South Dakota Governor’s 4th Biennial Art Exhibition
(July 15 - September 8, 2010)

The Dacotah Prairie Museum (DPM) announced the July 10 opening of “Endless Visions”, the South Dakota Governor’s 4th Biennial Art Exhibition.

The DPM along with the Dahl Arts Center, Rapid City; the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center, Pierre; the University Art Galleries, Vermillion, and the Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls sponsored this touring exhibit of 47 pieces created by some of South Dakota’s finest artisans.  Each artists submitting work for consideration must be a resident of South Dakota and be creating work within the state.  Each was allowed to enter up to four pieces for judging. 

Lora Schaunaman, Curator of Exhibits at DPM, served as one of the jurists who reviewed nearly 250 entries from which the pieces in the show were selected.  Other jurists included David Merhib, Director of the Visual Arts Center, Washington Pavilion, and Mary Maxon, Curator at the Dahl Arts Center.  According to Merhib “At first we (the jurors) looked at what makes each work of art individual and also representational of South Dakota artists…It was our job to select works that best represented the larger scope of originality of artists in South Dakota.  The judging team selects “The Juror’s Choice”, which is an outstanding piece that captures the spirit of the exhibition.  This award was given to “Obsessive Compulsive Opera with Three Sleeping Karma Dogs”, an oil painting by Jeff Freeman, Vermillion.  Judges also recognized Ariadne Albright, Belle Fouche; Keith Braveheart, Rapid City; Sara Fakhraie, Vermillion; Philip Michael Hook, Vermillion; Joseph Night, Burbank; Tim Peterson, Spearfish; Justin Tobin, Vermillion; and Ray Tysdal Rapid City with Honorable Mention Awards.

Artists represented in this show used a wide variety of media including pencil, pastel, acrylic, oil, and photography to create beautiful drawings and paintings.  They also created sculptures, quilts and jewelry to showcase their talents.

In comments about the exhibition, Governor Mike Rounds states “I extend my thanks to all the artists who sent their exceptional work to “Endless Visions” and to the institutions and sponsors who made this show a reality.  As the show tours South Dakota, I invite my fellow citizens to join me in celebrating the professionalism, imagination, and talent of our state’s artists.”

For information on past exhibits in the Lamont Gallery, please click here