoth fossil who dominates the attention in the iconic Elephant Hall exhibit. Nearly a dozen other elephant relatives (mastodons, four-tuskers and other proboscideans) parade around the grand hall, all framed by floor-to-ceiling landscape backdrops. These murals—painted in 1927—are the work of Elizabeth Dolan. Director Barbour commissioned her to provide the artistic “atmosphere” needed for the public to appreciate the fossils and bring to life the very different surroundings they lived in. Dolan traveled to fossil sites around Nebraska, creating reference sketches and working closely with Barbour and other museum scientists to accurately depict the plants and animals from Nebraska’s past. For almost 100 years the Dolan murals and scientific mounts have created a unique visitor experience at Morrill Hall. 

“Elizabeth was instrumental in executing Dr. Barbour’s plan for a grand hall of science,” Said museum director Dr. Susan Weller. “Her landscapes convey the other-worldliness of ancient Nebraska with her signature fresco-like style in muted tones.”

The exhibit was made possible by the generosity of the Friends of the State Museum, a Nebraska non-profit dedicated to furthering the UNSM’s mission. The Friends contributed funding and donated their time to help research Dolan’s life story and participate in creating the exhibit. The exhibit includes examples of Dolan’s art and their locations in Nebraska, as well as a section on the artist’s approach and materials used in creating her artworks. 

Whether a person has an interest in art, in science, or both, these two new exhibits at Morrill Hall provide an opportunity to explore natural history and the artists behind them.