Pictured Above: "Bear Butte Barn" by Susan Drey
Where Sky Meets Land: Settling and Resettling the Plains
The Center for Western Studies is proud to present "Where Sky Meets Land: Settling and Resettling the Plains," a juried exhibition showcasing the movement and migration in Northern Plains culture.
Featuring works by 29 regional artists, this collection reflects on the many stories of those who have called this region home — from Indigenous peoples and early settlers to immigrant communities and present day newcomers.
Through various mediums, including photography, painting, 3-D and mixed media, viewers are invited to consider themes of displacement, resilience, belonging and transformation. Each piece offers a unique perspective on how communities continually redefine their place within it.
This exhibition complements the 2025 Dakota Conference theme of "Settling and Resettling the Plains" by visually interpreting the ongoing stories of settlement in the region. It also serves as a precursor to the nation's celebration of America's 250th anniversary in 2026.
Join us for this timely and thought-provoking exhibition that connects past and present. "Where Sky Meets Land" will be on display from Monday, May 5, through Friday, Sept. 26. An artists reception will be held Thursday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m.
The exhibition is located in the Madsen, Nelson and Elmen Galleries and first-floor hallways of the Center's Fantle Building at 2121 S. Summit Avenue in Sioux Falls. Viewing hours are Monday - Friday, from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
The CWS has several display cases throughout the galleries that exhibit materials on a variety of changing themes. The current exhibits are:
"Brother-Singers": The Norwegian Singers Association of America
Male choral singing has a long tradition in Norway dating back to the 1840s, when several male singing societies were formed to offer opportunities for song and fellowship outside the church realm. Norwegian immigrants brought the practice with them to the United States and choruses formed within pockets of high Norwegian settlement – the northeast, the upper Midwest, and the northwest. Performing Scandinavian music, the choruses served as important links for immigrant participants and audiences to their native home. As choruses developed, so did national organizations aimed at fostering cooperation among them. Commemorating the bicentennial of Norwegian immigration to the U.S., this exhibit of documents, photographs, and artifacts explores the history and purpose of the Norwegian Singers Association of America, established in 1891.
Jennie Berdahl's Wedding Dress
Together with interpretive text by intern PattyJo English, the dress Jennie Berdahl wore when she married author Ole E. Rolvaag in 1908 is now on exhibit. Rolvaag and Berdahl met while students in the academy division of Augustana College in Canton, South Dakota, graduating in 1901 and 1903, respectively. Rolvaag continued his studies at St. Olaf College but maintained correspondence with Berdahl and proposed to her in 1903. For many years, the dress was displayed in the Berdahl-Rolvaag House, one of the buildings comprising Heritage Park, managed by the Nordland Heritage Foundation. The dress was one of several items CWS staff selected for transfer to the center’s collections when Heritage Park closed in 2022.
The Sioux Falls AAUW: Expanding Women's Opportunities
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is a national organization focused on advancing gender equity through education and advocacy. From 1923-2020, the Sioux Falls branch worked to expand women's and children's opportunities locally. Members provided support that helped elect the first women to the city's school board, helped establish the state's first mental health center, and advocated for the expansion of public school facilities, among other accomplishments. As we approach the America250 celebration in 2026, this exhibit by intern Erica Carmody explores the group's work advocating for community action on behalf of women and children.
The World Comes to Campus: A History of International Students at Augustana
During the 2024-25 academic year, international students made up 10% of Augustana's student body. Hailing from 54 countries, they are part of a long tradition stretching back to the university's first Norwegian student in 1946. In honor of America's 250th anniversary, and the ideals of freedom and self-determination, this exhibit by CWS intern Amanda Schlampp highlights the history of international students on campus.
Roy Miller: The Journeys of a Barge Pilot
During a steamboat trip to the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, 11-year-old Roy Miller decided to become a barge pilot. He began learning under his uncle, famed steamboat pilot William "Steamboat Bill" Heckman, and after serving as an apprentice on the steamer Chester, was licensed in 1914. This display by intern Abby Mitchell explores Miller's 45-year career operating on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.
