Last Chance! SDHC Offers Picturing America Resources through March
BROOKINGS, S.D. – Feb. 2, 2010 – In 2008 and 2009 hundreds of South Dakota schools and libraries were awarded the Picturing America exhibit which featured forty large, high-quality reproductions of the greatest American art masterpieces including work from Grant Wood, Thomas Cole, and Frank Lloyd Wright. These materials, made possible by an award from the National Endowment for the Humanities, provide the opportunity to learn about our nation’s history in a fresh and engaging way. According to the NEH the program, “uses art as a catalyst for the study of America—the cultural, political, and historical threads woven into our nation’s fabric over time.” The organizations that received the exhibit are also eligible to host a presentation by one of the SDHC sponsored art historians, Dr. Lindsay Twa (Lindsay.twa@augie.edu), Dr. Julie Schlarman (Julie.schlarman@usd.edu), or John Day (john.day@usd.edu).
Several schools have already hosted SDHC art historians. Past participants include Roselyn School (Roslyn, SD), Estelline School (Estelline, SD), Red Shirt Elementary School (Hermosa, SD), and Sisseton High School (Sisseton, SD). Presentations already scheduled for the 2010 season are as follows:
Sioux Falls—Christ the King School on March 17th, Whittier Middle School on March 19th Menno—Menno Public School on February 19th Rapid City—Corral Drive Elementary School on March 5th Milbank—Grant County Public Library on February 23rd This service is offered free of charge for schools and school libraries that have received the Picturing America materials from the NEH. For all other applicants there is a $35 application fee and all other costs are covered by SDHC. Past participants are raving about the wonderful opportunities created by the Picturing America program. According to Brenda Robertson, Curriculum Specialist for Social Studies and Art in the South Dakota Department of Education, “Picturing America offers students the opportunity to study our nation’s history through the visual arts—two subjects that go hand-in-hand.” Other participants agree, describing the series as “engaging,” “enjoyable,” and “life-altering.” Educators have said that this program “raises the bar” for what students and teachers are discussing in the classroom. Sherry DeBoer, SDHC Executive Director also testifies that the program “brings history, arts, and the humanities together. It allows students and library patrons to come face-to-face with our country’s greatest art in a way that will deepen their awareness of American history and culture.” This incredible program could be available in your community. To inquire about the possibility of hosting a Picturing America program in your community please visit www.sdhumanities.org.
About the South Dakota Humanities Council The South Dakota Humanities Council is a non-profit organization founded in 1972 whose sole mission is to deliver humanities programming to the people of South Dakota. As a steward of the state’s heritage, the Council promotes the appreciation of South Dakota history, literature, and other related humanities subjects through grant-making and cultural programs, such as the Festival of Books, the One Book South Dakota program, and others. The Council’s core mission is to support and promote the exchange of ideas to foster a thoughtful and engaged society. More about the South Dakota Humanities Council is online at www.sdhumanities.org
CONTACT: Samantha Hendriks
South Dakota Humanities Council
605-688-6113
samantha.hendriks@sdstate.edu
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