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Past Exhibits

<p class="font_8">Photography is how I slow things down and capture moments that might otherwise be missed. I’m drawn to night scenes, reflections, and the way light interacts with the world. There’s something about the way a wet street glows under city lights or how an old bridge stands against time that makes me want to document it. Being colorblind has shaped the way I see and create. Since I don’t always perceive color the way others do, I focus on contrast, tone, and light to bring out the energy and emotion in a scene. It’s pushed me to lean into bold colors, deep shadows, and striking compositions that make each image feel alive in its own way. My work is about more than just what’s in front of the camera. It’s about mood, atmosphere, and the stories that unfold in a single frame. Whether I’m shooting a quiet street or a historic landmark, I want my images to pull people in—to make them feel like they’re standing there with me, taking it all in.</p>

Elijah Berry

“The Way Light Feels”

<p class="font_8"><strong>Art Education Importance</strong></p>
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<p class="font_8">Art education is crucial in schools as it fosters creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression in students. Through engaging in artistic activities, children develop essential skills such as problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. Art also encourages students to explore their imaginations and think outside the box, which is invaluable in an increasingly complex and innovative world. Moreover, exposure to art history and different forms of artistic expression helps students appreciate diverse cultures and perspectives, promoting empathy and cultural understanding.</p>
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<p class="font_8">For youth and communities, art serves as a means of self-expression and empowerment. It provides a platform for individuals to share their stories, struggles, and aspirations, fostering a sense of belonging and community cohesion. Art also has the power to inspire social change and raise awareness about important issues, whether it's through visual art, music, theater, or other forms of creative expression. Additionally, involvement in the arts can positively impact mental health and well-being, offering a therapeutic outlet for stress and anxiety. Overall, art enriches the lives of youth and communities by nurturing creativity, promoting inclusivity, and fostering a deeper connection to the world around them.</p>

Yankton High School

Advanced Placement Art Class exhibit

Pathways Shelter for the Homeless

Crimson Door

Crimson Door Holiday Boutique

Siouxland Artists

<p class="font_8">The Dakota Prairie Quilt Guild(DPQG) is a 501 (c ) 3 organized to promote and educate people about the art of quilting and foster camaraderie among new and experienced quilters.</p>
<p class="font_8">DPQG meets the fourth Monday of the month at Trinity Lutheran Church. Currently they have 65 members from Yankton and the surrounding areas. If you are a quilter or would like to learn more about quilting, come join the fun! New and experienced quilters are welcome.</p>

Dakota Prairie Quilt Guild

Bi-Annual Quilt Show

<p class="font_8">The 2025 Mighty Mo Photo Exhibit theme, "Life Downtown," invites artists to explore and interpret the dynamic essence of downtown life through their unique lenses. We are excited to see how each artist captures the vibrant stories, moments and hidden gems that make downtowns come alive. With the theme open to interpretation, we anticipate a diverse and captivating collection of work that reflects the artists' perspectives.</p>

Mighty Mo Photo Exhibit

Life Downtown

<p class="font_8">Phyllis is a fiber artist utilizing multiple fiber techniques to create 2D images of land and sky scape. </p>
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<p class="font_8">Her images are fiber reflections of the world around us - sunset on the Missouri River, moon rising over a garden, Yellow Mounds of the Bad Lands, pines of the Hills, or the amazing sky. </p>
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<p class="font_8">"I am sharing my view of the amazing environment we live with, portrayed with wool, silk, cotton and assorted fibers and woven."</p>

Phyllis Packard

Landscapes in Fiber

<p class="font_8">Theresa Preheim - Drawn towards texture, color, and things found in nature, creating collage art has always been the most logical way to express the beauty that I see in everything.</p>
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<p class="font_8">Olivia Barkl - My pottery reflects my deep reverence for nature and my commitment to craftsmanship. Using stoneware clay, I handcraft each piece with care, infusing them with the natural beauty that surrounds us.</p>
<p class="font_8">Firing my creations to cone 6 ensures both durability and aesthetic appeal, making them both functional and visually captivating. Influenced by the organic shapes and colors found in the natural world, my work exudes a sense of calm and harmony.</p>
<p class="font_8">What sets my pottery apart is the personal touch I bring to each piece. I take pride in creating my own glazes, often incorporating ingredients I've gathered myself. This hands-on approach adds authenticity and a unique connection to each creation.</p>
<p class="font_8">Through my art, I seek to share the beauty and tranquility of nature, inviting others to find solace and joy in the simplicity of handmade functional art.</p>

Theresa Preheim & Olivia Barkl

<p class="font_8">MY WORKS SPAN MANY YEARS OF EXPLORING DIFFERENT ARTISTIC MEDIUMS. EVEN MY CAREER OF INTERIOR DESIGN;TEXTURES WERE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN CREATING A BALANCED DESIGN PROJECT. THE COMBINATIONS OF DIFFERENT ART TECHNIQUES HELP CREATE UNUSUAL COMPOSITIONS. I AM DRAWN TO TEXTURE AND MANY OF THE PIECES IN THIS EXHIBIT DEMONSTRATE THE IMPACT OF TEXTURE IN ALL FORMS OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. I HAVE INCORPORATED FELT, OLD SCRAPES OF WATERCOLOR PAPER,ACRYLIC PAINT AND HAND MADE PAPER INTO THIS EXHIBIT. I FIND THESE COMPOSITIONS CHALLENGING AND UNIQUE FOR CREATING MY OWN STYLE OF WORK.</p>

Ann Smith

<p class="font_8">The collection is unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that includes woven wall hangings and sculptural rock art pieces that are inspired by nature and the beauty that surrounds us in everyday life.</p>
<p class="font_8">The pieces start with a single element of inspiration like a specific rock, twig, branch, or antler. The work evolves as it is being created and incorporates other elements that fit the composition. In my hands it feels as if the rock and branch are making their own art emerge! Items like buffalo horn rings, antlers pieces, turkey and pheasant feathers, dried pods and grasses, and leather are a few of the things I like to weave into my art.</p>
<p class="font_8">Showcasing this unique collection would allow the community served by the Yankton Art Council to experience art not only inspired by nature but made with the actual natural elements.</p>

Julie Dent

Inspired by Nature: Weaving, Sculptures & Paintings.

<p class="font_8">Art changes the way I experience life as an adult. Instead of a busy workday filled with things that seek to dehumanize me, I meditate on swaying grasses, rolling hills, or the shadows along a slowly moving creek. My growing focus is landscapes with suggestive details and dramatic skies. These paintings give impressions of waterways, grasses, and mountain scenes in a way photographs cannot quite romanticize. They are gentle reminders of the subtle but striking views of the heartland.</p>
<p class="font_8">My paintings are visual impressions of nature with dreamy compositions. I use watercolors to capture vibrant skylines, views of trees and windblown grasses. I communicate with broad, expressive movements of granulating color and tiny, precise flicks to capture the essence of a moment in time.</p>

Danna Kolbeck

Impressions of the Heartland

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