Connecting Vermillion through art

   Lunchbox Studios will soon celebrate its one-year ribbon-cutting anniversary, which took place on Nov. 15, 2025. Since their opening, they’ve focused on creating a space for connection and learning.

     “We’ve had so much support from our community, and that’s what we wanted to do: finding a way to get more people to make some art and seeing the value that art has when you add it to your life,” Michelle Riedel, co-owner of Lunchbox Studios, said.

     Michelle and Grant Riedel are teachers within the Vermillion School District. 

     “Our main goal is to keep the studio running and keep it as something that can be our connection to Vermillion; a place where people can come in and spend time together,” Michelle Riedel said.

     This year, Lunchbox Studios introduced the Fall Clay Club, a three-month long hand-building

series. Participants can create custom clay pieces once a month, inspired by the season. The Riedels said people can come in anytime the studio is open to finish their projects.

     “We’ve been doing more hand-building classes. We did summer art camps with the kids, and those were really successful, so then we heard a lot of adults say that they wanted to do it too,” Michelle Riedel, said.

     Throughout the year, they’ve worked to expand their business. Lunchbox Studios is now a full University of South Dakota vendor, making and selling the art kits students may need for classes ranging from drawing to photography.

     In the future, the Riedels hope to offer wheel-throwing classes and give people access to an open studio.

    “A lot of people have been wanting to come in and do pottery wheel stuff, so we’ve slowly 

been working on our back room. We have pottery wheels and all the equipment, so we are trying to make it work for them,” Grant Riedel said.

     Lunchbox Studios is trying to meet people’s needs. They hope to partner with other artists in town so they can teach other art forms.

     “I think the best part of this is that we get to grow as artists too, because we get to learn through everybody experimenting together and kind of sharing their ideas and what is working for them,” Michelle Riedel said.

     Reservations are only needed for the workshops; otherwise, visitors can come in and look around for art supplies and other things. If people decide to stay and work on something, the Riedels will explain the process.

     “[Lunchbox Studios] has been an adventure; it’s been so exciting to create something that people really enjoy,” Michelle Riedel said.