A deep dive into ‘Dazzling Dakota' at Augustana University

Yahoo

14-02-2025

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – From the rural northern plains of South Dakota to state parks in Sioux Falls, one local artist is showcasing the natural beauty across the state.
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Inside the Center for Western Studies on campus, you'll find 'Dazzling Dakota,' a larger-than-life solo collection that highlights the seasons in South Dakota.
'This gallery is unique because it is all one artist,' Augustana University student, Elizabeth Toso said. 'And that is kind of rare as I've seen from our previous shows. I'd also say that the variety of artwork that Mecca has in this gallery is really impressive.'
Mecca Rutherford of Sioux Falls is the artist behind these stunning landscapes, a skill she's been crafting for decades.
'I always wanted to get to landscapes, but they were more complex to create a landscape versus just painting a flower or the flowers. So it was a progression, I had always longed to get into landscaping, but I wasn't as skilled at it at first,' Rutherford said.
At age 11, Rutherford knew she wanted to pursue art. However, it was about three years ago that she got back to the easel full-time.
In 2023, Kami Miller with the Center for Western Studies at Augie saw Rutherford's work at Artists of the Plains.
'She would be a great artist to have for a solo show for a number of reasons. As you can tell in the show, her pieces are very large, which is good for a large gallery space like this,' Miller said.
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The project would take months of planning with canvases spanning up to six and eight feet long.Miller says the size of Rutherford's paintings offers an immersive experience.
'What I love about that piece is you can stand and look at it and feel like you're brought right into that moment,' Miller said. 'I'm sure almost every South Dakota resident has had that experience of having a perfect South Dakota sunset.'
Rutherford spent nearly a year creating the collection. And if you look closely, you'll see why.
'I'm actually sort of sculpting these specific areas of the foreground or the sky or whatever part that I'm sculpting. So it's almost like they're sculpted first and then they're painted,' Rutherford said.
For the collection, Rutherford drew inspiration from many areas including Good Earth State Park in Sioux Falls.
'They just love their memories there, it draws on memories. A number of people said they've grown up in rural, they grew up on a farm. They did a lot of baling. So the hay bales really speak to them,' Rutherford said.
Toso helps set up different exhibits for the center. She says this collection brings back memories from her childhood.
'I just have this specific memory of sitting in the car and the sun was setting and you could just see the sun shining through the clouds. And it's almost that exact image driving through the plains, driving through hayfields, cornfields and like those hay bales even. Like the details are all there. And I feel like I've been there like in that painting,' Toso said.
Connecting memories like Toso's to Rutherford's oil paintings is something she loves to hear as an artist. At the front of the center, you'll find a guest book for viewers to leave comments.
'With the size of the work and the fact that it's your home state, I think that you will find that it's very inspiring and I think you will find that it will bring you comfort and hope and peace,' Rutherford said.
The Sioux Falls Art Council helped sponsor the supplies for this collection.In March Rutherford will perform a live painting demonstration for the public at the center free of charge.
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