First South Dakota Artist Laureate Since 1983 Being Honored
STURGIS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota hasn’t named an artist laureate in decades, so Dale Lamphere was understandably in disbelief when he got a call congratulating him on April Fools’ Day.
“It was the introduction of other parties — the executive director of the South Dakota Arts Council, for example — that convinced me it wasn’t a gag,” Lamphere told the Rapid City Journal ( ).
The Sturgis Area Arts Council will host a reception to honor Lamphere at his studio on Sunday. Lamphere will serve a four-year term as the Artist Laureate of South Dakota, standing as an advocate and leader for the state’s arts community.
It’s a role that fits Lamphere comfortably. A sculptor for more than 45 years, Lamphere served as a member of the South Dakota Arts Council and the president of the South Dakota Board for the Arts, and contributed pieces to several South Dakota organizations.
Sturgis Public Library Director Julie Moore Peterson is one of the many who praised Lamphere’s generosity as an artist. Lamphere donated his “Tall Grass II” sculpture to the Sturgis Public Library/City Hall complex in 2007 and sculpted the “Ribbon” donor recognition plague at the Sturgis Community Theatre for its dedication.
“Everybody likes Dale,” Peterson said. “He’s always evolving as an artist, he’s been a great member of the arts community. I think he’s a very worthy successor to that title.”
Peterson is also a member of the Sturgis Arts Council, and her colleague, Secretary Dorothy Pulscher, would fully support her characterization of Lamphere.
“He’s warm, welcoming and very generous, and his work is extraordinary,” Pulscher said. “He’d always give us wonderful sculptures for whatever we organized, and he never charged as much as he could have or frankly should have.”
Lamphere has also long been an advocate for arts education programs in schools.
“It’s not that we want more artists, though that’s always a good thing,” Lamphere said. “But we need to teach creative, outside-the-box thinking so we can have innovative businesspersons, scientists and educators.”
Lamphere is the first South Dakota artist laureate since the 1983 death of Oscar Howe, who was given the honor in 1954. He described the title as a “great honor” following Howe’s term.
“Oscar Howe had such a huge national impact on Native Art, changing it for all time,” Lamphere said. “He didn’t directly affect me as a sculptor, but I’ve always admired how he establishes images in terms of planes, how they’re articulated when they change shape.”
Lamphere’s own artwork tends to feature spiritual or humanistic themes, something he always felt was important.
“I’ve always appreciated the inherent dignity of my fellow man, and I try to reach that whether I’m working in classic or realistic or abstract work,” Lamphere said.
Humbled as he was by the honor, Lamphere said he would “try to rise to the occasion, as always.”
“It didn’t come with a job description,” Lamphere said. “But it’s up to me to define that for myself.”
Lamphere said he’s already met with a number of cultural groups to gather ideas for the arts community in the next few years.
“There’s such a rich environment and quality of people and artists here,” Lamphere said. “I’ve seen growth in the arts over the decades, and it’s wonderful to see scores of first-class artists in the state. That’s something to be proud of.”
Lamphere will continue to encourage that, and set an example for future South Dakota artist laureates.
“I want future recipients to have to work a bit in support of the arts, so I have to set the bar for that,” Lamphere said. “I feel an obligation to.”
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Information from: Rapid City Journal,
