“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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isual art can be perceived as a solitary endeavor – and in many ways it is. Painters and sculptors lock themselves away in their studios, emerging only when claimed by exhaustion or they feel their work is complete. While this part of the process can been a lone wolf’s game, art is much bigger than putting a brush to canvas late one night. It takes people willing to focus on all facets of the creative process. Organizations like the Sioux Empire Arts Council have long served as the local art community’s backbone, but new groups are helping more people traverse the hurdles that previously kept their work off gallery walls. They are working to get supplies in artists’ hands, to provide a place for creation to happen, and to keep them motivated to produce meaningful work. In South Dakota’s largest city, there has never been a better time to be a maker.