The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery at Augustana University is welcoming alumna Gracie Rothering ‘22 for a homecoming exhibition that is on view through Oct. 2. Rothering will exhibit two photographic series, “Hola Daniela” and “HomeTown,” and will present a free public artist talk on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. as a part of the Viking Days festivities. A gallery reception will be held the same evening from 7-9 p.m.
As a Latinx, Indigenous and Black artist who was born in Bogotá, Colombia, both bodies of Rothering’s work address race, identity, visibility and adopted life. She was adopted as an infant and raised in the small town of Cochrane, Wisconsin.
“My practice is deeply rooted in my lived experience, growing up in a white family while navigating the complexities of my Colombian heritage,” stated Rothering. “Through a combination of analog and digital techniques, I construct images that reflect the fragmentation and dissonance inherent in adoptive life.”
For her project “Hola Daniela,” Rothering took analog and digital photographs that she captured and manipulated with in-camera collage. She turned these into digital projections, which were then re-photographed and printed as large-scale murals.
“Photography became my chosen medium because of its ability to preserve what is visible yet inaccessible,” noted Rothering. “I am disrupting traditional photography, which underscores how I am forced to engage with specific memories — not as lived experiences, but as fragmented remnants viewed from a distance.”
Rothering’s “HomeTown” is an ongoing series of analogue black and white photographs of Cochrane, Wisconsin, where she grew up. The black and white prints freeze the detritus of small-town life. Although human activity is evident everywhere, there is a haunting absence of action. A grill that peeks out from overgrown plants, abandoned furniture in a yard or a cigarette in an ashtray all signify present moments and past memories. The well-manicured, industrial and decaying are all captured side by side, giving a sense of the embodied contradictions and messiness inherent in life.
“Through photography, I seek to create a space for reflection — for myself and others who grapple with fragmentation, belonging and self-discovery,” Rothering explained.
During her senior year at Augustana, Rothering was awarded The Harold Spitznagel Medal for Achievement in Art — an award given by the Augustana Art Department to student-artists who demonstrate the highest standards of excellence in their artistic endeavors throughout their careers at Augustana. The award is only bestowed occasionally to graduating senior art majors. Rothering earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Oregon in 2025, where she now resides.
“With this exhibition, the Augustana Eide/Dalrymple Gallery continues its proud tradition of presenting solo exhibitions of alumni when they graduate with their MFA,” said Director of the Eide/Dalrymple Gallery Dr. Lindsay Twa.
About the Eide/Dalrymple Gallery
As a part of Augustana University, the mission of the Eide/Dalrymple Gallery is to contribute to the educational and cultural vitality of the university, surrounding community and state of South Dakota. The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery inspires the artists of today and tomorrow, and serves as a resource for teaching and promoting life-long learning through its permanent collection and temporary exhibition program with accompanying artist visits, gallery talks and educational materials.
The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery is named after Palmer Eide and Ogden Dalrymple, pioneering Augustana professors emeriti of art. Many of their collaborative works are spread throughout the campus.
The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery is located at 30th Street and Grange Avenue, in the Center for Visual Arts at Augustana. The gallery is open to the public and free of charge. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturdays, from 1-4 p.m.