Art at Reliabank
Reliabank CEO David W. Johnson has not studied art, but his appreciation of all kinds of art has led him to support art projects and organizations in South Dakota and collect various works from all over the world. He has travelled and collected art from the time he was a college student studying Economics in Germany and England in the early 1970’s to present. Two USAID projects took him to Central Asia (Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan) where he taught American banking methods to bankers who were emerging from the fall of the Soviet Union.
This new feature of Reliabank’s website is where Johnson shares a portion of his collection with customers and other website visitors. Hats off to all of the talented artists whose work is displayed here. We hope you enjoy.
Click on the thumbnails to see the larger images and read about the artists.
Artist Name: Dan Bergan
“I grew up on a farm in Codington County. I can remember grain shocks and early photos of my grandfather and horse-drawn binders.”
Professional Background: Business degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls. Owned landscape garden center business for 34 years.
Website: www.madeinsouthdakota.com
Art available at Dan Bergan’s home and the Watertown Art Festival
Artist Name: Bonnie Brahms
“I was inspired by a visit to my parents’ ranch near White River—a beautiful day surrounded by the cattle herd. They voiced their opinion about their desire for a treat. The cows are Angus-Herford crosses.”
Professional Background: Bonnie Brahms has been a professional artist for 16 years doing commissions and art shows. She attended workshops by well-known artists.
Website: www.brahms-art.com
Find her work at the Cliff Hangers Gallery in Sioux Falls.
Artist Name: Bruce
David W. Johnson was antique shopping at Lincoln County Antiques in Canton, SD, and purchased this original colored lithograph. The artist’s name was just Bruce on the artwork.
Artist Name: Edgardo F. Garcia
David W. Johnson purchased this work in 1998 on a family vacation on the north shore of Oahu. Depicts an 80-foot waterfall on the coast.
Professional Background: B.S. degree in the Philippines. Garcia is considered one of Hawaii’s foremost artists.
Website: www.garciastudiogallery.com
Artist Name: Clyde Huyck
The work was done for a show in Brookings, South Dakota
Professional Background: B.A. and M.A. in Art at the University of California
Artist Name: JoAnne Bird
Her inspiration was her own Dakota Sioux heritage.
Professional Background: Artist since 1970
Website: www.joannebird.com
Artist Name: Karen Kinder
“I love the contrast of dark, stormy skies against the lighter background, the pattern of fields and light and shadow of the South Dakota landscape.” This is an abandoned farmstead in Day County. Karen Kinder works in oils, most often using broad, thick brush strokes.
Professional Background: B.S. in Art from Northern State University in Aberdeen, Elementary Art Teacher in Brookings, professional painter for 20 years.
Website: www.sdartists.org/members/kkinder/
Art available in Brookings and at Brookings Summer Art Festival
Artist Name: Unknown
David W. Johnson purchased this painting on a mission trip in Nicaragua.
Artist Name: Oscar Howe
David W. Johnson purchased this at public auction from Linda Davis, who received it from a friend of the artist. It is an early work of Howe’s.
Professional Background: Well known for water color paintings. Descended from Sioux Chiefs. Graduated from Dorothy Dunn Art Program at Santa Fe Indian School. M.A. at the University of Oklahoma. Howe died in 1983.
Website: www.oscarhowe.org or www.dakotadiscovery.com
Article on Oscar Howe in South Dakota Magazine (pdf 726k)
Artist Name: Peggy Prouty
“I love to draw faces and his face was interesting.”
Artist Name: Peggy Prouty
“My Dad farmed for many years which was the idea behind the two men visiting by the cornfield.”
Artist Name: Peggy Prouty
“My son is sitting on the steps holding an old pair of his Dad’s boots and waiting for him to get home from work. Most of my work is done in charcoal, pastel, or oil.”
Professional Background: Art teacher at Hamlin High School and a painter for over 40 years.
Email: peggy57221@yahoo.com
Artist Name: Brita Sheldon Sailor
Merlaine Eisnach purchased this at the Brookings Art Festival. “I thought the sheep belonged at ‘Farmer’s’ State Bank. I purchased it about 10 years ago, when Reliabank was Farmer’s State Bank. I also have another of her works in my home.”
Artist Name: Unknown
While working on a USAID project in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, David W. Johnson purchased this original oil painting.
Artist Name: Harriet Lievan
Harriet Lievan is from the Minneapolis area. David W. Johnson purchased this at the Brookings Evening for the Arts because the barn looks like the one on the Hovey farm where Jan Johnson grew up.
Artist Name: Florence Bruhn
Miss Bruhn died in 1999. Reliabank purchased the artwork at an auction on what would have been her 90th birthday. Proceeds benefited the Watertown Community Foundation.
Professional Background: Started teaching in Watertown in 1939 as an English teacher, but spent most of her 40 years in the Watertown system as an art teacher.
Artist Name: Linda Hoffelt
Professional Background: Has a degree in art education from Northern State University in Aberdeen, with graduate credits from many other universities. She has been a wood carver for 22 years.
Email: hoffelt@mchsi.com
Artist Name: Clyde Huyck
Drawing inspired by “South Dakota stream near our farm.” Drawn for a show in Brookings.
Artist Name: Ulugheek
While working on a USAID project in 1995 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, David W. Johnson visited the site of this small chapel.
Artist Name: Mary Bjerke
“The pine trees create an unusual spiral staircase. Located on a farm east of Estelline.” David W. Johnson purchased this at Evening for the Arts in Brookings.
Professional Background: Graphic Designer at Larson Manufacturing. B.A. in graphic design from South Dakota State University.
Artist Name: Mary Groth
“Growing up in NE South Dakota I spent summers at Pickerel Lake. On a hill overlooking the lake was a farm of Joe Miotke. My siblings and I would often explore the farm and had free reign to this “magical” place. I created this montage around the figure of Joe. The other figures are from my imagination I wanted to capture the feel of farm life and the flat vast horizons of the prairie.”
Professional Background: Pursued art at Michigan State University, the University of Minnesota, and Northern State University. Awarded three grants for artistic development by the South Dakota Arts Council. Inducted in to the South Dakota Hall of Fame as Artist of the Year in 1995. Received the People’s Choice Award at the 2001 and 2003 Arts Night Exhibits at the Washington Pavilion or Arts and Science.
Website: Website currently being designed
Studio located in downtown Sioux Falls
Ph. 605-321-5180
Artist Name: Mary Groth
“This particular vista was shown to me by David W Johnson, CEO of Reliabank. He knows the land between Estelline, Onida, and Watertown, and had this image in mind. Driving around with Dave, I shot photos of this road disappearing into the distance with all the layers of land creating a strata of color and texture.”
Growing up in NE South Dakota I spent summers at Pickerel Lake. On a hill overlooking the lake was a farm of Joe Miotke. My siblings and I would often explore the farm and had free reign to this “magical” place. I created this montage around the figure of Joe. The other figures are from my imagination I wanted to capture the feel of farm life and the flat vast horizons of the prairie.
Professional Background: Pursued art at Michigan State University, the University of Minnesota, and Northern State University. Awarded three grants for artistic development by the South Dakota Arts Council. Inducted in to the South Dakota Hall of Fame as Artist of the Year in 1995. Received the People’s Choice Award at the 2001 and 2003 Arts Night Exhibits at the Washington Pavilion or Arts and Science.
Website: Website currently being designed
Studio located in downtown Sioux Falls
Ph. 605-321-5180
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