On Friday, June 13, YAA will host a reception from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the G.A.R. Gallery to introduce a new exhibit titled Pigment and Stone by painter Janet Jensen and sculptor Scott Luken. This exhibit will showcase the beauty in the natural environment through acrylic and stone mediums. The community is invited to hear from the artists during the Gallery Talk which will begin at 5:30 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. The exhibit will be on display through July 22.
The third of six Yankton Area Summer Band concerts will start at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17 at the Riverside Park Amphitheatre under the direction of guest conductor Harvey Beck. This will be a very special concert, in that Harvey, an original member of the Yankton Area Summer Band, will be conducting in his final Summer Band appearance. His sincere request is to be the conductor for a band composed of more than 100 musicians for this last event. Directors across the state have been contacted, Summer Band members have advised their musical friends and colleagues, and Yankton Area Arts would like to ask the community’s help to accomplish this task on Harvey’s behalf, honoring his dedication to the Summer Band since its inception 32 years ago.
Subsequent Yankton Area Summer Band concerts will follow each Tuesday at Riverside Amphitheatre through July 8 and then transition to five Pops Concerts featuring: Austin Buescher Band on July 4; Bridge City Brass on July 15; Jim McKinney Quartet on July 22; Rockerville on July 29; and Mogen’s Heroes on August 5.
On Thursday, June 19, Yankton Area Arts will join Yankton Community Library, Yankton College, Dakota Territorial Museum, and Cramer-Kenyon Heritage Home to celebrate South Dakota’s 125th anniversary by inviting the community to participate in a Night at the Yankton Museums. This is a family event that will run from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and includes a hunt for interesting historical clues at each location with the big reveal to be disclosed at G.A.R. Hall. Tickets may be purchased at Yankton Community Library: Adults-$5; Children 12 and under-$2. All proceeds will go to the South Dakota 125th Wagon Train.
Yankton Area Arts is pleased to host an Entrepology event at the G.A.R. Hall on Tuesday, June 24. Entrepology is the study of entrepreneurship and innovations incorporated in a series of events connecting people in Southeast South Dakota. This is a social-based event that includes light refreshments and a short presentation by a featured start-up along the I-29 corridor. This particular event features Coy Yance from Mantis Digital Arts.
In July, young artists ages first through sixth grade will discover How Art Works at Kids Studio Summer Session held at G.A.R. Gallery. Artists Sue Hill and Jessi Koch will teach fundamental art concepts of line, balance, texture, unity, focal point, movement, and contrast through exploratory drawing and painting techniques. The class will include indoor and outdoor adventures for artistic inspiration. Space is limited, but those interested can register through the City of Yankton’s Summer Parks and Recreation Program or visit www.YanktonAreaArts.org for more details.
With the generosity of top sponsor, First Dakota National Bank, Yankton Area Arts is hosting an event on Saturday, July 19 like no other: Meridian Dîner en Blanc–simply white, extraordinarily artful. Imagine a magical evening of all-white elegance atop the Meridian Bridge…tables and chairs fitted with crisp white linens; white lights aglow; guests dressed in all-white enjoying a fine French-inspired catered picnic; brilliant music by the 15-piece Bridge City Brass; and professional artists Ari Albright, Jessi Koch, Scott Luken, and Cheryl Peterson-Halsey creating art “live.” This inaugural upscale gathering will not only be an artistic experience on Meridian Bridge, enhancing the function and value of the city’s premier public space, it will also provide fundamental financing for the continuation and growth of Yankton Area Arts programming. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at www.YanktonAreaArts.org or at G.A.R. Gallery.
Also on the YAA website, find a call for entries for the YAA annual Mighty Mo Photo Show to be held July 25-September 2. The Mighty Mo Photo Show is an area photographic competition designed to compliment Yankton’s Annual Riverboat Days celebration and to encourage and recognize the talents of area photographers. All photographers living in South Dakota, Iowa, or Nebraska are invited to participate. This year’s theme is based on photographic interpretations of poetry submitted in the Mighty Mo category of the South Dakota State Poetry Society (SDSPS) competition sponsored by Yankton Area Arts. Entries do not have to include the Missouri River in the composition of the photo, but each entry must be a distinct photographic interpretation of one of the 10 Mighty Mo poems from the SDSPS entries. These 10 poems can be obtained at www.YanktonAreaArts.org or by calling the YAA office at 605-665-9754.
Of course, it just wouldn’t be summer in Yankton without the annual Summer Arts Festival in conjunction with Riverboat Days, this year to take place August 15-17. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Summer Arts Fest, and YAA is once again planning for an amazingly artful time. Over 160 booth spaces will fill with fine art and fine crafts for the community and guests to enjoy. Additionally, YAA will present Jami Lynn and Dylan James in concert as well as Dallas Chief Eagle and his daughter in a cultural hoop dancing program.
The summer calendar tells no lies: Yankton Area Arts is committed to bringing quality arts programming and cultural enrichment to the Yankton community.
