HOLDREGE – Two Holdrege native artists will be featured in the Iron Horse Creative Art District’s July pop-up art gallery.
The artwork of Holdrege High School 2023 graduate Jillian Bailey and the late Brad Pearson will be displayed at the Spirit of Grace Church, 413 West Ave. The church will be open for viewing the art from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (closed during lunch hour) on Tuesdays and Fridays in July.
A Meet and Greet reception is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at the church. The public is invited to attend to meet Jillian and see artwork from both artists.
Jillian is pursuing a career in digital illustration through the CG Spectrum Art Academy. She has loved art since she was a young child and fostered that talent through high school where she was a member of the National Art Honor Society. The art on display is part of the portfolio she is developing through her classes.
Brad Pearson was a 1963 HHS graduate who started loving art from an early age. He practiced his skills on classmates’ papers and notebooks and then on ivory soap as a Boy Scout. In 1983, he moved on to bronze sculptures. One of his sculptures is displayed at St. Andrew’s Museum in Scotland. In 1984, Brad drew 11 pictures for the First National Bank’s Calendar for their 100th anniversary. Besides bronze, he also created art with watercolors and pastels. Pearson died in 2019.
The Iron Horse Art District’s August pop-up art event will be a Community Talent Show at the Holdrege Public Library. The event will be from 5-7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8.
The deadline to register for the talent show is July 30. Register to participate in the show at www.ironhorsedistrict.org/events/community-talent-show. A piano and music stand will be available. Contact Chelsea Feusner () or Ashley Brock () with questions about the talent show.
The September art event will be the Iron Horse Festival on Saturday, Sept. 14. The daytime portion of the event is free and will include artisans and vendors from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Some of the artists/demonstrators already signed up are current Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason, a pop-up
gallery from the Museum of Nebraska Art, Artistic Innovations (barn quilt demonstration), and MomenTum Dance Academy. The event will culminate with a concert in front of the Iron Horse Station featuring Logan Mize, Luke Mills and Savanna Chestnut. Tickets are available for the evening concert at ironhorseartsdistrict/iron-horse-festival-info.
The Iron Horse District concluded its Embrace Your Space Photography contest earlier this month. The winners were: Sierra Burrows (Bee & Blossom), Chelsey Neville (Claire’s Poppies), Allen C. Olson (Dented and Ready to Pick), Mark Kraus III (Old Tractors), Dirk Ehrenberg (Springtime Evening), Staci Wolfe (Stop Light), Vickie Klein (Sunrise on the Course) and Sherry McClymont (Sunset). The winning photos will be displayed at the Iron Horse Arts Festival.
For more information about the Iron Horse Arts District or to be involved, please contact project manager Cassie Ehrenberg at .
