The Aberdeen Area Community Foundation recently announced the prize winners of the Downtown Art Project, in which ten artworks were installed on Main Street business windows. The following were awarded:
- First Place: Katie Haar for “Harvest Time”, which can be seen at Northeastern Mental Health Center, 14 South Main Street
- Second Place: Sarah Anastasia Davidson for “Super Cloud”, at Capitol Theatre, 412 South Main Street
- Third Place: Dawn Menning, “Fall Magic in the Hollow”, at Anytime Fitness, 321 South Main Street
- People’s Choice Award: Allie Kunkel, “Bird’s Eye View”, also at Northeastern Mental Health Center
The Downtown Art Project is a partnership of the AACF, the Aberdeen Area Arts Council, and the Knight Aberdeen Fund of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The artworks were submitted in response to a Call for Art with a theme of “South Dakota Landscapes” and were installed in downtown windows in May this year. A judging panel, including Northern State University art professor Jay Hopkins and the Arts Council’s Hill and Grace Chipman, selected the artworks to be displayed. Prize winners were announced in June. This is the fourth year in a row for the Downtown Art Project.
Jason Hill, Aberdeen Area Arts Council executive director, has overseen solicitation of art proposals and judging. The Call for Art invited original art in various media, photographs of which will be installed as window clings. The purpose of the project is to beautify downtown with local art.
Along with the winners, Blake Bierman, Nick and Nicole Fisher, Roberta Goldade, Amy Heinz, Anna Mitzel, and Dave Swain had their art displayed. In addition to practicing artists, the artists include two high school students and a sixth grader. Most are from Aberdeen, but some are from Brown County and beyond.
“It’s exciting to continue the Downtown Art Project for its fourth year,” AACF president Heath Johnson said. “We’re very grateful to the Arts Council for stepping up to run the project and to the downtown businesses who’ve made their windows available.” He added, “We encourage everyone to walk downtown to check them out and to vote for their favorite in our People’s Choice Award.”
The art will remain on display into the fall. //
Allie Kunkel’s “Bird’s Eye View” can be seen at Northeastern Mental Health Center as well.
Roberta Goldade’s “Sunrise” is featured at 126 South Main Street.
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