The Aberdeen Area Community Foundation (AACF), in partnership with the Knight Aberdeen Fund of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is installing artworks on ten business windows in downtown Aberdeen in mid-May. The artworks were submitted in response to a Call for Art with a theme of “South Dakota Seasons.” A judging panel selected the artworks to be displayed. It is the third year in a row for the Downtown Art Project.
Alexis Doerr, Lecturer of Art at Northern State University, serves as project director and has overseen solicitation of art proposals, judging, and installation of the artworks. The Call for Art invited original art in various media, photographs of which will be installed as window clings. The AACF received a grant from the Knight Aberdeen Fund for the project. The purpose of the project is to beautify downtown with local art.
The project will award four cash prizes. Project judges Steve Thithavong, Aberdeen Area Arts Council Executive Director, Alexa Sheldon, Aberdeen Downtown Association Executive Director, and Megan Biegler, Avera Project Specialist and AACF Vice President, chose first, second, third and honorable mention prizes, which will be announced in June. In addition, a People’s Choice award will be presented for the artwork that receives the most votes in a poll that will be conducted through the AACF website: www.aberdeencommunityfoundation.com. Voting will be open May 25-June 10. The first day of voting coincides with the Aberdeen Downtown Association’s Wine Walk.
The nine artists’ whose work will be featured are (Click an artist’s name to see their artwork and its location on Main Street):
- Donna Marmorstein
- Amy Heinz
- Kyla Fesler
- Nadya Preszler
- Allison Kimble
- Kayleen Hermans
- Kelsey Hedlund
- Tia Swiontek
- Calvin Giroux
Location: 506 S. Main St. | Convention & Visitors Bureau building
Donna Marmorstein, Rhythmic Migrations
Location: 514 S. Main St. | Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce
Amy Heinz, After the Rain
Location: 417 S Main St. | Capitol Theater
Kyla Fesler, Palisades Campground
Location: 318 S. Main St.
Nadya Preszler, Little House on the Prairie
Location: 321 S. Main St. | Anytime Fitness
Allison Kimble, Untitled
Location: 402 S. Main Street | Brown County Health
Kayleen Hermans, South Dakota Snow
Location: 14 S. Main St. | Blackstone Building – NEMHC
Kelsey Hedlund, All Seasons, All South Dakota
Location: 14 S. Main St. | Blackstone Building – NEMHC
Tia Swiontek, Into
Location: Rhodes Anderson – 401 S. Main Street
Calvin Giroux, Untitled
In addition to the individual artworks, a collage of works submitted by Aberdeen Achieve students at Central High School will be displayed (except for student Calvin Giroux’s art, which was selected by the judges for individual display on a window).
Location: 321 S. Main St. | Anytime Fitness (South facing windows)
Aberdeen Achieve Collage
“It’s exciting to continue the Downtown Art Project for its third year,” AACF president Heath Johnson said. “We’re very grateful to Alexis Doerr for running the project and to the downtown businesses who’ve made their windows available.” He added, “We encourage everyone to walk downtown to check them out and to vote for their favorite in our People’s Choice Award.”
Professor Doerr added, “The Downtown Art Project is a great opportunity to showcase local artwork and generate visibility for artists and creatives in our area.”
About the Aberdeen Area Community Foundation
The Aberdeen Area Community Foundation was established in 1984 as a standalone 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a goal of creating a long-term funding source for charitable causes in the local area. With careful investment, the fund will continue to grow and enhance quality of life in the local area forever. This fund is one of more than 80 Community Savings Accounts in partnership with the South Dakota Community Foundation. For more information, visit https://aberdeencommunityfoundation.com
About the Knight Foundation Aberdeen Fund
In 2004, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation created the Knight Aberdeen Fund with the South Dakota Community Foundation to support Aberdeen. Funded with $2 million, it has made more than 80 grants totaling over $1.1 million to more than 50 area organizations.
About the South Dakota Community Foundation
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers 1,200 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $30 million in grants in 2022 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or call 1-800-888-1842.