H i p p i e Ha v e n l Su z i e C a p p a A r t C e n t e r l D a h l Mo u n t ai n P h o t o C o m p e t i t i o n
APRIL 2021
Volume 2. Issue No. 4
AMP'D UP! Meet the man behind the murals
TOGETHER WE CAN A campaign to support the expansion of Monument Health’s Cancer Care Institute
Visit www.monument.health/togetherwecan to learn more and donate today
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APRIL 2021 Volume 2 // Issue No. 4
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HIPPIE HAVEN
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HIDING IN THE SHADOWS
Celebrate Earth Day with Rapid City’s Only Zero-Waste Store.
Artist Aaron Pearcy is painting a brighter future for Rapid City.
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ART ADAPTATION
The Suzie Cappa Art Center adjusts to online classes and virtual tours through pandemic.
CAPTURING WHAT HE CAN
Teenager Leith Sandness gets recognition at the 17th annual Dahl Mountain Photo Competition. Read story on page 8.
4 ELEVATE • APRIL 2021
Photo by Siandhara Bonnet
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Telling the stories that haven't been told This issue of Elevate marks our one-year anniversary. It seems like only yesterday we were asking ourselves: can we launch a magazine in the middle of a pandemic? Really? No, really, can we? I’m still not sure we have an answer. But, against our better judgment—against any judgment, really—we dove into the deep end of a shallow pool, which is something your mother told you never to do. Our mission with this magazine, just like the mission of Elevate Rapid City: try to Elevate the region for everyone. So, we started telling stories. And putting stories on the cover that weren’t being told. We wanted to show the diversity and people that make Rapid City more than you see in the tourist brochures. Are we Mount Rushmore, The Badlands, and Custer State Park? Sure. But we’re also tap houses, native arts, co-ops, hipster barber shops, and barbeque—and these are just some of the stories we’ve told in the past year. This issue continues that tradition. You’ll meet local muralist Aaron Pearcy, whose work you’ve no doubt seen in downtown Rapid City. You’ll read how the Suzie Cappa Art Center has weathered the pandemic. And you’ll learn how zero-waste and art are able to go hand-in-hand. Finally, you’ll see the world through the eyes of a young local photographer who has mastered the art of staying in the present moment at the young age of 17. If only we’d all been so lucky at that age. What’s coming in the next twelve issues? We’ll let you know when we get there. We’re staying present and we’re taking the time to savor this one-year anniversary issue and we hope you do as well. Stay safe and God-speed.
6 ELEVATE • APRIL 2021
Tom Johnson
President & CEO, Elevate Rapid City
Tom Johnson, President & CEO Dana Borowski, Finance & Operations Director Matt Brunner, Economic Development Director Shiloh Francis, Marketing & Communications Director Anna Hays, Public Policy Director Brandis Knudsen, Small Business Development & Investor Relations Director Mitch Nachtigall, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Director Rachel Day, Events & Training Manager Andy Greenman, Creative Services Manager Liz Highland, HR Coordinator/Office Manager Becky Knox, Executive Assistant Debbie Leber, Finance Manager & Investor Coordinator Samantha McGrath, Workforce Development & Talent Attraction Manager Loni Reichert, Data Analyst & Program Support Coordinator Design and layout: Andy Greenman Published by the Rapid City Journal Bill Masterson, Publisher, bill.masterson@bhmginc.com Advertising: Eddie Hebron, ehebron@amplifieddigitalagency.com, 605.394.8354 Printed by Simpsons Printing Elevate is a monthly publication produced by Elevate Rapid City. It is the premier business magazine for the Black Hills region telling the stories that make our area unique and vibrant. PO Box 747, Rapid City, SD 57709 605.343.1744 // elevaterapidcity.com
On the cover Aaron Pearcy, better known as AMP, stands in front of his fantasy forest mural in Summerset. Photo by Andy Greenman
COMMENTS
CALENDAR
CELTIC CONNECTION
March 12-April 24
I love her!!!! I spend hours in there talking to this lovely woman whenever I’m downtown. Great highlight! - Laci Sosa Siaryn Duggan, you are a wonderful person. I love having you in our community. And so proud to call you a friend. - Fred Baxter
WESTERN MAILERS
Great business, great service, great smile. - Becky Drury
NERDY NUTS
Inspiring, mad props. - Dom Clucas
WORKING AGAINST VIOLENCE, INC.
Wonderful article and an organization that is near and dear to my heart. Thank you for all that you do for our community and continue to make it even bigger and better for our community. - Robbie Murchison
A wonderful and dedicated organization. Thank you for all that your staff does to help and protect victims and educate the public. Especially grateful for those who tirelessly support this agency... you know who you are. - Bonnie Riggenbach
CONNECT W I T H U S! Follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/ElevateRapidCity), Instagram (@elevaterapidcity), LinkedIn (/company/elevate-rapid-city) Twitter (@Elevate_RC), and YouTube (youtube.com/elevaterapidcity). Share your thoughts and help us Elevate Rapid City together!
Send us a rant: magazine@elevaterapidcity.com
17th Annual Dahl Mountain Photo Exhibit
he 17th Annual Dahl Mountain Photo Competition and Exhibit T is a juried photography exhibition based on mountain culture. The exhibition will be on display in the Inez & Milton Shaver Gallery and Lobby Gallery at the Dahl Arts Center. Learn more at thedahl.org.
March 26-28
Black Hills Home Builders Association Home Show
This annual regional trade show is the largest home show in America for a community of its size. The event is an excellent opportunity for businesses to display products and services. Learn more at blackhillshomebuilders.com.
April 2-3
Rapid City Rush vs. Wichita Thunder
Puck drops at 7:05 p.m. from the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena. Buy tickets at rapidcityrush.com.
April 3, 10, 17, 24
Black Hills Farmers Market
Black Hills Farmers Market offers locally produced foods and fine arts including fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, meats, eggs, honey, fresh-baked goods, herbs, pickles, salsas, jams, jellies, dairy, and hand-crafted items. The market is located at 245 E. Omaha St. from 9 a.m. - noon. Learn more at facebook.com/ BlackHillsFarmersMarket.
April 9
Forks, Corks, and Kegs in Deadwood
Sample a variety of beer and wine from all across the country, as well as Black Hills favorites. Learn more at deadwood.com.
April 10
Watercolor and Wine
Join Firehouse Wine Cellars as they welcome the Northern Plains Watercolor Society for a special exhibit. Live folk and Americana music provided by Elaine-Romero Douglas. Free and open to the public; light appetizers provided. Learn more at firehousewinecellars.com.
April 17
National Park Free Entrance Days
Come experience Badlands National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Wind Cave National Park for free. Learn more at nps.gov. The Working Against Violence, Inc. (WAVI) article in the March issue was written by Siandhara Bonnet, Rapid City Journal. Photos were by Grace Pritchett, Rapid City Journal. We apologize for the missing byline. elevaterapidcity.com 7
Belle Fourche student shines at Dahl Mountain Photo Competition
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Story and photos by Siandhara Bonnet, Rapid City Journal
during the Dahl Mountain Culture Festival. eith Sandness looks around about Sandness submitted about 10 pieces to every 10 seconds walking through his contest and had five selected by three judges, favorite prairie close to his house to including the Journal’s staff photographer get a different, new perspective. The 17-year-old keeps his right hand on Grace Pritchett and Sandness’s mentor Steve Babbitt, a professor the 150-600 mm lens tripod of fine arts and mass foot as he walks toward the communications at Black familiar grassland. "Anywhere in nature Hills State University. “Anywhere in nature is my is my favorite place, favorite place, regardless of Dahl Assistant Curator Jeannie Larson said this is if I’m taking pictures or not,” regardless of if I’m he said. her second year doing the taking pictures or not." show, but can already see Sandness, of Belle Fourche, - Leith Sandness Sandness’s growth. took second place in the adult Photographer amateur category for the 17th “I can see that he paid more attention to the Annual Dahl Mountain Photo Competition and Exhibit, compositional elements,” she said. “He really has an eye for it. He’s 17… the first time he entered the category and his fourth year entering the contest. He’s working hard and diligently to master his craft, I hope he continues school for it.” The contest is a juried photography Larson said the contest had about 240 photo exhibition based on mountain culture. The exhibit is open from March 12 to April 24 entries and the judges selected 66 for the 8 ELEVATE • APRIL 2021
Caring for our earth. We live in the areas we serve and we support programs that improve their health and beauty. Visit blackhillsenergy.com/your-community to learn more.
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"I’m more excited for wildlife because it’s more of a challenge, and you can’t plan wildlife pictures." - Leith Sandness
exhibit. She said this year’s works are some of the strongest they’ve seen. Next year, though, they may expand the competition to be anything in nature, not just the mountain life. Sandness started taking photos after he saw his mother taking photos of the sunset with her iPhone. “I was jealous for some reason, so I started doing it,” he said. He took his sister’s point-and-shoot Canon and started biking around the area to take photos of anything he could find. Sandness’s mother Laura said she and her husband Stephan didn’t know how much love their son would have for photography, but recognized his interest. She said they helped him purchase a refurbished Canon PowerShot SX60 HS to get him started. “We knew that he enjoys being out more than anything,” Stephan said. “From the time he was little, he was outside constantly.” He said he and Sandness would go hunting together. “There’s not too many little kids who would sit in a blind for hours at a time and dig it,” he said. Sandness said he remembers exploring the woods near their family’s house when they lived in southeast Minnesota before moving to South Dakota. He said he sees more when he’s not looking through the viewfinder, but
likes to try to capture the unusual happenings anyway. Laura said when she saw his passion for photography, she reached out to Babbitt, who was the one who recommended Sandness submit his work to the Dahl Mountain Photo Competition. Sandness won first and second place in the youth category for the contest in 2019. “Babbitt won’t allow him to sandbag anymore and submit to the youth division,” Stephan said. Sandness said he tries to keep as much human development out of his photos as possible. “As a nature photographer, I want to be in nature, not someone’s backyard,” he said. “I think I’m more excited for wildlife because it’s more of a challenge, and you can’t plan wildlife pictures. You can think of a landscape shot that you want to get and get it, but there’s no planning for wildlife.” Sandness said he’s never worried about not getting a picture, he just gets what he can, although when he sees a picture when he’s out with his family, the car is stopped so he can get out and take a photo of what he sees. Sandness said he’s never taken a class and doesn’t know that much about his Canon 6D itself, but looks to photographers like Art Wolfe and Tom Mangelsen, and local photographers Jon Larsen and Les Heiserman.
Four of Leith Sandness's photos that were entered into the Dahl Mountain Photo Contest 2021. This is Leith's fourth year entering the contest and his first in the adult amateur contest. 10 ELEVATE • APRIL 2021
Leith Sandness, 17, of Belle Fourche with the photos he entered into the Dahl Mountain Photo Contest for 2021.
"If it wasn’t for school, I might have more incentive to get up earlier." - Leith Sandness
He said Babbitt is the one who pushed him to think about his composition. “The second to last time I saw him, he told me (my photos were) getting boring,” he said. “That’s when he told me to try to get different shots, ones you’ve never seen before.” Sandness goes out to take photos most days of the week, either in the morning or in the evening when the light is just right. “If it wasn’t for school, I might have more incentive to get up earlier,” he said. But being in the thicket when meadowlarks, his favorite birds, come to sing and nest in the evening at the beginning of the summer is just fine. Sandness said he's not sure if he'll pursue photography as a career, but would like to do something in the environmental sciences. elevaterapidcity.com 11
12 ELEVATE • APRIL 2021
Celebrate Earth Day with Rapid City’s Only Zero-Waste Store Story and Photos by Shiloh Francis
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n the corner of St. Joseph Street The Beginning and Mount Rushmore Road in Hippie Haven wasn’t Ackland’s first business downtown Rapid City sits a haven. venture. Rather, it has been an extension of Upon entering your eyes are drawn Bestowed Essentials, a handmade line of ecoto tables and shelves with large, spouted friendly personal care and cleaning products. containers. The scent of handmade soap fills This was another example of Ackland’s the air. Plants soak up the sunshine in large resourcefulness in creating something she windows – one of which also doubles as a cozy couldn’t find on her own. reading nook. She had struggled with acne for years but it As South Dakota’s first zero-waste store seemed there wasn’t a product that was both (and Rapid City’s only), Hippie Haven sells effective and met her requirements as zero eco-friendly products to help you reduce waste vegan. On a trip to Louisiana, she found your trash & your impact on the planet. The a handmade soap that was close, but still not large containers are a part of a BYOC (bring quite perfect. your own container) refill section for beauty A little research and a few rounds of trialand cleaning products, plus and-error resulted not only ingredients to DIY your in a successful formula but own cosmetic recipes. First also a bit of a hobby. With a time in, or happen to forget little encouragement from "If I can’t find it, a container? Feel free to friends, Ackland began selling borrow from the freebie jar I create it." her products on Etsy, and collection station. Bestowed Essentials was Callee Ackland This unique business was Founder, Hippie Haven born. created by 27-year-old Callee It was around this time Ackland. After moving to Ackland was preparing to Rapid City at the end of 2018, leave the Navy. She had a she wanted to create a place, difficult childhood, facing hardships like a haven, to begin building a community of likefood insecurity, and the Navy offered her an minded individuals. “If I can’t find it, I create escape. While it opened doors for travel, she it,” explains the multi-passionate business also knew it wasn’t where her passion and owner. And as the saying goes: if you build it, purpose lied. So she gave herself permission they will come.
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to try. “I figured I’d give myself one year to make Bestowed Essentials work full-time,” she recalls. “If I couldn’t make it, then I’d go and get a ‘real job.’”
"I knew I needed a home base for the business and South Dakota checked a lot of boxes." - Callee Ackland
Rolling into South Dakota A west coast native, stationed in Georgia, ultimately ends up in South Dakota. Not the journey most would expect for a young, politically active female business owner. But Ackland had done her research. She knew South Dakota was not only a tax-friendly state for business, but also nomad-friendly. “I had a campervan that I was living and running my business out of, and initially wanted to keep traveling,” she explained. “But I knew I needed a home base for the business and South Dakota checked a lot of boxes.”
Ackland initially stopped in Sioux Falls, but opted to continue and see what the west offered. The beauty and outdoor opportunities of the Black Hills called to her, and Rapid City became home. After a year, in December 2019, Hippie Haven opened its doors.
Zero Waste, Full of Purpose
Since moving to Rapid City, Bestowed Essentials and Hippie Haven have seen a lot of growth. Bestowed Essentials has a warehouse now. Between the two businesses there are six full and part-time employees. “It’s important for me to hire people of all abilities, and that often means being flexible with hours.” Of the products Hippie Haven offers, 70% of them are made by American, female-owned businesses. You’ll also find at least two pop-up tables in the store featuring items by local makers and artists. With the new warehouse for Bestowed Essentials, it has opened more space to begin offering free education and community events. As a multi-passionate entrepreneur and coming off a year in a pandemic it can be hard to narrow down which direction to head next, but Ackland has a few ideas in mind of what she hopes Hippie Haven continues to be. In addition to continuing to grow into the warehouse, she hopes to expand upon elevaterapidcity.com 15
"Rather than going to the landfill, these items can go to people who really need them." - Callee Ackland
the community resources. Some of the new open space will be used to start a free market – a place where people can donate items and clothing and those in need can come “shop” for free. “Rather than going to the landfill, these items can go to people who really need them.” Additionally, inspired by the food insecurity she often faced as a child, Hippie Haven already offers a food pantry outside. She hopes to expand that, even adding a refrigerator. Lastly, Hippie Haven will continue to serve as a local drop-off point for anyone wanting to donate to Camp Mniluzahan.
CELEBRATE EARTH DAY Thursday, April 22
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18 ELEVATE • APRIL 2021
iding in the
shadows Artist Aaron Pearcy is leaving his mark on Rapid City
Story and Photos by Andy Greenman
As you meander through downtown Rapid City, it’s hard to miss the work of Aaron Pearcy. Firehouse Brewing, the city’s original firehouse, has a two-story firefighter painted on the outside. A glimpse of the Badlands rises out of downtown while passing Main Street Square. And there’s a good chance you’ve taken a selfie next to the Rapid City greeting in Art Alley. Many are familiar with these paintings by Aaron Pearcy, better known as AMP, but most cannot put a face to his name. His online presence strictly advertises his work, rather than himself. He’s one that would rather go unnoticed in a crowded room. Pearcy prefers to “hide in the shadows and paint stuff.”
elevaterapidcity.com 19
“I want students to know that art has a place at the center of our lives, not just in history books and museums. We should express ourselves where we are.” - David Horan, Douglas High School Fine Arts Instructor
Love For Art (Alley) Pearcy’s education did not begin in South Dakota. His family traveled frequently while his father served in the military. At age 7, while living in Germany, he began to express himself by coloring. Aaron put his touch on church pamphlets, canvases, and items he was not supposed to be coloring. Three years later, his father was transferred to Ellsworth Air Force Base, bringing Aaron Pearcy to the Rapid City area. Continuing his arts education at Douglas High School, Pearcy received the guidance needed to follow his dreams. Fine Arts Instructor David Horan introduced his class to airbrushing and the art of graffiti. Horan took his class on a field trip to learn about street art at none-other than Art Alley. “I want students to know that art has a place at the center of our lives, not just in history books and museums,” said Horan. “We should express ourselves where we are.” The Alley was a new project for Rapid City at this time. It was a public platform for artists to practice their work without breaking the law. Artists painted brick walls, pipes, garbage cans, stairwells and practically anything in sight to brighten the heart of downtown. Art Alley ART continues to bring droves of ALLEY tourists and locals through the alley to take selfies and admire. The street art of local artists inspired Pearcy and he ran with it.
Muralist
Pearcy continued to hone-in on large format 20 ELEVATE • APRIL 2021
paintings in Art Alley as people were taking notice. In 2014, Firehouse Brewing Company building owner, Bob Fuchs was impressed by his work and asked Pearcy to give the exterior of brewery a new look. Without a doubt, Pearcy accepted the offer and was eager to paint his ‘first wall outside the alley.’ He spent roughly 50 hours painting a firefighter two-stories tall with flames at his back. This mural became a statement piece for the artist at one of downtown’s busiest restaurants. A year later he was hired FIREHOUSE to paint a set of BREWING firefighters opposite of the original mural. The demand for Pearcy’s work was heating up. Destination Rapid City, who’s mission is to create, sustain, and maintain a vibrant city center, offered Pearcy the opportunity to use Elks Theatre as his canvas. Well-known Rapid City photographer Steve Babbitt provided a picturesque photo of the Badlands to face Main Street Square. Pearcy spent weeks preparing and painting the towering theater while dangling from a crane lift. Pearcy now has work scattered throughout Rapid City. Just look for his signature AMP, simply referring to his initials. Other projects include a mine shaft design in the South Dakota Mines gym area, a slick looking Mt. Rushmore at Black Hills Barbershop, and farmers picking beans on the side of Dark Canyon Coffee. Pearcy most recently completed a Marvel themed indoor basketball court on a resident’s property.
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22 ELEVATE • APRIL 2021
“I’ll sacrifice a little bit of sleep to get a nice painting done.” - Aaron Pearcy
Family And Full-Time Employment There is so much more to AMP than the paint on the wall. The artist is a husband and father of three. He works full-time as a tattoo artist at Good Dominion Tattoo Company. Family and work come before his mural work, but his passion for murals can keep him up through the night. “I’ll sacrifice a little bit of sleep to get a nice painting done,” says Pearcy. Pearcy can thank his kids for his first mural work of 2021. He and his family were looking to get out of the house over the winter when they took a trip to Run Wild in Summerset. As their kids ran wild at the new indoor playground filled with slides, obstacles and BADLANDS climbing towers, Pearcy noticed something was missing. “It has huge, blank, open walls so why not have it be something that’s captivating?” He reached out and asked them if he could paint the back wall with a fantasy forest scene Watch our exclusive interview with AMP on the Elevate Rapid City YouTube channel
so kids could “run around and have their imaginations run wild too.” As he’s putting the finishing touches on his latest mural, kids will now imagine they are playing in the wilderness when they visit Run Wild.
Worst Critic
From Germany to the Black Hills, Pearcy has persevered. As artists often struggle with internal emotions, his case is no different. Pearcy has heard the voices in his head telling him the work is not up to standards. Self-doubt crept in while seeing tiny imperfections in his work. While an onlooker may see a great piece, Pearcy is his own worst critic. “There are days where you know you did an awesome job, and there are days where you could’ve been a little bit better. That’s all a part of growing,” Pearcy said. With every piece Pearcy tries to improve upon the last because he believes he is only as good as his last work.
The Wow Factor
While Pearcy inches closer to his next mural at a physical therapist office, he dreams of painting on the biggest stage. He continuously prefers the next project to be bigger than the last. He’d paint Jupiter if he could. “It may be tiring, but it’s the wow factor for me,” Pearcy states. elevaterapidcity.com 23
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24 ELEVATE • APRIL 2021
What type of wow factor is he talking about? “Painting the side of the Rushmore Hotel... I think that would be epic,” Pearcy said. “Doing a side profile of Lincoln or a shot of Mt. Rushmore would be perfect. Another idea that energizes Pearcy is slapping some color on the Dakota Mill & Grain silos. He describes the current state of the Rapid City landmark as “the big white grain silo that paint is peeling off of it.” Whatever comes Aaron Pearcy’s way, he’s up for the challenge and is sure to continue leaving his mark on Rapid City. “I’ve gotten great satisfaction from what I do and seeing other people enjoy what I’m doing.”
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Downtown art center adapts through pandemic
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by Main Street Square
and the partnerships we have developed over he Suzie Cappa Art Center (SCAC) was the years is a testament to that,” stated Tammie founded in memory of artist Suzie Quinn, Day Services Supervisor for Black Hills Cappa, a local artist who independently Works. “The South Dakota Arts Council is a big selected her own brushes, her own supporter. Through a grant, they partner with colors, and her own subjects of interest. Suzie’s us to bring in local artists through the Artists in mother, Juanita, recognized her talent and Residency program. These provided her instruction with artists assist in teaching and local artist, Ida Jansen. Suzie guiding the artists at SCAC to studied a variety of art forms "We have a vibrant art and hone additional from 1985 until her passing in community downtown and develop skills,” added Quinn. 1997. the partnerships we have Like many businesses, The Suzie Cappa Art Center, a program of Black Hills Works, developed over the years is 2020 was a very tough year moved to their downtown for the Suzie Cappa Art a testament to that." Center and they continue location in 2013, thanks in - Tammie Quinn part to a large donation. Since to feel the effects of the Day Services Supervisor, Black Hills Works COVID-19 pandemic with moving downtown, the SCAC limited hours for patrons has seen progressive expansion and growth. The staff at the and the artists. The SCAC is SCAC work alongside the artists, helping them different from a typical business, they are in the business of people. Over 20 full and part-time expand their skill set, build confidence, and become fixtures in the community. artists create, exhibit, and sell their art at the center. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions on “We have a vibrant art community downtown elevaterapidcity.com 29
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gatherings, the exhibiting and selling portion was put on hold, but the creation continued. “We had to adjust like everyone, because we couldn’t have artists here, so we had to go to the artists,” stated Quinn. “We had to adjust our classes for the artists online. We dropped off art supplies on the doorsteps to try to limit the contact with our artists. Our number one priority through all of this was protecting the artists,” added Quinn. The artists have different abilities, strengths, and weaknesses but each artist has their own vision. “The artists learn about local, regional and national artists; and our artists can implement those influences into their own art,” mentioned Carla Julius, Studio Manager. Art enthusiasts supported by Black Hills Works apply to work at the SCAC and have an opportunity to display their masterpieces while creating what art is to them. “For a lot of the artists, this is their outlet, they are passionate about art, learning new skills, and then creating. Each artist has their own style and their own niche, their own interpretation of the same item and that’s what makes it great,” added Julius.
"Our number one priority through all of this was protecting the artists" - Tammie Quinn
Although the Suzie Cappa Art Center is still limiting the number of people they can have in the gallery, they have big plans for when the pandemic is behind them. “Like most businesses we have to adapt. We are looking at different ways to use the gallery space. We have incorporated the creation of virtual tours and online purchasing while we are closed, and we have plans to change how we host events and receptions moving forward. If we have learned anything over the past year, it is that we can adapt, and it’s all to keep our artists safe and happy,” said Quinn.
DID YOU KNOW? • The Suzie Cappa Art Center, an enterprise under Black Hills Works, is a nonprofit organization. • The SCAC was the first organization approached to promote their artists on the downtown electrical boxes. Two of those boxes are currently displayed in Pedestrian Alley at Main Street Square. • Artists get a percentage of their art sales at the SCAC and the art center provides all art supplies. • T hey accept monetary donations as well as art supplies that are used by the artists. • Each year an Artist of the Year is selected by community members and staff. The 2020/21 Artist of the Year, Sheryl Finch, has been able to take the skills she has learned at the SCAC and partner with her sister in an arts & craft business separate from SCAC. Visit the SCAC’s Facebook Page for a video featuring Sheryl’s accomplishments.
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