This
post isn’t about writing but it is about art and, after visiting this art
museum with my dear friend Jodi, who’s wanted to visit since she fell in love
with Terry Redlin’s work, I found that he paints like authors write. He paints series, something I didn’t realize because
I didn’t follow his work more than seeing it on calendars and such. Jodi knew.
As a birthday gift to her this year, she and I piled into my car for an
extended girls weekend and headed six hours south. I don’t have a South Dakota volunteer this
year but I took some great pictures of our girl’s trip and developed a crush
for this painter's work.
I didn’t buy a print,
I bought wine, but Jodi was lucky enough to afford a couple of nice limited
editions. And she cried when she came
upon the original work of her favorite of those during her stroll through the
art center-so I had to snap a picture.
A
little about the Redlin Art Center https://redlinart.com
: Charles Redlin wanted to preserve
his father’s original oil paintings. He wanted everyone to be able to
experience his father’s works in their original form. Charles developed a plan
to collect and display these paintings in a public space. 25 years before the
Redlin Center opened, he planted the seed: “I told Dad I wanted him to stop
selling his originals,” said Charles. “I wanted a place to display them after
he was gone.”
Since South Dakota sent Terry Redlin through art school
on a scholarship for disabled students, he wanted to build it in Watertown as a
gift to the state and the community. Many
of his pictures reflect his experience in Watertown.
It’s a beautiful town. They’ve restored much of the business district
to original late 1800’s as well as the mansion of the first Governor of South
Dakota. Much wasn’t open when we walked
around so our view was from outside, but they were statuesque buildings. We
could hear geese while walking so we jumped back in the car and drove until we
reached this cute little pond with an island in the middle. I don’t remember if the place had a name but
there’s a Lion’s Club right on the shore.
It was early Sunday morning and that wasn’t open either. We were really just killing time before the
museum opened so we enjoyed a cruise around town just to see what was there.
The town is full of water-- hence the name Watertown. According to the US Census Bureau, the city
has a total area of 25.04 square miles of which 17.45 square miles is land and
7.59 square miles is water. Watertown sits on the Big Sioux River and two major
lakes, Lake Pelican and Lake Kampeska. We stopped several times to hike over
bridges. There was also a very cool
stone bridge in a park that I just had to drive over and, when we got to the
museum, we found Terry Redlin did a painting with that bridge as well as other
places in Watertown.
The Redlin Art Center is one of the coolest museums I’ve
been to. Its design is beautiful. Its three floors of original art by one
artist, a theater that shows a really interesting piece about the artist and gift
shops that were happy to see us. I
dropped good money on some locally made wine.
I recommend the Chokecherry and part of the purchase of that bottle went
to Alzheimer’s research. Jodi bought a couple of limited editions and,
before we went, I researched the difference between prints, author proofs and
limited editions.
I also emailed the art
center to make sure they had both author proof and limited edition of Jodi’s
favorite because I felt if she traveled all that way, she ought to have
something the guy actually signed. We
were probably the second getting to the art center at opening and they were
closing up when we left—but they didn’t kick us out. Big thanks goes out to the two women in the
gift shop for helping us with the prints and to the other two or three patient
enough to wait before they turned all the lights off upon closing at 4:00.
On the way back, we made it as far
as Crofton, Nebraska before we stopped at Jeanie’s Antique Store. http://www.jeannesantiques.com We were
the only ones there and one of the proprietors helped us find some cool old
stuff.
Every South Dakota person we encountered was wonderful
and welcoming from the business people to others who happened to be near us at
the time. All in all a great weekend
away, a dream fulfilled for Jodi and a bunch in between.
(Some material downloaded from listed places websites and
pictures provided by Annette)
Personal note: Their website
has a tab on collectables with a listing of rare and first edition books –looks
like awesome finds. Also, the artists have a few items for sale online. I wish that section would be expanded by the
way. I have a small collection of paintings
and prints I’ve acquired over the years and when I find a piece I like, I purchase. Not saying I have a fine collection of expensive
pieces but what I have appeals to me. Anyway,
I found an artist on the Artist tab I think a good friend of mine who grew up
in South Dakota will enjoy and it looks like I might have found her next
birthday gift. I’m going to email and
find out what else is available. Visit
and see what treasures you might find from South Dakota!
