Apr 30 Wednesday
The Journey Museum is pleased to announce the opening of an exciting new exhibition, Where Eagles Soar, on October 11, 2024. The family friendly exhibition is free to the public in the Adelstein Gallery through May 25th, 2025. The exhibition includes twenty paintings from the collection of the Sioux Indian Museum. Lakota artist S.D. Nelson created these paintings to illustrate the book Wings of an Eagle. Written by Billy Mills and Janell Brown, the book tells the story of Billy Mills, a ground breaking Oglala Lakota athlete and the only American to win an Olympic Gold medal in the 10,000 meters.
Billy Mills, also known by his Lakota name Tamakhóčhe Theȟíla, is best known for winning a gold medal in the 10,000-meter run at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. His victory is considered one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history, as Mills was a relatively unknown runner at the time and the first (and only) American to win gold in the 10,000 meters. Born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Mills overcame significant personal challenges, including poverty and the loss of both parents at a young age. A U.S. Marine Corps officer at the time of his Olympic triumph, Mills has since become a prominent advocate for Native American rights and youth sports programs. His life story was dramatized in the 1983 film Running Brave, and he continues to inspire generations with his message of perseverance and hope.
S.D. Nelson is an award-winning Lakota artist and author who has illustrated over 15 books. His work often depicts the imagery of the open prairies where S.D. spent his childhood summers, with expansive skies, towering clouds, and endless seas of grasslands. Combining timeless Lakota stories with contemporary art, his books have captivated audiences both young and old for over twenty years. A member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, spent his childhood summers on the Standing Rock Reservation. During this time, his mother told him the traditional Lakota stories that would become the subjects of his books. S.D. spent 26 years as a teacher in the Flagstaff public schools before his first book Gift Horse, a Lakota Story, was published in 1999.
The Act of Remembering:Who do you see? by Anissa Pietzyk, University of South Dakota Freshmen presents her IdeaFest project. Pietzyk creates photograms and poetry that reflection upon memory and place. This exibit displayed on the 2nd floor of the Muenster Student Center on the campus of the Univeristy of South Dakota and is free and open to the public. questions? contact [email protected]
Rare Jefferson Peace Medal Exhibit at Mead Museum
An original 220-year old Jefferson Peace Medal on loan to the Mead Museum is on display as part of the Journeying Forward: Connecting Cultures exhibit. The 4-inch Jefferson Peace Medal is extremely rare and a historically significant artifact from the early 19th century. The peace medals were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson as part of diplomatic efforts with Native American tribes, serving as symbols of goodwill and alliance between the U.S. government and Indigenous leaders. The Lewis & Clark Expedition handed out 89 of them to leaders of Native Nations on their journey between 1804-1806. This medal is one of less than 5 on display in the world!In addition to the peace medal, the Journeying Forward exhibit also had an upgrade in its history of the Ihanktonwan and Oceti Sakowin Nations, an important narrative to Yankton regional history.The Mead Museum is located at 82 Mickelson Dr in Yankton SD. The Museum is open weekdays 10AM to 5PM and on Saturdays/Sundays from 1PM to 5PM.
May 01 Thursday
May 02 Friday
Celebrate the work of the University of South Dakota Department of Art BFA Students' Graduation Exhibition Reception, It All Came Together, featuring the work of Lydia Jae, Aya Naoe, Nathan Valentine, and Kylie Woodruff.