By Museum of Nebraska Art
KEARNEY, Neb. — Dana Fritz’s photographs reveal the forces shaping the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands. Once the world’s largest hand-planted forest, the site is known colloquially as the Nebraska National Forest at Halsey. Wind, water, planting, thinning, burning, decomposition and sowing all play a role in its environmental history.
In her exhibition Dana Fritz: Field Guide to a Hybrid Landscape, currently on view at MONA in the Lauritzen Gallery, Fritz thoughtfully observes the human imprint on our environmental history, the devastating yet restorative effects of wildfire and the resilience of nature. Her black-and-white photography provides a rich and educational narrative for museum visitors, seamlessly connecting the state's natural landmarks through poignant and nuanced imagery of the Nebraska National Forest at Halsey and the Bessey Nursery.
Through her visual storytelling, Fritz's photography frames the historic significance and present relevance of the experimental landscape. Join the Museum for an artist talk about the making of this work on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, at 4 p.m. in the Founders Gallery. This event is free and open to the public.