03/09/2022
I never have, and never will, claim to be an artist. However I absolutely am a supporter of the arts, and believe Sioux Falls should continue to be a vibrant arts community. I first got involved with community art projects almost 15 years ago when I was a high school senior and worked with Ms. Lisa Brunick and other art teachers to secure funding and approval for the installation of the CommUnity Youth Mosaic on city property in downtown Sioux Falls. If you didn't know the history about this project, it included art from elementary, middle and high school students and is meant to reflect the diversity of cultures in our community. Inspired by the African philosophy "I am who I am because you are who you are".
Here is a little history about the project..
In the Fall 2004, Hawthorne Elementary School students and teachers began learning about the Circle of Courage and UBUNTU. The Circle of Courage is a teaching model program that emulates the Native American culture of peaceful living and is geared to students who are considered to be "at risk" of failure in school. The UBUNTU, pronounced: oo-BOON-too is an ancient South African philosophy, that teaches about who we are as people of the world and how we relate to and support each other ("I am who I am because you are who your are").
The art process involved approximately 400 children, ages 3 years old through 11 years old, creating artistic images celebrating peace and diversity. The painted images are representative of the collective cultures, colors and experiences of the children and incorporated into a mosaic design that stretched through the Hawthorne School hallways. With the finished paintings hung on school walls, Mr. Dave Syverson, local businessman and owner of Syverson Tile, visited the school and loved the students' work. Mr. Syverson contacted a local photographer who came to the school and photographed the artworks. The photographs were sent on to the American Olean Tile Company in Landsdale, Pennsylvania. This company translated the photographs into grids for assembling the tiles.
On May 17, 2005, the Sioux Falls Visual Arts Commission reviewed the proposed mosaic project and placement, and recommended the first phase of the mosaic project and placement be approved by the City Council. City Council adopted Resolution #68-05 on 7-05-05. Resolution 68-05 allows the placement and installation of the proposed CommUnity Youth Mosaic on city property.
The proposed location of the mosaic is the retaining wall located along East River Road, along the Big Sioux River, between 9th Street and Fawick Park.
This is a community partnership project involving Hawthorne Elementary School Students, Sioux Falls School District officials & teachers, Sioux Empire Arts Council, local businesses, and the city.
Under the guidance of Lisa Brunick, Art Educator at Hawthorne Elementary School , approximately 400 Hawthorne Elementary School Students have created a work of art celebrating diversity and unity in our community.
Ms. Brunick has obtained the cooperation and financial support of local businesses to transform the art into a porcelain mosaic and install it as the first phase of a longer mosaic.
The Sioux Empire Arts Council has agreed to assist in the project and coordinate a continuation of the mosaic along the wall in the future.
City Engineering staff have indicated that the mosaic project would not interfere with the flood wall system and that there are no scheduled street works or retaining wall repairs in the near future.
https://www.siouxfalls.org/mayor/boards-commissions/visual-arts-commission/public-art/public-art-projects/2005/youth-mosaic
