Bringing Hope
FROM ARTS SOUTH DAKOTA AND THE SOUTH DAKOTA ARTS COUNCIL
Sioux Elk Game by Oscar Howe
South Dakota’s artists are like a warm breeze in springtime; they bring us beauty, hope and promise. Let’s show them our appreciation and support. Please enjoy this issue of our Arts Alive newsletter.
LOOKING UP Enjoy our outdoor art as you travel
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HONORING OUR BEST
scar Howe was born in the Crow Creek Reservation and grew to be a quiet man who shook the art world, rebelling against the stereotypes that he believed were limiting the creativity and progress of Native American artists. Howe boldly declared that Native artists should not be limited to creating traditional landscapes, and he led the way with his dynamic, abstract and colorful works. He also demonstrated that art can be a powerful trail to self-empowerment, as he raised himself from poverty to international acclaim and success. In 1973, Howe became the first
recipient of the South Dakota Governor's Awards in the Arts for Creative Achievement. That was 50 years ago, when Howe was still painting and teaching on the University of South Dakota campus in Vermillion. Even today, he epitomizes the spirit of the award. The Governor’s Awards in the Arts program continues to honor individuals, businesses and organizations who make major impacts in the arts. Know of a person or group that deserves recognition? Check out the nominating requirements on the Arts South Dakota website or email us at info@ artssouthdakota.org.
As you plan your summer explorations of South Dakota, watch for our plethora of outdoor art. Even before Mount Rushmore, our pioneer ancestors were proudly erecting big sculptures — like the Union soldier who stands high atop a pedestal in downtown Milbank and the World War I doughboy in the park at Bullhead in the Standing Rock Reservation. Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse brought international attention. When the South Dakota Arts Council was organized in the 1970s, one of its early initiatives was an effort to identify and preserve our unique collection. Some of the best-known outdoor art destinations include SculptureWalk in Sioux Falls, the Trail of Governors in Pierre and the City of Presidents collection in Rapid City. Dale Lamphere’s graceful Dignity of Earth and Sky statue on the bluffs above the Missouri River at Chamberlain is the very newest destination. But lesser-known art can be found everywhere. Did you know there’s a mini-Eiffel tower in Tyndall? A concrete pheasant at Tinkertown, west of Watertown? A statue of the legendary missionary Martin Marty on the Mount Marty campus in Yankton? Whether it be “street art” in our larger cities or war memorials in a very small town, you’ll find inspiration and beauty in our outdoor sculptures.
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