Category: The Arts

The Sioux Indian Museum To Feature Artwork By Renell White Buffalo

by Herb Ryan, posted in The Arts

May 9, 2017

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA: The Sioux Indian Museum, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Arts and Crafts Board, will feature an exhibit of artwork by Renelle White Buffalo. The exhibition will run from May 26 to July 28, 2017. On May 26, an opening reception will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The artist will be available to discuss her work during the reception. The reception and exhibition are both free and open to the public.

Renelle White Buffalo, an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, was born and raised in South Dakota. She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree from Iowa State University. Currently she resides in New York City, where she works full-time as a professional artist.

She creates a broad range of works, including paintings on canvas, monotypes, and mixed media sculptures. Her color palette is often drawn from the environment around her. Currently, she is experimenting with colors inspired by her recent residency at the Jentel Foundation in Banner, Wyoming. Both the natural and cultural history of the South Dakota prairies provide her with additional inspiration for her work. In her paintings, Renelle transforms traditional Lakota symbolism into contemporary abstract artwork, allowing the composition to create a cross-cultural conversation. The bold and confidently-layered brushstrokes of acrylic paint incorporate personal meaning and connections to her Native American roots. Her work challenges the stereotypes and redefines the perceptions of being indigenous today, both on and off the reservation.

Renelle’s work has been exhibited in numerous venues, including the Blue Rain Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Exposure Gallery, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Northern State University, Aberdeen, South Dakota. This exhibition marks the first time her works have been shown in a museum setting.

Prices for the artwork can be obtained by contacting The Journey Museum Store at (605) 394-2201. To purchase artwork after the exhibit closes, please contact Renelle White Buffalo through her website, http://www.whitebuffaloart.com

The Sioux Indian Museum, managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Arts and Crafts Board, is located in The Journey Museum, 222 New York Street, Rapid City, SD 57701. For admission fees and hours of operation please call (605) 394-6923.

May Day In Custer State Park – Give Me A Home Where The Buffalo Roam

by Herb Ryan, posted in The Arts

Monday, May 1, 2017 a pleasant surprise on the wildlife loop in Custer State Park. Cloudy, rainy, sunny, overcast – what an afternoon to ride the loop. Ran into two groups this afternoon around 2:00 – 2:30 (time flies when you are having a good time) both groups had several calves making for easier shooting than usual. Tried not to disturb anyone, stayed very close to the jeep, took my shots and left . When they start grunting, it’s time to go.

 

 

Come on, make my day ! Photo: Herb Ryan Photography

 

Calf gallop, kind of, sorta. Herb Ryan Photography

 

What? Herb Ryan Photography

 

Ears back, ready to attack… Herb Ryan Photography

 

Mid-afternoon snack. Herb Ryan Photography

6th Annual LUNAFEST® Film Festival Spotlights Advocacy For Indigenous Women

by Herb Ryan, posted in Custer, Health, South Dakota, The Arts

6th Annual LUNAFEST® Film Festival Spotlights Advocacy For Indigenous Women

The 20-minute film, “Chosen,” is a true story about Brianna, a star student, cheerleader and waitress, who is lured into the world of sex trafficking when she moves to a big city to attend college.
The 20-minute film, “Chosen,” is a true story about Brianna, a star student, cheerleader and waitress, who is lured into the world of sex trafficking when she moves to a big city to attend college.
By Talli Nauman
Native Sun News Today

CUSTER, SD – Lunafest, an annual traveling international festival that features women filmmakers, this year highlights a showing of “Chosen”, a short film made to help stop human trafficking. It will be followed by a discussion, and a presentation on “Service and Advocacy of Indigenous Women.”

The festival of “Short Films By, For, About Women” is hosted by Zonta Club of the Southern Black Hills at Custer High School Saturday, April 1, 2017 beginning at 10 a.m. The club is part of a worldwide organization of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women.

“Chosen” is a true story of two teens tricked by traffickers. Brianna, 18, was a star student, cheerleader and waitress eager to break out of her small town to attend college in the big city. Lacy, 13, enjoyed church and school but struggled to help care for her siblings while her stepfather was deployed and mother worked to support the family. Brianna and Lacy relate how traffickers used manipulation to lure them into the world of sex trafficking.

The 20-minute movie will be shown at 12 and 2 p.m. The film discussion group will be at 12:30 p.m. and the presentation on Service and Advocacy of Indigenous Women is from 1 to 2 p.m.

In addition to this and other documentary shorts, Lunafest includes films in the genres of art, animation, and fictional drama. Nine movies on the program cover topics such as health, leadership, motherhood, body image, aging, cultural diversity and breaking barriers.

All proceeds from Lunafest benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and Zonta Club of the Southern Black Hills.

The movies will be screened in connection with a trade show of exhibitors representing local businesses and services. Trade show hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Refreshments will be available for purchase during that time.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Trade Show featuring Business and Service Exhibitors

10:00 a.m. Continuous showing of Lunafest films begins; final showing at 3:00 PM

12:00 Noon Film “Chosen”

12:30 p.m. Film Discussion group

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Presentation on Service and Advocacy of Indigenous Women

2:00 p.m. Film “Chosen”

TICKETS: Admission to Films: $10.00 Suggested Donation

No Charge for Trade Show or Presentation Service and Advocacy of Indigenous Women

Custer JR/SR High School  Google Map.
1645 Wildcat Ln, Custer, SD 57730

SPONSORS: Edward Jones, Black Hills Energy, Carson Drugs, State Farm Insurance, Women Escaping a Violent Environment (W.E.A.V.E.), South Dakota Coalition Ending Domestic & Sexual Violence, Custer Real Estate

 

Sylvan Lake – Ducks – Geese – Texas Cattle And Rhode Island Reds

by Herb Ryan, posted in Environment, The Arts

March 25, 2017
By Herb Ryan

Saturday afternoon was a slow news day in Custer until a call came in for Custer County Search and Rescue to help find two overdue hikers in the Sylvan Lake area. A common call as the weather warms up and the crowds start hiking up to Black Elk Peak. I did take my time getting there and was pleased to hear on arrival that the hikers were back and all was well. The Search and Rescue Team decided to try out their new radio repeater to see if it would improve two-way radio transmission in the area and eliminate radio dead zones during search and rescue operations.

I have a photo shoot scheduled in the area Friday and needed to be in the area in the afternoon to scout specific locations and sun angles. So, always trying to improve skills on an overcast day, or any day for that matter, I got down in the duck soup and started shooting. Hope you enjoy and appreciate that we have all this beauty in our immediate area.

Custer Free Press will eventually become more along the lines of “Life” Magazine with photo-essays, and essential local news.

Unless otherwise stated all photos are original and taken by Herb Ryan/Herb Ryan Photography

First try at Sylvan Lake. Saturday, March 25, 2017. Herb Ryan Photography

 

Sylvan Lake, flash, 70-200 f2.8 – Saturday, March 25, 2017. Herb Ryan Photography

 

Lunch time, Sylvan Lake, 70-200 f2.8 – Saturday, March 25, 2017. Herb Ryan Photography

 

Sylvan Lake Road. Fenced in Texas Cattle close to the road. 70-200 f2.8 – Saturday, March 25, 2017. Herb Ryan Photography

 

This guy was really curious and I might add, had a really great personality. Sylvan Lake Road. 70-200 f2.8 – Saturday, March 25, 2017. Herb Ryan Photography

 

One of Mrs. Sullivans Rhode Island Reds, at a peaceful homestead in Custer. Saturday, March 25, 2017. Herb Ryan Photography

2017 Custer Stampede Buffalo Art Auction Canceled

by Herb Ryan, posted in South Dakota, The Arts

 

Posted on the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce website.

Just an update for the artists – there is no call-to-artists this year 2017. After reviewing the Stampede event, it was decided that the event will not continue in its present form. A new version of the event may still be held in the future, so stay tuned for updates.

There is a mailing list for artists, but that will only be used to notify artists of whatever the event turns out to be.  If you would like to be added to this please email ddavenport@custersd.com

 

Sioux Women – Past and Present – At The Journey Museum – Sunday, March 5, 2017

by Herb Ryan, posted in South Dakota, The Arts

siouxwomenopti

 

RAPID CITY, SD – The Journey Museum and Learning Center is excited to announce the next event in its Learning Forum Series set for Sunday, March 5 titled ‘Sioux Women – Past & Present’, presented by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve. This forum is a part of the Journey’s month-long ‘Women in History’ programming.

‘Sioux Women – Past & Present’ will begin at 2 p.m. on March 5 in the Journey’s Wells Fargo Theater. Award-winning author, Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, will discuss her latest book, Sioux Women: Traditionally Sacred, and how women here have kept tribal values, even as their lives were changed by outside forces.

Virginia is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe in South Dakota. She attended the Bureau of Indian Affairs elementary school and graduated high school from St. Mary’s School for Indian Girls in Springfield, SD in 1954. She earned a Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees from South Dakota State University and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2008.

For 25 years, Virginia was a teacher and/or counselor in public schools in South Dakota, as well as an adjunct instructor at Oglala Lakota College, Rapid City Extension. She retired in 1995.

Her first book was released in 1972 and since then, she has published 27 books, numerous short stories, articles, and poems. Over the years, she has served as a consultant reader and reviewer for various print and media projects. Most recently for My People the Sioux, Nebraska Press, 2006 reprint, for which she also wrote the introduction. In 2007, she reviewed papers presented at the South Dakota State Historical Society’s annual conference. In 2011, she was an advisor and writer for Nebraska Educational Television’s e-book of Standing Bear of the Ponca. She has also served as a consultant for Native American content of textbooks for Scott Foresman and company in 1977, and Houghton Mifflin in 1985.

She has been accorded multiple awards, including the Distinguished Achievement in Humanities in 2012, the South Dakota Governor’s Award for Distinction in Creative Achievement in 2007, and the South Dakota Education Association Human Services Award in 1994.

Virginia is married to Vance M. Sneve, who is retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and they live in Rapid City. They have three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Learning Forums are thought-provoking presentations on a wide variety of topics. Each program features a forty-five minute presentation, followed by an open forum with questions and discussion about the topic. Admission for Learning Forums is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, half-off for members, and a student is FREE with an accompanying paid adult/senior admission (includes museum).

The Journey Museum & Learning Center was established in 1997 and is conveniently located in downtown Rapid City at 222 New York St, 2 blocks east of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center right across from the Club for Boys. Make sure to visit http://www.journeymuseum.org to find additional schedule information and be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook!