Liz Shea-McCoy's heart is beating fast as she works to organize her most ambitious public art project yet.
By May 1, she hopes to have over 80 heart sculptures on display. "Nebraska by Heart" features 6-foot fiberglass hearts (and in some cases steel and bronze hearts) meant to symbolize the state as the "Heartland of America" and focuses on Nebraskans’ love of their state and the pride they feel in calling Nebraska home.
The hearts will be on display during the state's 2017 sesquicentennial celebration.
Artists have until April 15 to complete their work, and then Shea-McCoy will fill out the jigsaw puzzle by placing them at designated locations.
It's expected that 30 or so of the hearts will be displayed on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campuses.
"This is a great opportunity for the university to draw more visitors to campus and highlight areas like Maxwell Arboretum and our gardens," said Emily Casper, university landscape architect.
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Sponsors pay for the fabricated heart, the artist’s materials and project costs. On Oct. 6, they'll be auctioned off at Haymarket Park with funds raised benefiting nonprofits Lead Up Lincoln and the Sadie Dog Fund.
Once all of the hearts are in place, the Journal Star will publish a complete list with locations. These are the heart themes, artists and sponsors:
Badge of Honor
Artist: Monique Gustafson
Patrons: Paige Duncan, Missy Hasselbalch, Megan Davidson, Shelia Schulke, Mary Ebers, Suzanne Sughroue and Sarah Gervais
All Hearts Are Sacred
Artist: Monique Gustafson
Patrons: Mike Owens, Joel Makovicka, and Dr. Keith & Tess Hughes
Out of the Park
Artist: Emilie Alles
Patrons: Jay & Tawnya Wilkinson
So Sweet
Artist: Emilie Alles
Patrons: Wendy & John Bonaiuto, Kenneth J. Wenzel & Erin Wenzel
Jewel of the Heartland
Artist: Shelley Creeger Stoltenberg
Patrons: Mary & Dr. Gregory Heidrick, Bob & Jan Fitzsimmons, Dr. Michael McCoy and Betsy & Dr. Jim Bobenhouse
Internal Connection
Artists: Bri Murphy & Katelyn Farneth
Patron: Nebraska Heart Institute
As Night Turns to Day
Artist: Julia Kappenman
Patron: Marcus Theatres
Dogs Color Our Lives
Artist: Deb Schur
Patron: Jan Hoffman
Spirits of the Heartland
Artist: Janelle McKain
Patron: Heritage Builders Inc.
Nature’s Gift
Artist: Paula Yoachim
Patron: Slim Chickens
The Heartland
Artist: Paula Yoachim
Patron: Rhonda Seacrest
Renewed Glory
Artist: Linda Arnold
Patron: Lincoln, Nebraska’s Downtown Art District
Heart is Where the Home is
Artist: Greg Holdren
Patron: Legacy Retirement Communities
The Heart of the Field
Artist: Greg Holdren
Patrons: Carrie Stuart and Eric Peterson
Star Crossed Lovers
Artist: Elley Coffin
Patrons: Wayne State College and Family & Friends of Elley Coffin
Moonlight and Romeo
Artist: Nicole Battelle Van Hook
Patrons: Dr. Rodney & Deborah Basler
Save a Little Room for Magic
Artist: Nicole Battelle Van Hook
Patron: Judy Eicher
The Key
Artist: Nicole Battelle Van Hook
Patron: Kappa Kappa Gamma
Blank Canvas
Artist: Nicole Battelle Van Hook
Patrons: Kay & Lee Rockwell
Nebraska Wildflowers
Artist: Valery Wachter
Patron: Bryan Health
You Are Here
Artist: Keri Hedrick
Patron: Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
Favorite Fishing Hole
Artist: Karen Neppl
Patron: Billy’s Restaurant
Sunrise/Sunset Nebraska Mosaic
Artist: Karen Neppl
Patrons: Richard R. & Denise L. Agee
Significant Symbols of Nebraska
Artist: Karen Neppl
Patrons: Don & Donna Ryan and Studio K Art Gallery
Defibrillator
Artist: Eric Saxon
Patron: Phi Delta Theta, Nebraska Alpha chapter
Polar Opposites
Artist: Janette Amberg
Patron: PCE Inc.
The Heart of Each County
Artists: Tom Quest & Ann Williams
Patrons: James D. & Rosalind Klein Carr
Plane and Plains
Artist: Mindy Burton
Patron: Darlene Petersen, in memory of Dean L. Petersen
Elementals
Artist: Mindy Burton
Patron: Whitehead Oil Co./U-Stop
Those That Capture Our Hearts
Artist: Sue Kalicki
Patron: Giebelhaus-Hoffman Plumbing, in memory of Gypsy and Elvis
Heartland Values
Artist: Sue Kalicki
Patrons: Bob & Jan Fitzsimmons
Everything Nice in Nebraska
Artist: Patrick Gauthier
Patrons: Julie Kloke & Dan Semrad
A Kintsugi Heart
Artist: Joni Sakurada Hotz
Patrons: Mary & Frank Dupuis
Fond of the Family Farm
Artist: Nichole Tichota
Patron: Wayne’s Body Shop
Melting H’Art
Artist: Ann Whitesell
Patrons: Bob & Sandy White
Nebraska Cornfield
Artist: Peggy Kokes-Alloway
Patrons: Nancy & Brian Christiansen
Possibility
Artist: Alison (Aten) Rash
Patron: Talent Plus
If I Was …
Artist: Alison (Aten) Rash
Patrons: Deb & Tom Cabela, in memory of Ali’s grandmother, Helen Nabity
Wave
Artist: Alison (Aten) Rash
Patrons: Delta Delta Delta Sorority and House Corp.
Memories In My Heart
Artist: Lynn Wilson
Patrons: Sharla Schultze and Terri Elliott
The Greatest of These is Love
Artist: Lynn Wilson
Patron: Alpha Xi Delta Sorority
Oneness
Artists: Nicki Nix & the Metal Art Team at TMCO
Patron: Rhonda Seacrest
The Heartland
Artists: Nicki Nix & the Metal Art Team at TMCO
Patron: Abel Foundation
Beauty
Artist: Diane Ogden
Patron: Kappa Alpha Theta
Flyover State
Artist: Cassia Nebel
Patron: Amigos/Kings Classic
Mouser
Artist: David Alles
Patron: Carol Mullen
Hello Sunshine
Artist: David Alles
Patron: Hoppe Law Firm
Together
Artist: Becky Lamb
Patrons: Sysco Lincoln, Eileen Bradbury & Randy Pierce, Bob & Carla Philipps, Roy Lamb and Ron Bradbury
Heartland Story
Artist: Michael Montag
Patron: Kathie Svoboda, in memory of Bill
Immaculate Heartland
Artist: Michael Montag
Patron: Commercial Investment Properties
Heartfelt Words
Artist: Lori Griepenstroh
Patrons: Linda Kresha Wibbels & Dr. Shelby Wibbels Byler
Interpretations of Life
Artist: Jeri Brainard
Patron: Kappa Delta Sorority
Corn Grown
Artist: Courtney Cuddeford
Patrons: Jim & Julie Pittenger
Pieces of Nebraska
Artists: Abby Olson for the Broken Bow Art Club, under the direction of Roberta Barnes, Broken Bow art teacher
Patrons: Friends of Abby Olson
Western Gothic: Big Skies Big Hearts
Artist: Roberta Barnes
Patron: Duane R. Tappe, in honor of my big hearted wife, Diana
Solomon Butcher
Artists: Roberta Barnes, Teresa Haney & Paul Loomer for the Wild Rose Gallery, Broken Bow
Patron: Nebraska State Fair
Corgi's Cabin
Artist: Susan Hanson
Patron: Pinnacle Bank -- Ogallala & Grant
N.E. Woman
Artists: Mercy High School Honors art students (Jane Langenfeld, art specialist)
Patron: CHI Health
Autumn Affairs
Artist: Mark Coyle
Patron: DeMaro Family Foundation
Diamond In the Rough
Artist: Linda Bushnell
Patron: WRK Family Foundation
It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This – Nebraska
Artist: Deb Kubik
Patrons: Sue & Tom Tallman
Through It All the Song of a Meadowlark
Artist: Nolan Tredway
Patron: Urgent Care Clinic of Lincoln, P.C.
93
Artist: Gillian Jenkins
Patrons: Jason & Sarah Helvey, in memory of James C. Van Horn
Pop Heart
Artist: Danny Jenkins
Patron: Data Source Media
Serengeti of Omaha
Artist: Ian Laing
Patron: Warren Distribution
Sand Cranes at Sunset
Artist: Ian Laing
Patron: Powers Law
With Heart We Grow
Artist: Gabriela Vlad Moscu
Patron: Traditions Pub, Sprague
Many in One
Artist: Elizabeth Wells
Patron: Sapp Bros. Inc.
Sandhill Cranes
Artist: Tammy Partsch
Patron: Nebraska City -- Where Great Ideas Grow
Hail to the Red, White and Blue
Artist: Liz Shea
Patrons: Kay & Dr. John Reed
The Music of the Wind
Artist: Doyle Burbank-Williams
Patrons: Alpha Delta Pi House Corp. and Alumnae
The Tall Grass Prairie
Artist: Doyle Burbank-Williams
Patron: Ameritas
View of the Heart of the Storm
Artist: Mary Jane Lamberson
Patron: Alpha Chi Omega, Xi Chapter
Fallen
Artist: Keitan Oltman
Patron: American Legion
Metamorphosis
Artist: Gretchen Larsen
Patron: Exstrom Physical Therapy
Written on the Wings
Artist: Julie Rose
Patron: Mickey Metzger
Honey Bee
Artist: Courtney Porto
Patrons: Lincoln Industries and Assurity Life
Heartland
Artist: Carl Dumicich
Patrons: From Nebraska Gift Shop and James Arthur Vineyards
Rainbow
Artist: Mary Jo Bailey and Jeff Brandl
Patron: Jeff Brandl
Fragments of Life
Artists: Lincoln North Star High School art students (Jocelyn Reis, art specialist)
Patrons: Gallup & Friends of North Star High School
Agriculture: The Heartbeat of Nebraska
Artist: Diane O’Neel
Patron: RDO Truck Centers
We Are Nebraska
Artist: Allie Laing
Patron: Alpha Omicron Pi, Zeta Chapter
When Paths Cross
Artist: Jane Langenfeld
Patron: The Alexis Project, in memory of Alexis Calfee and Chris Oberg