Let There Be Light
Fatih Benzer



 

Manufacturing Plant
Joy Crane
 

Joy Crane: Beadwork
March 12, 2008 - June 15, 2008

Glass beads are the primary medium used by Joy Crane for creating her sculpture which has evolved from her original pursuit of making fine beaded jewelry. She began working with larger scale beads in 2004 and became very excited about blowing apart the expectation that beadwork be small and precious. The desire to get even larger motivated Crane to start using beaded-beads. A beaded-bead is a composite "bead" made from several smaller beads. The large hole in these new "beads" gave the artist the freedom to use heavy gauge wire as a connecting strand.

The expression of meaningful content is the main driving force in Crane's work. Her original focus was on men and how they needed to change if the human species was to survive. However, her attention was subsequently drawn to other current social issues, most of which seemed to have a common thread in human reproduction. Some examples are the South Dakota anti-choice bill, DNA research, cloning, patenting the human genome and biotechnology. The body of work in the exhibit addresses more than contemporary concerns; however, it also envisions future ramifications of out current course for all humankind.

Land of Filth and Sunshine
Andrew Kosten

Through the use of physical metaphor it is Andrew Kosten's intention to shed light on the frequent and mundane mishaps of an all too often complacent public consciousness. Themes that have remained consistent in his work include the influence of the corrupt over the unsuspecting, the hilarity and whimsical nature of the human psyche, and the function if the individual in relation to his culture of environment. Frequently Kosten attempts of translate these themes or particular narrative with a childlike use of symbolism in order to establish contradictions in subject that lead the viewer to question the imagery.

Throughout its all to often tragic history, humanity has turned to the comical, the bizarre, and the extraordinary in order to maintain a sense of lightheartedness. An inclination toward satire as well as a sardonic translation of human behavior carries on a long-standing tradition.

Andrew Kosten received his painting degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 2001 and a master's degree in printmaking from the University of South Dakota in 2005. Kosten is currently an instructor of drawing and design at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, and takes part in a multitude of juried, fine art competitions on a regional and national level.

Doll Figure
Thorburn Tribal Art Collection

Thorburn Tribal Art Collection & Buechel Photo Collection:
An Imprint of Reservation Life
February 29, 2008 - February 22, 2009

Eugene Buechel was born in Germany in 1874. After studying in Germany and the Netherlands, he entered the Jesuit Order in 1897. He came to the United States in 1900 and taught at the St. Francis Mission on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota from 1902 to 1904. He completed his clerical studies in St. Louis and was ordained to the priesthood in 1906. He returned to South Dakota in 1907 and served at Holy Rosary Mission on the Pine Ridge Reservation and at St. Francis Mission until his death in 1954.

Wambli Sapa or Black Eagle, as Father Buechel was named by the Lakota people, learned the Lakota language, translated a number of church texts into Lakota and created a file of almost 30,000 Lakota words which was published in 1970 as a Lakota-English dictionary. Buechel also developed one the finest collections of Lakota art. This collection is housed on the Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum at St. Francis.

An avid photographer, Buechel left over 2,300 documented negatives and prints of the Rosebud and Pine Ridge people to the St. Francis Indian Mission. The collection represents one of the most important historical and sociological records in the state. The images on exhibit at the South Dakota Art Museum are from this collection. The images were given to the South Dakota Art Museum in 1984 by St. Francis Mission in memory of Les Helgeland, former editor of the Yankton Press and Dakotan, friend of the Mission and trustee of the South Dakota Art Museum.

Frank Thorburn was born in 1902 in Brooklyn, New York. He moved with his family to California in 1906 and graduated from Sacramento High School in 1921. He attended college at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and seminary at General Theological Seminary in New York City. Rev Thorburn was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church in 1931 at St. Elizabeth Church in Wakpala, SD. on the Standing Rock Reservation. He married Abigail Case at the same church in 1932. That year they moved from Cannon Ball, ND to the Pine Ridge Reservation where they served many communities until 1952.

Most of the Thorburn collection of 74 pieces were gifts during their over 20 years of serving on the reservations while others were purchased from trading posts. Some pieces were given to the Thorburns in an honoring ceremony in 1981. The collection was presented to the South Dakota Art Museum in 1985.

Adopted by Eagles, Paul Goble
Gift of Paul and Janet Goble

Paul Goble is an award-winning author and illustrator of children's books who is best known for his beautiful and accurate retelling of Native Americans' ancient stories. Goble was born in England, moved to the United States in 1977, and became a citizen in 1984. Goble has worked as a furniture designer, industrial consultant, and art instructor.

A Caldecott Medal was awarded for The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses (1978). Paul Goble's books have won praise from the American Library Association, the National Council of Social Studies, the International Reading Association, and the Children's Book Council. He has received the Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year award and his books have been chosen by Reading Rainbow.

Goble makes his home in Rapid City, South Dakota. He has given a selection of his original illustrations from more than 30 of his children’s books to the South Dakota Art Museum.  The South Dakota Art Museum holds this permanent collection of Paul Goble’s paintings depicting Native American legends and traditions, and his works will be displayed on a rotating basis at the Museum.

Fixing Fence, 1944
Harvey Dunn
oil on canvas
Gift of Helen Jensen Kerns
and Raymond Peterson
The South Dakota Art Museum Collection

In addition, Dunn's first art instructor, Ada Caldwell, taught Harvey Dunn in 1901 and 1902, during his time at South Dakota Agricultural College (SDSU). Caldwell opened new vistas for the young artist and brought out artistic talent that he didn't know he had. She encouraged him to further his art education by attending the Chicago Institute of Art.

Dunn's paintings of women demonstrate his ability to render the female form in various occupations and situations. Dunn's work stressed the importance of capturing the strength, vulnerability, and spirit of the feminine form.

Harvey Dunn was born on a homestead near Manchester, SD in 1884.  He became known in the art world as an illustrator, war artist and teacher.  To most South Dakotans he is known for his prairie landscapes.

Maria Brigida de Jesus

Marghab Linens were hand embroidered on the Island of Madeira from 1933 to1980. Emile and Vera Way Marghab founded the company and their exacting standards set them apart from other companies producing hand-embroidered linens.

The collaborative talents of many individuals resulted in the beauty and ultimate success of Marghab Linens. Eighty to ninety employees worked in the ‘factory’ as designers, pattern makers, stampers, finishers, laundresses and clerks. Over two hundred women embroidered the linens in their countryside homes. With nearly three hundred employees working together, the company was able to achieve its goal of creating, producing and selling the finest hand embroidered linens.

Governor Mike Rounds and First Lady Jean Rounds are proud to promote the artistic identity of South Dakota and to celebrate the cultural and artistic heritage and future of South Dakota through this biennial competition and touring exhibition.