SERVICES > Governor's Arts Awards > 2012 GAA Award Winners
2012 GAA Leonard Thiessen Award
Catherine & Terry Ferguson
Catherine and Terry Ferguson have both individually and as a couple been instrumental in developing and supporting the vibrant arts community of metro Omaha, the state of Nebraska and the Midwest region. Catherine, in addition to her service to the arts, is an accomplished artist who has achieved international recognition for her sculptural works. Terry has served as a board member on many of Nebraska’s premier arts organizations including the Nebraska Arts Council and the Mid-America Arts Alliance. The Fergusons share this passion for the arts with their two sons, who also live in Omaha with their families.
Catherine Ferguson’s sculpture is in public, private and museum collections. In Nebraska her public sculpture work can be seen at the Omaha Public Library’s Millard branch, The University of Nebraska Omaha, Sheldon Museum Sculpture garden, Woods Park in Lincoln, Century Link Convention Center and W. Dale Clark Library.
She has created “installation” exhibitions at the Joslyn Art Museum, the Museum of Nebraska Art, the Sheldon Art Museum, the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Creighton University, Galeria Artual in Barcelona and numerous other galleries in the United States.
In 2008, Opera Omaha commissioned Catherine to design sets and costumes for the company's 50th anniversary production of the opera AIDA. Also in 2008 she was recognized as Best Visual Artist, Best 3-D Artist and Best Solo Show at the Omaha Entertainment Awards.
Catherine's civic work has included serving on the Nebraska Arts Council, the City of Omaha Landmark Commission, and currently on the board of the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art and Creighton University’s College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Advisory Board.
Terry Ferguson earned his undergraduate degree from Creighton University and his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He is presently Of Counsel with the Fraser Stryker Law Firm. His previous work experience includes serving as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Level 3 Communications, Inc.; Senior Vice President and General Counsel of MFS Communications Company, Inc.; and as senior attorney at the Kiewit Companies. He served as an adjunct professor of law at Creighton Law School from 2001 through 2008.
He currently serves as President of the Nebraska Cultural Endowment; as Chairman of the board of Mid-America Arts Alliance; as Vice Chairman of the board of Opera Omaha; and on the boards of the Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law and the Public Interest, Inc.; Lauritzen Gardens; and the National Trustee Forum of Opera America.
His past experience includes: Chairman of the Nebraska Arts Council from 1998-2003. He also served on the following boards: Lauritzen Gardens from 1997-2004 (where he was Chairman in 2003 and 2004); the Joslyn Art Museum from 2001 to 2006; and the Sheldon Art Association from 2006-2008.
