ArtBank Hosts “Mother Lasting” – A Moving Exploration of Aging, Memory, and Love

McCook Neb. - The ArtBank will open a deeply personal and thought-provoking exhibition this week, welcoming renowned artist and educator Irene Delka McCray with her series “Mother Lasting.” The show, curated by Lucas Kotschwar of the 6th Floor Project, opens Thursday, July 17 (1–8 p.m.) and continues through August.

McCray will give an artist talk on Saturday, July 19, at 2 p.m., offering visitors the chance to hear firsthand how her work developed out of an intimate and emotional journey with her mother during the final months of her life with Alzheimer’s.

Kotschwar, who studied under McCray at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, expressed pride about bringing her work to McCook.

“Irene is an incredible artist, teacher, and mentor to many, including me while I attended RMCAD,” Kotschwar said. “It’s an honor to share this show with the community.”

A Daughter’s Reflection, A Universal Story

McCray describes “Mother Lasting” as an act of love and resistance. The paintings and drawings are inspired by her memories, imagination, and photographs taken of her mother—whose name has not been publicly shared—through windows during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“Even with a lifetime of experience with the strength of my mother’s character, it’s her end years that impress me the most,” Irene writes in her artist statement. She describes the work as honoring not only her mother but also the dignity and visibility of elders in a culture that often dismisses them.

“To think that elders are insignificant in this world consumed with productivity and usefulness is unjust and offensive,” Irene writes in her artist statement. “Longevity is its own state of being, holding meaning and discovery in layers of lasting.”

Her art pairs the delicate patterns of aging skin with the natural veining of leaves, connecting her mother’s life to the cycles of nature and, as Irene writes, “the expansive mystery of the all.”

“I’m Not Here” – Humor and Profound Truth

One of the series’ most striking pieces, “Not Here,” captures both humor and poignancy. During a video call through the window of her mother’s care facility, Irene asked if she could pose with her hands near her face for a painting. Instead, her mother—staying true to her own wry sense of humor—put the phone down on her lap, covered her face with her hands, and said, “I’m not here.”

That single moment, simple yet profound, speaks to the vulnerability, resistance, and dignity of aging that McCray explores throughout the series.

About the Artist

Irene Delka McCray is an accomplished artist and retired professor from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Lakewood, Colorado. Her paintings and drawings have been exhibited widely across Colorado, as well as in New Mexico, California, Missouri, Washington D.C., and Arizona.

The exhibition will be on view at the ArtBank, 108 W. D St., McCook, NE, during regular hours through August. Admission is free, and all are encouraged to attend the artist talk on July 19 for a deeper understanding of this heartfelt series.