The Missouri River Mosaic and Other Projects

Nancy Losacker, instructor

Norma C. Wilson, President, Vermillion Area Arts Council

        Again this summer, from June 18-29, Vermillion Area Arts Council was proud to offer art instruction and activities for youth at “Messy Hands” Art Camp held at Washington Street Arts Center. Participants, ages 3-14, tried their hands at painting, drawing and collage, basic printmaking, sculpture and mosaics. The public was invited to view the artists’ creations at receptions on Fridays, June 22nd and 29th.  The South Dakota Arts Council, which receives funding from South Dakota’s Department of Tourism and State Development and the National Endowment for the Arts provided major funding for the Art Camp.
        The young artists undertook a community art project this year by designing animals and plants to be incorporated into two large Missouri River Mosaics for Vermillion Public Library.  First the students in Michele Mechling’s class painted the images.  Next, each image was transformed into a mosaic of colored glass. The images were then placed in a larger river environment design created by Nancy Losacker.  The two large, 5’ 6” by 4 ‘ murals will adorn the new Library addition now being built.  Funds for the mural have been provided by the VAAC and by individual members of Vermillion’s Rotary Club.  We need more funding to complete the project and welcome donations to the Missouri River Mosaic Project.
        Seven instructors and nine young assistants worked with the young artists.  A special thanks to the instructors--Michelle Mechling, Nancy Losacker, Rebecca Gehm, Trenton Deis, Beth Knedler, Susan Heggestad and Tom Dahlseid.  We are also grateful to their young assistants--Owen Mechling, Marshal Knedler, Peter Banasiak, Natalie Swanson, Epiphany Knedler, Hannah Vaudry, Heidi Hassing, Paige McManigal, Veronica Fee, Sophia Dudley and Hope Knedler.
        Thanks to funding from the Fishback Financial Corporation, the VAAC was able to install a new sink, especially for the purpose of children washing their hands in the Arts Center’s kitchen.  So this year the children’s hands were not so messy.
        Plans are underway for additional restoration and renovations to our historic building.  On the main floor we hope to restore the office space and to transform a storage room into a handicap-accessible restroom. We would also like to install a water fountain in the foyer. We need additional funding for these projects and welcome your donations to our building fund.  Our mailing address is P.O. Box 484, Vermillion, SD 57069.  For more information about our projects, please e-mail me:  Norma.Wilson@usd.edu

Creating the Missouri River Mosaic