South Dakota Community Network

The Redlin Art Center: Terry Redlin’s Legacy

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Art is the expression of human creative skills and imaginations captured as a painting or sculptures. Art has been around for many years. Some say there were finding of some cave paintings, sculptures, rock paintings, and petroglyphs from the Upper Paleolithic dating back to about 40,000 years ago.

Terry Redlin, one of the most widely collected modern painters today, was born on July 11, 1937 and was raised in a small town of Watertown, South Dakota. As a small boy all he was ed to do was hunt, fish and wonder in the woods. Terry Redlin said that nature was his favorite teacher. After a tragic accident at the age of 15, Terry Redlin decided to fully devoted himself in to art. He earned his college degree from St. Paul School of Associated Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota and got married at the age of 19 to a woman named Helen Langenfeld. In 1977, Redlin sold his first two prints for 10. From 1991 through 1998, Terry Redlin was named America’s most admired artist in annual gallery surveys conducted by U.S. Art magazine and has accumulated several impressive awards and recognitions throughout his career.

Terry Redlin is still well known for his legacy as an artist while his arts continues to live on at the Redlin Art Center in his hometown of Watertown, South Dakota.

Brainpower: Competitive Chess in South Dakota

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

South Dakota, like many states, has a unique and beautiful culture all its own. A big part of this is competitive chess. Statewide competitions began in 1922, when the title was won by Lloyd McFarling from the town of Huron. It is still behind held today, and is traditional in many towns of South Dakota. As with any competition of this nature, there is a friendly feud between towns as to who will produce the next year’s champion.Get more information here. http://boingboing.net/2011/07/27/buy-an-old-west-town-in-south-dakota-for-0-8m.html

It is possible for two people to take the champion title, when the competitors are so evenly matched that a winner simply cannot be found. This happened in 2008, between Sandor Kustar from Okaton and Nels Truelson from Sioux Falls. The South Dakota Chess Association runs the championship tournament each year, and supports numerous clubs and groups of chess aficionados state wide. All chess in these groups is played under the rules and bylaws set forth by the South Dakota Chess Association.

Mentions of competitive chess can be found in yearbooks dating back generations, and many of the participants are also listed as taking part in the Academic Decathlon. Competitive chess has made its mark on the rich culture of South Dakota.

How the Pierre Indian School Keeps Native American Culture Alive

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

While a lot of groups have added their ingredients to the cultural mix of South Dakota, one of the biggest contributors is the oldest one. The various tribes that have called the place home since prehistoric times give the state its special flavor.
The Pierre Indian School has helped to bolster the traditions and values of these tribes among their youngest members. The image most people envision when they think of South Dakota is the Sioux warrior on horseback hunting a buffalo. It might seem cliched, but it’s stood the test of time, at least for me.
But the local Indian cultures consists of more than big game hunts. They have contributed everything from artistic styles to a deep, spiritual appreciation of the land. These contributions might appear to be ingrained in the state, but they are always in danger of being lost.
I was glad to see that a place like the Pierre Indian School is working to keep it alive through education of the tribal children. Probably the best way to prepare kids for the future is by giving them a history to work with. Their success in life will be the best way to preserve Indian culture.

South Dakota Day Trips

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Spring in South Dakota is as beautiful as anywhere, and there are plenty of daytrips right here at home to make a family happy. Here are some great in-state ideas for vacations that won’t break the bank or take you too far from home. Just because you’re not headed states away, don’t forget to lock the house, get your pets taken care of and set your adt system before you go…
Mt. Rushmore – Of course, everyone’s heard of Mount Rushmore and the destination’s a bit of a classic, but why not take your family to see what made South Dakota famous! There’s tons of history here as well as walking trails…your whole family will be happy you came.
Badlands – As far as national parks go, the Badlands of South Dakota are really something special. Scenic beyond belief and rich with cultural significance, kids and parents alike will enjoy a trip to one of SD’s most famous state parks.
Crazy Horse – Stone formations don’t get much cooler than this, so take your kids to see Crazy Horse Monument today! They’ll appreciate the aesthetics of the natural formation and you’ll love how much history they absorb while they’re there.
What are you waiting for? Get in the car and head out today!

Bridging cultures in South Dakota: the art of Paul Goble

www.sdcommunitynetwork.com — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 03:08:08 +0000

One of the most important keys to South Dakota community is in recognizing the multitude of cultures that exist in the state. Though he hails from Haslemere, England, Paul Goble has been celebrating South Dakota Native American culture since the late 1950s. During a trip to America in 1959, Goble became an adopted member of the Yakima and Sioux tribes, inducted by Chief Edgar Red Cloud. In 1969, the artist/illustrator published Red Hawk’s Account of Custer’s Last Battle, which brought a new perspective to history by showing a Native American perspective on the event.Since 1969, not more than a few years have gone by without Goble releasing a new book, the most recent being The Boy & His Mud Horses published in 2010 by World Wisdom. The book brings Goble’s beautiful painted illustrations to a variety of Great Plains legends and tall tales. All of Goble’s pages portray Native American culture realistically and honestly, and over the years he’s received several widespread acclaim for his contributions to children’s books. Most notably, he received the 1979 Caldecott Medal for The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses. Goble’s paintings have been recognized in the fine art world, as wellhe has two pieces at the Museum of Nebraska Art.Goble’s connection to the Great Plains region is so strong that he moved there in 1977, living first in Lincoln, Nebraska and then in Rapid City, South Dakota, where he still resides. His story is proof that building bridges between cultures is never impossible, even if they start out across the ocean from one another. His books are testaments to human kindness and the importance of history. More importantly, they’re beautiful stories, no matter what the age of the reader.

Association of South Dakota Museums is your guide to state culture

www.sdcommunitynetwork.com — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:53:21 +0000

People have been living in South Dakota since before 5000 BC, when Paleolithic hunter-gathers roamed the plains. Over the years, different groups have moved in and left their mark before passing onsometimes tragically. While not all of South Dakota’s history is pleasant, it is extensive, and today’s generations can only benefit from looking into the past. Several museums make it easy to do just that, and the Association of South Dakota Museums helps behind the scenes to keep everything organized.The ADSM offers a way for museums to communicate with both each other and with their patrons. Individuals can join for 15, which offers access to a quarterly newsletter and a directory of museums in the state. Of course, you don’t have to be a member to make use of the ASDM’s resources, such as learning more about the museums in your area.At the website www.sdmuseums.org, you can search the state to find more information about your friendly neighborhood museum. The site also includes a list of upcoming events: currently, a portrait class with Assist. Prof. Faith Benzer and a Demolition Derby at the Geddes Sports Complex, hosted by the Charles Mix County Historical Restoration Society. No matter what your age, you’re never too old (or too young) to learn about the history, science, and wildlife of your home state, or to take up a new hobby. Financing and protecting these museums for future generations is definitely a worthwhile investment.