Photos capture economic woes in Cornhusker State

The Great Plains Art Museum will present the work of four photographers documenting the economic upheaval in Nebraska caused by the current recession.

An exhibition of photography by UNL photojournalism students Patrick Breen, Kyle Bruggeman, Clay Lomneth and associate professor Bruce Thorson depicts the state’s residents sharing their trials and successes. The project was funded by the Center for Great Plains Studies and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at UNL. The resulting exhibition, “Searching for the Real Nebraska: A Photo Essay on the Great Recession” will be shown in two parts at the Great Plains Art Museum, with part one running Nov. 6 through Dec. 13.

Taylor Miller, 6, of Crete, plays with a hula hoop on a sidewalk in Dorchester. Photo by Bruce Thorson/Journalism and Mass Communications.

The photographers traveled across the state in a camping trailer, keeping a Web log of their experiences along the way. They met with Nebraskans in every scale of town, every stage of life, and every degree of intimacy with current economic conditions. Still, said Thorson, “This project is not about sad stories. Nebraska is touted in the press as the happiest state in the union. We wanted to find out why.”

Jack Pelren of Crawford plays with one of his many cats during a visit by Bruce Thorson earlier this year. Photo by Bruce Thorson/Journalism and Mass Communications.

The blog for the photojournalism project is available at http://unlphotojournalism.blogspot.com.

Visitors are invited to a First Friday reception 5-7 p.m. Nov. 6.

The Great Plains Art Museum is located at 1155 Q St. in the Hewit Place building. Admission is free and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1:30 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The museum is closed Mondays, between exhibitions, and on university holidays.